Basingstoke and Deane

Basingstoke and Deane is a local government district with borough status in Hampshire, England. The main town is Basingstoke, where the council is based. The district also includes the towns of Tadley and Whitchurch, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The modern district was created in 1974, initially being called Basingstoke. It changed its name to "Basingstoke and Deane" in 1978 at the same time that it was made a borough; Deane was added to the name to represent the rural parts of the borough, being the area's smallest village.

Parts of the borough lie within the North Wessex Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The neighbouring districts are Hart, East Hampshire, Winchester, Test Valley, West Berkshire and Wokingham.

History

The town of Basingstoke was an ancient borough. It appears to have had a degree of self-government from at least the thirteenth century, was incorporated as a borough in 1392 and was given the right to appoint a mayor in 1641. It was reformed in 1836 to become a municipal borough.

The modern district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of three former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:

• Basingstoke Municipal Borough
• Basingstoke Rural District
• Kingsclere and Whitchurch Rural District

The new district was initially named Basingstoke, after its largest town. Charter trustees were established for the area of the former borough of Basingstoke, allowing the district councillors representing that area to choose one of their number to take the title of mayor, continuing Basingstoke's series of mayors dating back to 1641. On 20 January 1978 the district was renamed Basingstoke and Deane and granted borough status, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor instead, with the charter trustees being dissolved at the same time. The name Deane was chosen to represent the rural parts of the borough as it was said by the council to be the area's smallest village.

Governance

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Hampshire County Council. Much of the borough is covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government, although the main urban area of Basingstoke is an unparished area.

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2022. Following the 2023 election a minority administration of the Liberal Democrats and the "Independent Forum" group (at the time, comprising of local party the Basingstoke and Deane Independents, the Green councillor and the independent councillors) took control of the council. Paul Harvey of the Basingstoke and Deane Independents was appointed leader of the council and Liberal Democrat leader Gavin James was appointed deputy leader (but styled "co-leader"). Labour voted in favour of the new administration forming, but does not form part of the administration itself, with all positions on the council's cabinet held by Liberal Democrats or members of the Independent Forum.

The first election to the modern council was held in 1973, initially acting as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Basingstoke and Deane. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2003 have been:

Composition

Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was:

The Basingstoke and Deane Independents, the Green councillors, the Women's Equality councillor and the independent councillors sit together as the "Independent Forum" group, which forms the council's administration with the Liberal Democrats. The next election is due in 2026.

Premises

The council is based at the Civic Offices on London Road. The old Basingstoke Town Council had bought a large eighteenth century house called Goldings at 5 London Road in 1922 and converted it to become municipal offices. Following the creation of the new council in 1974 a new office building incorporating a council chamber was built west of Goldings, opening in 1976 and now being called Deanes. Additional offices to the east of Goldings were subsequently added c. 1990 called Parklands. Goldings is now used as a register office with the council being based at Deanes and Parklands, with the two buildings together being called the Civic Offices.

Towns and parishes

Much of the borough is covered by civil parishes, with the parish councils for Tadley and Whitchurch taking the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council. The town of Basingstoke itself (roughly corresponding to the pre-1974 borough) is an unparished area, directly administered by the borough council.

Media

Television

The area is served by BBC South and ITV Meridian with television signals receive from the Hannington TV transmitter.

Radio

Radio stations for the area are:

• BBC Radio Berkshire
• Heart South
• Greatest Hits Radio Berkshire & North Hampshire

Newspapers

Local newspapers are the Basingstoke Gazette, and Basingstoke Observer, and Hampshire Chronicle.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2021 the council has comprised 54 councillors representing 18 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) being elected at a time for a four-year term of office. Hampshire County Council elections are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections.

The wards are:

References