Thanet District Council

Thanet District Council
Type
Type	Non-metropolitan district council of Thanet
History
Founded	1 April 1974
Leadership
Chairman	Rev Stuart Piper,      UKIP
Leader	Chris Wells,      UKIP
Structure
Seats	56
Political groups	UKIP (29)      Conservative (19)      Labour (5)      Independent Group (2)      Independent (1) [1]
Elections
Last election	7 May 2015
Website
www.thanet.gov.uk

Thanet District Council is the local government body for the Thanet district.^[2][3] 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:

• Municipal Borough of Margate
• Municipal Borough of Ramsgate
• Broadstairs and St Peter's Urban District
• Part of Eastry Rural District.

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.^[4]

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:^[5]

Chairman

• Councillor Rev Stuart Piper

Cabinet

• Leader of Council, Cllr Chris Wells
• Deputy Leader of Council, Cllr Lin Fairbrass
• Councillor Suzanne Brimm
• Councillor Helen Smith
• Councillor John Townend
• Councillor Hunter Stummer-Schmertzing

^[6]

Mayors

Mayors are ceremonial figures whose only real power is to chair sessions of their Councils.^[5]

• Mayor of Margate: Councillor Robin Edwards
• Mayor of Ramsgate: Councillor Trevor Shonk
• Mayor of Broadstairs: Councillor Peter Shaw

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.

• Chief Executive Officer: Madeline Homer
• Director Of Operations: Gavin Waite
• Director Of Community Services: Not filled
• Corporate & Regulatory Services Manager: Not filled

^[7]

Parishes

The civil parishes located in the district are:

• Acol
• Birchington
• Broadstairs
• Cliffsend
• Manston
• Minster
• Monkton
• St Nicholas at Wade and Sarre

Elections and the democratic process

Elections are held every four years. The last council election took place on 7 May 2015 and the next election is due in May 2019.

May 2015 election results

• The UK Independence Party won control of the council with 33 seats. The Conservative Party won 18 seats, the Labour Party won 4 seats, and one Independent was elected.^[8]
• Five UKIP councillors defected to a Democratic Independent Group over September and October 2015 over allegations that the leader of the council prevented the reopening of Manston Airport. This led to UKIP losing a majority on the council.^[9] On 5 November, it was reported that a Councillor had defected from UKIP to the Conservatives.^[10] In January 2016 UKIP remain the largest group but now with 26 members; there are 19 Conservatives, 5 Democratic Independent Group councillors, 5 Labour and 1 Independent councillor.

May 2011 election results

• Overall turnout: 42%
• The council went to no overall control, the Conservative Party leading a minority administration with 27 seats, the Labour Party taking 26 seats and the Independents 3 seats.^[11]
• A Conservative councillor defected to the Independents in December 2011, subsequently the Labour Party led a minority administration.^[12]

May 2007 election results

• Overall turnout: 35%.
• The Conservative Party held control of Thanet District Council with 33 seats, the Labour Party took 19 seats. There were 3 independents and 1 candidate from Ramsgate First also elected.^[13]
• The Ramsgate First candidate defected to the Conservatives shortly after the election.

May 2003 election results

• Overall turnout: 33%
• The Conservative Party won control of Thanet District Council with a total of 31 seats, the Labour Party taking 23 seats. One Liberal Democrat candidate and one Independent candidate were elected.
• After the 30 October 2003 by-election the composition was: Conservative Party 30 seats, Labour Party 24 seats.

May 1999 election results

• Overall turnout: 28.9%
• Labour maintained control of Thanet District Council with a total of 35 seats, the Conservatives recovered to 16 seats, the Liberal Democrat candidates were wiped out and 3 Independent candidate were elected.

May 1995 election results

• Overall turnout: 40.2%
• The Labour Party won control of Thanet District Council with a total of 45 seats, the Conservatives were reduced to 3 seats and 4 Liberal Democrat candidates and 2 Independent candidate were elected.

May 1991 election results

• Overall turnout: 41.5%
• The Conservative Party retook control of Thanet District Council with a total of 29 seats, the Labour Party taking 14 seats, 2 Liberal Democrat candidate and 9 Independent candidate were elected.

May 1987 election results

• Overall turnout: 44.8%
• The Conservative Party lost enough seats to lose the council to No Overall Control (NOC). Conservatives had 25 seats, the Labour Party took 7 seats, 10 Liberal Democrat and 12 Independent candidates were elected.

May 1983 election results

• Overall turnout: 44.1%
• The Conservative Party lost seats but continued in control of Thanet District Council with a total of 28 seats, the Labour Party took 8 seats, 2 Liberal Democrat candidate and 16 Independent candidates elected.

May 1979 election results

• Overall turnout: 71.1% (the election coincided with the General Election.
• The Conservative Party continued to control the Council with a total of 32 seats, the Labour Party reduced to 5 seats, one Liberal Democrat candidate and 16 Independent candidates were elected.

May 1976 election results

• Overall turnout: 47.7%
• The Conservative Party kept control of Thanet District Council with a total of 39 seats, the Labour Party taking 11 seats and 13 Independent candidate were elected.

May 1973 election results

• The council was created from Margate Municipal Borough, Ramsgate Municipal Borough, Broadstairs & St Peters Urban District and parts of Eatry Rural District.
• Overall turnout: 44.2%
• The Conservative Party won control of Thanet District Council with a total of 33 seats, the Labour Party taking 14 seats, Liberals 5 seats, and there was eleven Independent candidates elected.

History of control

References

Towns and villages in the Thanet district of Kent, England
	Unparished areas	Margate
	Civil parishes	Acol Birchington Broadstairs and St Peter's (town) Cliffsend Manston Minster Monkton Ramsgate (town) Sarre St Nicholas-at-Wade
	Other settlements	Broadstairs Brooks End Cliftonville Ebbsfleet Flete Garlinge Newington Palm Bay Sevenscore St Peters Westbrook Westgate-on-Sea Westwood
List of places in Kent