Thanet District Council

Thanet District Council
Type
Type
Non-metropolitan district council of Thanet
History
Founded 1 April 1974
Website
www.thanet.gov.uk

Thanet District Council is the local government body for the Thanet district.[1][2] Its administrative centre is Margate. It is one of the district councils in Kent. On a national level, Thanet forms part of two parliamentary constituencies at Westminster and is represented in Parliament by two MPs.

History

The district was formed by the merger of:

Isle of Thanet Rural District was created by the Local Government Act 1894 and was abolished in 1935.

Responsibilities

Thanet district council is responsible for providing clear leadership to the community and to continuously improve the delivery of local services. These services include: leisure, environmental health, housing including the provision of social housing and housing benefit and rubbish collection. (First tier authorities have no responsibility for highways and under statute this function cannot be passed between different levels of local government.) Kent County Council is responsible for more strategic services such as education, libraries, main roads, social services, trading standards and transport.

Electoral wards

The district is divided into 23 electoral wards, mainly located in the coastal resorts of Margate, Cliftonville, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.[3]

Organisation

The powers of the council are specified in its constitution in accordance with the Local Government Act 2000.

The council is a Cabinet-style council with a Leader and the Cabinet itself, which is formed by the majority party in the District. Decisions on the Council's services are made by the Executive (or cabinet) which comprises 5 councillors. Each member of the Cabinet holds a separate portfolio. The Leader and Cabinet are responsible for policies, plans and strategies, and for recommending them to the overall Council, which is convened as a whole, at regular council meetings. The full council consists of 56 councillors.

The Cabinet is held to account by the remainder of the Councillors acting as Overview and Scrutiny which verify that decisions are appropriate and can prevent a decision taking immediate effect.

Current council

The council is composed of:[4]

Chairman
Cabinet

Mayors

Mayors are ceremonial figures whose only real power is to chair sessions of their Councils.[4]

Officers

Councillors are responsible for the appointment and oversight of officers, who are delegated to perform most tasks. The Chief Executive Officer, has overall responsibility for council employees and operates in conjunction with department heads.

[5]

Parishes

The civil parishes located in the district are:

Elections and the democratic process

Elections are held every four years. The last council election took place on 3 May 2011 and the next election is due in May 2015.

May 2011 election results

May 2007 election results

May 2003 election results

May 1999 election results

May 1995 election results

May 1991 election results

May 1987 election results

May 1983 election results

May 1979 election results

May 1976 election results

May 1973 election results

History of control

ElectionParty
1973 Conservative
1976
1979
1983
1987 No overall control
1991 Conservative
1995 Labour
1999
2003 Conservative
2007
2011 No overall control

References