View source for Borough of Broxbourne

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2012}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See {{Infobox settlement}} for the full list of available fields -->
<!-- Elements common to United Kingdom -->| timezone           = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset         = 0
| timezone_DST       = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +1

<!-- Elements common to administrative division of this type (English two-tier district) -->| settlement_type    = [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|Borough]] and [[non-metropolitan district]]
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Non-metropolitan county]]
| subdivision_type4  = Status
| subdivision_type5  = Admin HQ
| subdivision_name   = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[England]]
| subdivision_name4  = [[Non-metropolitan district]], [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|Borough]]
| government_type    = Non-metropolitan district council
| leader_title       = Leadership
| leader_title1      = [[List of MPs elected in the 2024 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| population_density_km2 = auto
| blank1_name        = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank2_name        = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]
<!-- Elements unique to this article -->| official_name      = Borough of Broxbourne
| image_skyline      = Eleanor cross, Waltham Cross (35520484942).jpg
| imagesize          = 240px
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = The [[Eleanor Cross]] in [[Waltham Cross]]
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| shield_alt         = 
| shield_link        = 
| image_map          = Broxbourne UK locator map.svg
| mapsize            = 150px
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Broxbourne shown within Hertfordshire
| subdivision_name2  = [[East of England]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Hertfordshire]]
| subdivision_name5  = [[Cheshunt]]
| established_date1  = 1 April 1974
| governing_body     = Broxbourne Borough Council
| leader_name1       = [[Lewis Cocking]]
| area_rank          = {{English district area rank|GSS=E07000095}} [[List of English districts by area|(of {{English district total}})]]
| area_total_km2     = 51.43
| population_total   = {{English district population|GSS=E07000095}}
| population_as_of   = {{English statistics year}}
| population_rank    = {{English district rank|GSS=E07000095}} [[List of English districts by population|(of {{English district total}})]]
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E07000095|title=Broxbourne Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 81.1% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 6.7% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 4.6% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 | 4% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 3.7% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 53% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 33% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 9.7% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 4.3% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 }}
| blank1_info        = 26UB (ONS)<br />E07000095 (GSS)
| blank2_info        = {{gbmappingsmall|TL358021}}
}}
The '''Borough of Broxbourne''' is a [[Non-metropolitan district|local government district]] with [[borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] in [[Hertfordshire]], England. Its council is based in [[Cheshunt]]. Other settlements in the borough include [[Broxbourne]], [[Hoddesdon]] and [[Waltham Cross]]. The eastern boundary of the district is the [[River Lea]]. The borough covers {{convert|20|sqmi|km2}} in south east [[Hertfordshire]], and had an estimated population of 99,000 in 2021.

Much of the borough lies within the [[Metropolitan Green Belt]] which surrounds [[London]]. The western side of the borough is largely rural with extensive areas of woodland, whilst the eastern part, particularly between the [[A10 road (England)|A10 road]] and the River Lea, is generally urban. Most of the built-up parts of Broxbourne fall within the [[Greater London Urban Area]]. The [[Lee Valley Park]] lies on the borough's eastern boundary.

The borough is twinned with the [[Sicily|Sicilian]] city of [[Sutera]].

==History==
The borough of Broxbourne was created on 1 April 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], covering the area of two districts, which were both abolished at the same time:<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|accessdate=12 May 2023}}</ref>
*[[Cheshunt]] [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban District]]
*[[Hoddesdon]] Urban District

The new district was named Broxbourne after the old village of that name at the centre of the area. The village had been administratively part of Hoddesdon Urban District since 1935.<ref>{{cite web |title=Broxbourne Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10170837 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=13 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|accessdate=12 May 2023}}</ref> The name Broxbourne means "badger's stream", a fact referenced in the council's logo of a badger.<ref>{{cite web |title=Broxbourne |url=https://epns.nottingham.ac.uk/browse/Hertfordshire/Broxbourne/53285ba0b47fc40ace000779-Broxbourne |website=Survey of English Place-Names |publisher=The English Place-Name Society |access-date=13 May 2023}}</ref> The new district was awarded [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.<ref>{{cite web |title=District Councils and Boroughs |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1974/mar/28/district-councils-and-boroughs#S5CV0871P0_19740328_CWA_145 |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=4 December 2021 |date=28 March 1974}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = Broxbourne Borough Council
| native_name        = 
| transcription_name =
| legislature        =
| coa_pic            = 
| coa_res            = 
| logo_pic           = File:Broxbourne Borough Council.svg
| logo_res           = 250px
| house_type         = Non-metropolitan district
| body               = 
| houses             =
| leader1_type       = [[Mayors in England|Mayor]]
| leader1            = Patsy Spears
| party1             = <br/>[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| election1          = 13 May 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 13 May 2025 |url=https://broxbourne.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=156&MId=651 |website=Broxbourne Borough Council |access-date=26 May 2025}}</ref>
| leader2_type       = [[Leader of the council|Leader]]
| leader2            = Corina Gander
| party2             = <br/>[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| election2          = 13 May 2025
| leader3_type       = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3            = Jeff Stack
| party3             = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3          = December 2013<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burton |first1=Michael |title=Acting chief executive to be made permanent |url=https://www.localgov.co.uk/Acting-chief-executive-to-be-made-permanent/29109 |access-date=12 May 2023 |work=LocalGov |date=31 October 2013}}</ref>
| members            = 30
| house1             =
| house2             =
| structure1         =Broxbourne Borough Council 2025.svg
| structure1_res     =250px 
| structure2         =
| structure2_res     =
| political_groups1 =
;Administration (25)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (25)}}
;Other parties (5)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (3)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Reform UK}}|border=darkgray}} [[Reform UK]] (2)
| committees1        =
| committees2        =
| joint_committees   =
| voting_system1     = 
| voting_system2     =
| last_election1     = [[2024 Broxbourne Borough Council election|2 May 2024]]
| next_election1     = [[2026 Broxbourne Borough Council election|7 May 2026]]
| session_room       = File:Broxbourne Borough Offices, Churchgate, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire - geograph.org.uk - 96383.jpg
| session_res        =
| meeting_place      = Borough Offices, Bishop's College, Churchgate, Cheshunt, EN8{{nbsp}}9XQ
| website            = {{url|http://www.broxbourne.gov.uk}}
| footnotes          =
}}

Hertfordshire has a two-tier structure of local government, with the ten district councils (including Broxbourne Borough Council) providing district-level services, and [[Hertfordshire County Council]] providing county-level services.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|accessdate=3 March 2023}}</ref>

===Political control===
The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially acting as a shadow authority until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. The [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] have held a majority of the seats on the council since 1974:<ref name=electionscentre>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=5 March 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Broxbourne" in search box to see specific results.)</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1974–present
|}

===Leadership===
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Broxbourne, and is usually held by a different councillor each year. Political leadership is instead provided by the [[leader of the council]]. The leaders since 2010 have been:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Paul Mason<ref>{{cite news |last1=Christian |first1=Paul |title=Council leader to stand down |url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/22509043.council-leader-stand/ |access-date=28 March 2025 |work=Welwyn Hatfield Times |date=9 April 2014}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|2010 || align=right|May 2014
|-
| Mark Mills-Bishop<ref>{{cite web |title=Hertfordshire Growth Board |url=https://www.hertfordshiregrowthboard.com/about/ |access-date=28 March 2025}}</ref><ref name=Page/> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|2014 || align=right|14 May 2019
|-
| [[Lewis Cocking]]<ref name=Page>{{cite news |last1=Page |first1=Charlotte |title=New Mayor of Broxbourne says being elected is a 'huge honour' |url=https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/new-mayor-broxbourne-says-being-2892461 |access-date=28 March 2025 |work=Herts Live |date=22 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Durrant |first1=Will |title=Local Elections 2024: The full list of candidates in Broxbourne |url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/local-news/local-elections-2024-full-list-9220668 |access-date=15 April 2024 |work=Essex Live |date=15 April 2024}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|14 May 2019 || align=right|May 2024
|-
| Mark Mills-Bishop<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 14 May 2024 |url=https://broxbourne.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=156&MId=583 |website=Broxbourne Borough Council |access-date=28 March 2025}}</ref><ref name=Day/> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|14 May 2024 || align=right|May 2025
|-
| Corina Gander<ref name=Day>{{cite news |last1=Day |first1=Christopher |title=Corina Gander confirmed as new Broxbourne council leader |url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/local-news/corina-gander-confirmed-new-broxbourne-10180825 |access-date=26 May 2025 |work=Essex Live |date=14 May 2025}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|13 May 2025 || align=right|
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2024 Broxbourne Borough Council election|2024 election]] and changes of allegiance up to March 2025, the composition of the council was as follows:<ref>{{cite news |title=Local elections 2024: full council results for England |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2024/may/02/local-elections-2024-full-council-results-for-england |access-date= |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name=Thorncliffe>{{cite web |title=Broxbourne |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=broxbourne |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=28 March 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party !! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=center|25
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=center|3
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} || align=center|2
|-
! colspan=2|Total !! 30
|}

The next election is due in 2026.<ref name=Thorncliffe/>

===Premises===
The council is based at [[Bishops' College, Cheshunt|Bishops' College]] on Churchgate in [[Cheshunt]]. The building had been a college for training [[clergy]] and comprised an early eighteenth century house to which substantial extensions had been added in 1810 and 1871.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1100579|desc=Bishops College, Churchgate|grade=II|accessdate=12 May 2023}}</ref> The college closed in 1968 and the vacant building was bought in 1972 by Cheshunt Urban District Council.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blatchley |first1=Nicholas |title=Bishops College, Cheshunt |url=https://www.hertsmemories.org.uk/content/herts-history/places/civic-buildings/bishops-college-cheshunt |website=Herts Memories |access-date=12 May 2023 |date=8 April 2022}}</ref> The building then passed to Broxbourne Borough Council on local government reorganisation in 1974. The council added a large modern extension, which was formally opened on 10 December 1986 by [[Prince Edward, Duke of Kent]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Duke opens Bishops College |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=12 May 2023 |work=Hoddesdon and Broxbourne Mercury |date=12 December 1986 |page=1}}</ref>

==Elections==
{{main|Broxbourne Borough Council elections}}
Since the last ward boundary changes in 2012 the council has comprised 30 [[councillor]]s, with the borough being divided into 10 [[wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]] each electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, electing one councillor from each ward each time. Elections to [[Hertfordshire County Council]] are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections.<ref name=2012order>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Borough of Broxbourne (Electoral Changes) Order 2012|year=2012|number=159|accessdate=12 May 2023}}</ref>

=== Wards ===
The borough's wards are:<ref name=2012order/>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Hoddesdon North
* Hoddesdon Town & Rye Park
* Broxbourne & Hoddesdon South
* Wormley & Turnford
* Rosedale & Bury Green
* Goffs Oak
* Cheshunt North
* Cheshunt South & Theobalds
* Flamstead End
* Waltham Cross
{{div col end}}

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|escutcheon = Per pale wavy Ermine and Gules on a chevron Or between in dexter chief a rose Gules slipped and leaved dimidiated with a thistle slipped Proper in sinister chief an oak tree eradicated Proper fructed Or and in base a Catherine wheel Sable a chevron couped per pale wavy Gules and Ermine.
|crest = On a wreath Argent and Gules a demi badger Proper holding in the paws a cross formy Or.
|motto = Cor Unum Via Una (One Heart One Way)
|notes = Granted 4 December 1974.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/east_of_england.html |title=East of England Region |publisher=Civic Heraldry of England |accessdate=8 March 2021}}</ref>}}

==Business==
The main industrial areas of the borough are around [[Waltham Cross]] and the Essex Road area of [[Hoddesdon]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ambition Broxboure: Economic development strategy and action plan 2021-2025 |url=https://www.broxbourne.gov.uk/downloads/file/1992/210502-ambition-broxbourne-strategy-action-plan |website=Broxbourne Borough Council |access-date=13 May 2023 |date=May 2021}}</ref>

Park Plaza at [[Waltham Cross]] is home to the world's largest printing plant, which produces publications for [[News International]] including ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'', ''[[The Times]]'' and The Sun on Sunday (formerly the ''[[News of the World]]).'' Employing 200 people on a {{convert|23|acre|m2|adj=on}} site to produce 86,000 newspapers per hour on each of its twelve printing presses (a total capacity of over 1,000,000 newspapers per hour),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=40595&sectioncode=6 |title=News International unveils 'biggest printing plant in the world', Press Gazette, 14 March 2008 |access-date=1 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212222931/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=40595&sectioncode=6 |archive-date=12 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the plant cost £350 million and replaced the News International press in [[Wapping]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7299941.stm | work=BBC News | title=World's biggest print plant opens | date=17 March 2008 | access-date=2010-04-27}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|England}}
*[http://www.broxbourne.gov.uk/ Broxbourne Council]
*[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_theme_page.jsp?u_id=10064016&c_id=10001043&data_theme=T_POP Broxbourne population change through time]

{{Commons category|Borough of Broxbourne}}
{{Hertfordshire}}
{{Civil parishes of Hertfordshire}}
{{East_of_England}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Broxbourne, Borough of}}
[[Category:Borough of Broxbourne| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Hertfordshire]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]