Borough of Oswestry

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Coord Template:Infobox historic subdivision The Borough of Oswestry was a local government district with borough status in Shropshire, England, from medieval times until its abolition in 2009. Until 1974 the borough just covered the town of Oswestry itself. The borough was enlarged in 1974 to also include the surrounding rural area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Its council was based in Oswestry, the only town and largest settlement in the borough. Villages in the borough included Morda, St Martin's, Whittington, Gobowen, Pant, Trefonen and Ruyton XI Towns.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The district and its council were abolished on 1 April 2009 when the new Shropshire unitary authority was established, as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The town of Oswestry was an ancient borough, governed under the terms of various charters dating back to at least 1398.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The borough was reformed to become a municipal borough under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. By the mid-twentieth century some municipal boroughs were considered too small to efficiently provide all the services expected of them, and so the government introduced the concept of rural boroughs under the Local Government Act 1958. This allowed a small municipal borough to merge with a neighbouring rural district, whilst allowing the former municipal borough to retain some of its privileges, such as the ability to appoint a mayor. In other regards, such rural boroughs were comparable to parish councils. Oswestry became a rural borough on 1 April 1967, becoming part of the surrounding Oswestry Rural District.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, the Oswestry Rural District became a non-metropolitan district, and the borough status which had previously only applied to the town of Oswestry itself was transferred to the larger district, allowing the new district council to take the name Oswestry Borough Council.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref><ref name="hans74">Template:Cite web</ref>

The borough of Oswestry and its council were abolished as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England. Its functions were taken over from 1 April 2009 by Shropshire County Council, which was renamed Shropshire Council at the same time.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

Governance

Political control

The first elections to the reconstituted council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council from 1974 until its abolition in 2009 was as follows:<ref name=compositions>Template:Cite web (Put "Oswestry" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name=gain>Template:Cite news</ref>

Party in control		Years
Template:Party name with colour	1974–1987
Template:Party name with colour	1987–1991
Template:Party name with colour	1991–2003
Template:Party name with colour	2003–2007
Template:Party name with colour	2007–2009

Leadership

The last leader of the council was David Lloyd, a Conservative.

Councillor	Party		From	To
David Lloyd<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Party name with colour	pre-2006	31 Mar 2009

Premises

File:Castle View council offices in Oswestry - geograph.org.uk - 4172623.jpg

Castle View: Council's headquarters

The council was based at Castle View on Arthur Street in the centre of Oswestry, a converted Victorian house which had served as the headquarters of the council's predecessor, Oswestry Rural District Council, since 1927.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On the council's abolition in 2009, the building passed to Shropshire Council, which retains some offices there.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>