21 October 2008, 08/237
West Lancashire District Council is applying
for a Royal Charter to become a Borough.
The Council has decided to petition the Queen
for permission to change the district’s status and take on the
civic dignity of becoming a Borough, with a Mayor and Deputy
Mayor.
Cllr Ian Grant, Leader of the Council, said:
“I’m proud that the Council has made this decision as it will help
boost the image of West Lancashire and raise its profile. It means
that West Lancashire will have a Mayor instead of a Chairman and
this will also help us promote the
area to industrialists, potential investors and tourists.
“West Lancashire is a wonderful area and the
Council is officially rated as ‘excellent’ by the Audit Commission.
We’ve always punched above our weight in the local government arena
and having borough status will give us that extra dose of civic
prestige and dignity that we deserve.”
Currently, West Lancashire is the only
district in Lancashire without borough status. Although the
Council’s Chairman does officially have the same status as a Mayor,
the position is sometimes wrongly regarded as being inferior and
this occasionally causes confusion and embarrassment at civic
functions. Lengthy explanations have to be given to make it clear
why the Chairman is really equivalent to a Mayor.
The procedure for application for Borough
status involves the Council submitting a petition praying for the
grant of a Royal Charter by Her Majesty the Queen conferring on the
District the status of a Borough. If Her Majesty, on the
advice of her Privy Council, grants a Royal Charter the District
becomes a Borough, the District Council becomes a Borough Council
and the Chairman and Vice-Chairman would be entitled to the titles
of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Borough Council.
It is expected that the process of obtaining
Borough status might take four to six months. A special Council
meeting would be required at which the Royal Charter would be
presented.
The change to Borough status will be carried
out without extra expenditure.
Existing stocks of Council stationery and literature will be used
up first and the new title will be
printed when new stocks are ordered. Signage and vehicle livery
will be updated as and when replacements are required.
Related information
> The Chairman of the Council
> Democracy and decision making