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City of Lancaster

Coordinates: 54°2′49.2″N 2°48′3.6″W / 54.047000°N 2.801000°W / 54.047000; -2.801000
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This article is about the local government district. For the main settlement in the district, see Lancaster, Lancashire. For other uses, see Lancaster (disambiguation).

Lancaster
City and non-metropolitan district
Official logo of Lancaster
Coat of arms of Lancaster City Council
Motto: 
"Luck to Loyne"
Lancaster shown within Lancashire
Lancaster shown within Lancashire
Coordinates: 54°2′49.2″N 2°48′3.6″W / 54.047000°N 2.801000°W / 54.047000; -2.801000
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryEngland
RegionNorth West England
Ceremonial countyLancashire
City status14 May 1937
Administrative HQLancaster (Town Hall)
Morecambe (Town Hall)
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district
 • BodyLancaster City Council
Area
 • Total
219 sq mi (567 km2)
 • Rank69th
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
144,446
 • Rank156th
 • Density660/sq mi (255/km2)
 • Ethnicity
97.8% white
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
Postcode areas
LA
Dialling codes01524 (Lancaster)
015242 (Hornby-with-Farleton)
Vehicle registration prefixP
GSS codeE07000121
NUTS 3 codeUKD44
ONS code30UH
OS grid referenceSD475615
MotorwaysM6
A601(M)
Major railway stationsLancaster (B)
Councillors61
MPsCat Smith (L)
Lizzi Collinge (L)
Police areaLancashire
Fire serviceLancashire
Ambulance serviceNorth West

The City of Lancaster, or simply Lancaster (/ˈlæŋkæstər/),[2][3] is a local government district with city status in Lancashire, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Lancaster, and also includes the towns of Carnforth, Heysham and Morecambe and a wider rural hinterland. The district has a population of 144,446 (2022),[4] and an area of 219 square miles (567 km2).[5]

Much of the district's rural area is recognised for its natural beauty; it includes part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and parts of the designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty of Arnside and Silverdale and the Forest of Bowland. The neighbouring districts are Westmorland and Furness, North Yorkshire, Ribble Valley and Wyre.

History

[edit]

The town of Lancaster was an ancient borough, with its earliest known charter dating from 1193. A later charter in 1337 gave it the right to appoint a mayor.[6] It was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836, governed by a body formally called the "mayor, aldermen and burgesses of the borough of Lancaster", but generally known as the corporation or town council.[7] In 1937 the borough was awarded city status.[8]

The modern district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the territory of five former districts which were abolished at the same time:[9][10]

The new district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Lancaster's series of mayors dating back to 1337.[11] The city status which had been held by the old municipal borough of Lancaster since 1937 was also transferred to the new district on its creation.[12][13]

Since 1 August 2016 the district has included a small part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.[14]

Governance

[edit]
Sign at entry into the county and district, showing use of name "City of Lancaster"
Lancaster City Council
Leadership
Abi Mills,
Green
since 10 May 2024[15]
Caroline Jackson,
Green
since 22 May 2023
Mark Davies
since 2022[16]
Structure
Seats61 councillors[17]
Political groups
Administration (33)
  Green (23)
  Liberal Democrat (7)
  MB Independents (3)
Other parties (28)
  Labour (21)
  Conservative (5)
  Independent (2)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First past the post
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Town Hall, Marine Road East, Morecambe, LA4 5AF
Website
www.lancaster.gov.uk

Lancaster City Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Lancashire County Council. Much of the district is covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[18]

In the part of the district within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, town planning is the responsibility of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. The city council appoints one of its councillors to serve on the 25-person National Park Authority.[19]

Political control

[edit]

The council has been under no overall control since 2019. An administration led by the Green Party formed in November 2024, with cabinet positions being shared between the Greens, Liberal Democrats and local party the Morecambe Bay Independents.[20][21]

The first election to the city council as enlarged by the Local Government Act 1972 was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[22][23]

Party Period
Conservative 1974–1987
No overall control 1987–1995
Labour 1995–1999
No overall control 1999–2017
Labour 2017–2019
No overall control 2019–present

Leadership

[edit]

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Lancaster, with political leadership instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1993 have been:

Councillor Party From To
Stanley Henig[24] Labour pre-1993 May 1999
Tricia Heath[25] Morecambe Bay Independents May 1999 May 2003
Ian Barker Labour May 2003 May 2007
Roger Mace[26][27] Conservative 21 May 2007 4 Feb 2009
Abbott Bryning[27] Labour 4 Feb 2009 May 2009
Stuart Langhorn[28] Liberal Democrats 18 May 2009 May 2011
Eileen Blamire[29] Labour 23 May 2011 May 2019
Erica Lewis[30] Labour 20 May 2019 May 2021
Caroline Jackson[31] Green 17 May 2021 May 2023
Phillip Black[32][33][34] Labour 22 May 2023 13 Nov 2024
Caroline Jackson[35][20] Green 25 Nov 2024

Composition

[edit]

Following the 2023 election and subsequent by-elections up to 4 October 2024, the composition of the council was:[36][37]

Party Councillors
Green 23
Labour 22
Liberal Democrats 7
Conservative 5
Morecambe Bay Independents 3
Independent 1
Total 61

The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

[edit]
See also: Lancaster City Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 61 councillors representing 27 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[38]

The district comprises two parliamentary constituencies: Lancaster and Fleetwood, and Morecambe and Lunesdale.[39] Since 2015, Lancaster and Fleetwood has been held by Labour, and Morecambe and Lunesdale has been held by the Conservatives since 2010.

Premises

[edit]
Town Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster

The council has two main meeting places, both inherited from predecessor authorities: Lancaster Town Hall and Morecambe Town Hall. Full council meetings are held in the larger council chamber of Morecambe Town Hall, but Lancaster Town Hall is also used for committee meetings and houses administrative functions.[40]

Demography

[edit]
Population pyramid of the City of Lancaster in 2020
Lancaster compared
2001 UK Census Lancaster[41] Lancashire[42] England United Kingdom
Total population 133,914 1,134,974 49,138,831 58,789,194
White 97.8% 94.7% 90.9% 92.14%
Asian 0.7% 4.1% 4.6% 3.4%
Black 0.2% 0.2% 2.3% 2%

At the 2011 UK census, the City of Lancaster had a total population of 138,375. Of the 57,822 households in the city, 33.5% were married couples living together, 31.9% were one-person households, 7.8% were co-habiting couples and 10.0% were lone parents.[43] These figures were similar to the national averages.

The population density was 233/km2 (600/sq mi) and for every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. Of those aged 16–74 in Lancaster, 26.7% had no academic qualifications, lower than 28.9% in all of England. The city of Lancaster had a higher proportion of white people than England.[43][44]

Population change

[edit]

The table below details the population change since 1801, including the percentage change since the last available census data. Although the City of Lancaster has existed as a district since 1974, figures have been generated by combining data from the towns, villages, and civil parishes that would later be constituent parts of the city.

Population growth in City of Lancaster since 1801
YearPopulation±%
1801 23,818—    
1811 24,842+4.3%
1821 28,374+14.2%
1831 30,987+9.2%
1841 32,998+6.5%
1851 33,437+1.3%
1861 37,943+13.5%
1871 42,450+11.9%
YearPopulation±%
1881 46,956+10.6%
1891 57,577+22.6%
1901 64,617+12.2%
1911 72,538+12.3%
1921 77,409+6.7%
1931 82,622+6.7%
1941 92,752+12.3%
1951 104,126+12.3%
YearPopulation±%
1961 113,083+8.6%
1971 122,820+8.6%
1981 118,599−3.4%
1991 130,022+9.6%
2001 133,914+3.0%
2011 138,375+3.3%
Source: Vision of Britain[45]

Religion

[edit]
Lancaster compared
2011 UK Census City of Lancaster[43] Lancashire[46] England
Population 138,375 1,134,974 49,138,831
Christian 65.9% 68.8% 59.4%
Muslim 1.3% 4.8% 5.0%
No religion 24.5% 19.2% 24.7%

At the 2011 UK census, 65.9% of Lancaster's population reported themselves as Christian, 1.3% Muslim, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.3% Hindu, 0.1% Jewish, and 0.1% Sikh. 24.5% had no religion, 0.5% had an alternative religion and 7.1% did not state their religion.[43] The city is covered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster,[47] and the Church of England Diocese of Blackburn.[48]

Economy

[edit]
City of Lancaster compared
2001 UK Census City of Lancaster[49] Lancashire[50] England
Population of working age 97,365 814,434 35,532,091
Full-time employment 33.5% 39.2% 40.8%
Part-time employment 12.7% 12.2% 11.8%
Self employed 7.8% 8.2% 8.3%
Unemployed 3.6% 2.9% 3.3%
Retired 14.9% 15.0% 13.5%

At the United Kingdom Census 2001, the City of Lancaster had 97,365 residents aged 16 to 74. Of these people, 4.0% were students with jobs, 9.6% students without jobs, 5.1% looking after home or family, 6.0% permanently sick or disabled and 2.8% economically inactive for other reasons.[49]

In 2001, of the 55,906 residents of the City of Lancaster in employment, the industry of employment was 16.7% retail and wholesale, 14.2% health and social work, 11.4% education, 11.2% manufacturing, 7.8% property and business services, 6.7% construction, 6.7% hotels and restaurants, 6.5% transport and communications, 5.7% public administration and defence, 2.5% finance, 2.4% energy and water supply, 2.2% agriculture, 0.4% mining, and 5.3% other. This was roughly in line with national figures, although the proportion of jobs in agriculture which was more than the national average of 1.5% and the percentage of people working in finance was below the national average of 4.8%; the proportion of people working in property was well below the national average of 13.2%.[51]

Media

[edit]

The area is served by BBC North West and ITV Granada.

Radio stations for the area are BBC Radio Lancashire, BBC Radio Cumbria, Heart North West, Smooth North West, and Greatest Hits Radio Lancashire. Beyond Radio is a voluntary, non-profit community radio station for Lancaster and Morecambe.[52]

Settlements

[edit]
class=notpageimage|
Towns, villages and hills in the City of Lancaster district          Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Civil parishes

[edit]

Most of the district's area is covered by civil parishes. The parish councils for Carnforth and Morecambe have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council".[53]

  1. Aldcliffe-with-Stodday
  2. Arkholme-with-Cawood
  3. Bolton-le-Sands
  4. Borwick
  5. Burrow-with-Burrow
  6. Cantsfield
  7. Carnforth
  8. Caton-with-Littledale
  9. Claughton
  10. Cockerham
  11. Ellel
  12. Gressingham
  13. Halton-with-Aughton
  14. Heaton-with-Oxcliffe
  15. Hornby-with-Farleton
  16. Ireby
  17. Leck
  18. Melling-with-Wrayton
  19. Middleton
  20. Morecambe
  21. Nether Kellet
  22. Over Kellet
  23. Over Wyresdale
  24. Overton
  25. Priest Hutton
  26. Quernmore
  27. Roeburndale
  28. Scotforth
  29. Silverdale
  30. Slyne-with-Hest
  31. Tatham
  32. Thurnham
  33. Tunstall
  34. Warton
  35. Wennington
  36. Whittington
  37. Wray-with-Botton
  38. Yealand Conyers
  39. Yealand Redmayne

Most of the area of the pre-1974 city of Lancaster is an unparished area, as is the Heysham area of the former borough of Morecambe and Heysham.

Twin towns

[edit]

[54]

Associate towns

[edit]

[54]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Lancaster Local Authority (E07000121)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Local Authority Districts, Counties and Unitary Authorities (April 2021) Map in United Kingdom". Office for National Statistics: Open Geography Portal. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  3. ^ Roach, Peter; Hartman, James; Setter, Jane; Jones, Daniel, eds. (2006). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (17th ed.). Cambridge: CUP. ISBN 978-0-521-68086-8.
  4. ^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  6. ^ Farrer, William; Brownbill, J. (1914). A History of the County of Lancaster. London: Victoria County History. pp. 33–48. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  7. ^ Municipal Corporations Act 1835
  8. ^ "No. 34400". The London Gazette. 21 May 1937. p. 3296.
  9. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 22 August 2022
  10. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 22 August 2022
  11. ^ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Whitehall, May 20, 1937". London Gazette (34400): 3296. 21 May 1937. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  13. ^ "1st April 1974". London Gazette (46255): 4400. 4 April 1974. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Yorkshire Dales National Park: Boundary extension". Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  15. ^ "Council minutes, 10 May 2024". Lancaster City Council. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  16. ^ Rouncivell, Gayle (17 March 2022). "From cleaner to chief executive for new Lancaster City Council boss". Lancaster Guardian. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections".
  18. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  19. ^ "Meet the Members". Yorkshire Dales National Park. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  20. ^ a b McDonald, Robbie (26 November 2024). "Greens take control of Lancaster City Council". BBC News. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  21. ^ Boothroyd, David (29 November 2024). "Gaining seats the Woodhouse way". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  22. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 26 November 2024. (Put "Lancaster" in search box to see specific results.)
  23. ^ "Lancaster". BBC News Online. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
  24. ^ Byrning, Louise (14 May 1999). "It's out with the old: Defeated leader ponders his future". Lancaster Guardian. p. 20. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  25. ^ Jefferson-Brown, Nadia (2 May 2003). "Leader falls in city election shake-up". Echo News. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Council minutes, 21 May 2007". Lancaster City Council. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Council minutes, 4 February 2009". Lancaster City Council. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Council minutes, 18 May 2009". Lancaster City Council. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  29. ^ "Council minutes, 23 May 2011". Lancaster City Council. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  30. ^ "Council minutes, 20 May 2019". Lancaster City Council. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  31. ^ "Council minutes, 17 May 2021". Lancaster City Council. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  32. ^ "Labour forge new Lancaster City Council cooperative alliance with Greens and Lib Dems". lancaster.guardian.co.uk. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  33. ^ "Council minutes, 13 November 2024". Lancaster City Council. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  34. ^ Waddington, Marc (14 November 2024). "Leader quits as city's balance of power shifts". BBC News. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  35. ^ "Council minutes, 25 November 2024". Lancaster City Council. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  36. ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  37. ^ "Lancaster". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  38. ^ "The Lancaster (Electoral Changes) Order 2022", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2022/1357, retrieved 13 October 2023
  39. ^ "Your MPs". Lancaster City Council. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  40. ^ "The Lancashire County Council (A601(M) Partial Revocation) Scheme 2022". London Gazette. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022. ...the offices of Lancaster City Council, Town Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PJ...
  41. ^ Lancaster Local Authority ethnic group, Statistics.gov.uk, archived from the original on 4 June 2011, retrieved 26 June 2009
  42. ^ Lancashire Education Authority ethnic group, Statistics.gov.uk, archived from the original on 4 June 2011, retrieved 26 June 2009
  43. ^ a b c d UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Lancaster Local Authority (E07000121)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  44. ^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – England Country (E92000001)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  45. ^ Lancaster District: total population, Vision of Britain, archived from the original on 22 August 2016, retrieved 26 June 2009
  46. ^ Religion, 2011 Census of Population, Lancashire County Council, archived from the original on 7 March 2016, retrieved 4 March 2016
  47. ^ The Diocese of Lancaster, Lancaster Diocese, archived from the original on 21 June 2009, retrieved 26 June 2009
  48. ^ The Diocese of Blackburn, Blackburn Diocese, archived from the original on 15 April 2009, retrieved 26 June 2009
  49. ^ a b Lancaster Local Authority economic activity, Statistics.gov.uk, archived from the original on 4 June 2011, retrieved 26 June 2009
  50. ^ Lancashire Education Authority economic activity, Statistics.gov.uk, archived from the original on 4 June 2011, retrieved 26 June 2009
  51. ^ Lancaster Local Authority industry of employment, Statistics.gov.uk, archived from the original on 4 June 2011, retrieved 26 June 2009
  52. ^ Online broadcasting Beyond Radio Archived 6 May 2021(Date mismatch) at the Wayback Machine.
  53. ^ "Parish council contact details". Lancaster City Council. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  54. ^ a b "Twin towns". www.lancaster.gov.uk. Lancaster City Council. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
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