Borough of Melton

Melton is a local government district with borough status in north-eastern Leicestershire, England. It is named after its main town, Melton Mowbray. Other settlements include Asfordby and Bottesford. At the 2011 census, it had a population of 50,376.[1]

For other uses, see Melton (disambiguation).

Borough of Melton
Non-metropolitan district and borough
Melton Mowbray, best known for both the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie and St Mary's Church. It is the administrative centre of the borough.
Melton Mowbray, best known for both the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie and St Mary's Church. It is the administrative centre of the borough.
Shown within Leicestershire.
Shown within Leicestershire.
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionEast Midlands
Administrative countyLeicestershire
Founded1974
Admin. HQMelton Mowbray
Government
 • TypeMelton Borough Council
 • Leadership:Cabinet
 • Executive:Conservative
 • MPs:Alicia Kearns
 • Chief ExecutiveEdd de Coverly (Since 2017)
 • Leader of the CouncilPip Allnat (Since 2023)
Area
 • Total185.9 sq mi (481.4 km2)
 • Rank79th
Population
 (2021)
 • Total51,773
 • RankRanked 293rd
 • Density280/sq mi (110/km2)
Time zoneUTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
ONS code31UG (ONS)
E07000133 (GSS)
Ethnicity98.8% White
Websitemelton.gov.uk

Melton is a rural area in the north-east part of Leicestershire and at the heart of the East Midlands. It is the 4th smallest district in England by population and the smallest non unitary district. The main activities of the district are centred on the single market town of Melton Mowbray which had a population of 27,158 at the 2011 census.

There are some 70 small villages within the surrounding rural area and the area of the district is 481.38 km2.

History

It was formed in 1974, from the Melton Mowbray Urban District and the Melton and Belvoir Rural District. The council offices on Nottingham Road burnt down on 30 May 2008.[2][3] Across the road were situated the main offices of the East Midlands Regional Assembly before it was abolished in 2010.

Food

The borough is the home of Stilton Cheese and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies.

Parishes

Geography
Belvoir Castle

The district borders South Kesteven, in Lincolnshire, to the east, Rutland to the south, Charnwood to the west (along the A46 Fosse Way), and Rushcliffe and Newark and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire to the north. The north part of the district is known as the Vale of Belvoir.

Economy

Farming and food production are the main industries with Pedigree Petfoods in Melton, and its Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition at Waltham on the Wolds. There is a large creamery (Long Clawson Dairy) at Long Clawson. Samworth Brothers are headquartered in Melton. The Royal Army Veterinary Corps and Defence Animal Training Regiment are also in Melton.

The Birmingham to Peterborough Line runs through the borough, and the borough is criss-crossed by the A607 (Leicester-Grantham) and the A606 (Nottingham-Oakham). Both these roads meet in the centre of Melton (outside Melton Brooksby College), with resulting congestion.

Education
Entering the borough near Twyford on the B6047

Until September 2008, the district operated the three-tier education system, whereby there were three middle schools. All these schools fed into the same upper school in Melton from 14-18. At both GCSE and A level, the district's results are above the England average. From age 16 Students can attend either Melton Vale Post 16 Centre for academic sixth form courses, or Brooksby Melton College for vocational courses.

Demographics
Melton population pyramid

The Borough of Melton has experienced steady population growth in recent times albeit at a rate lower than the other districts within Leicestershire.

Population growth in the Borough of Melton
Year 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 2016 2021 2031
Population 32,825 34,512 38,897 42,578 45,105 47,890 50,376 50,900 53,000 55,500
Census [4] ONS[5] ONS Projections [6]

Highest rate of accidental death in England in 2010/11

In March 2012, Melton was identified as having the highest rate of accidental death by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, with statistics over the period from 2010/11 showing an average of 29 deaths for 100,000 people.[7]

Melton Borough Council
For historic political control and leadership, see Melton Borough Council elections.

The borough council is composed of 28 Councillors, of which 11 represent the Conservatives, 10 are independent, five represent Labour and the Greens and Liberal Democrats are represented by one councillor each.[8]

The borough is part of the Melton and Rutland parliamentary constituency.

East Midlands Councils is based opposite the former Melton borough offices on the A606 within the PERA complex.

Following the 2023 Melton Borough Council election, the composition of the council was as follows:

Political party Seats
  Conservative 11
  Independent 10
  Labour 5
  Liberal Democrat 1
  Green 1

Arms
Coat of arms of Borough of Melton
Notes
Granted 17 December 1986[9]
Crest
On a wreath Argent and Gules a lion rampant quarterly Argent and Gules holding in the dexter claw a Latin cross Or and in the sinister claw a roll of parchment Proper.
Escutcheon
Quarterly Gules and Vert in the first and fourth quarters a tower and in the second and third quarters a garb Or over all a lion rampant Argent.
Supporters
On the dexter side a bull Sable armed Or and gorged with a collar dancetty of two points upward Argent and on the sinister side a horse Argent gorged with a like collar Gules each resting the interior hoof on a tower Or the whole upon a grassy compartment divided per pale by furrows.
Motto
Unity With Diversity

References
  1. "Borough population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  2. "Melton Borough Council offices from the rear after the fire". Geograph. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  3. Photos: Melton Council HQ Fire. "Melton Borough Council offices burn down in May 2008". BBC. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  4. Vision of Britain through time
  5. mid year estimate
  6. ONS population projections 2014 base / projections reduced by '21 - 500/'31 - 500 given an overestimation at 2016 - 600/
  7. Child Safety (26 March 2012). "New Injury Stats Show Burden Of Accidents And Regional Varia..." RoSPA. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  8. "Melton result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News.
  9. "East Midlands Region". Civic Heraldry of England. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
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