North Kesteven is a
local government district
The districts of England (also known as local authority districts or local government districts to distinguish from unofficial city districts) are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. As the st ...
in
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-west, Leicestershire ...
, England. The council is based in
Sleaford
Sleaford is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. Centred on the former parish of New Sleaford, the modern boundaries and urban area include Quarrington, Lincolnshire, ...
. The district also contains the town of
North Hykeham
North Hykeham is a town and civil parish in the North Kesteven district, in the county of Lincolnshire, England. It forms part of the Lincoln Urban Area. The population of the town at the 2011 census was 13,884.
History
North Hykeham was ori ...
, which adjoins the neighbouring city of
Lincoln
Lincoln most commonly refers to:
* Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States
* Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England
* Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S.
* Lincoln ...
, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.
The neighbouring districts are
Lincoln
Lincoln most commonly refers to:
* Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States
* Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England
* Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S.
* Lincoln ...
,
West Lindsey
West Lindsey is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England. Its council is based in Gainsborough.
History
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, from the urban districts of Gainsborough, Market Rasen, along with Caistor Rural Distr ...
,
East Lindsey
East Lindsey is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England. The population of the district council was 136,401 at the 2011 census. The council is based in Manby. Other major settlements in the district include Alford, Wragby, Spilsby ...
,
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
,
South Holland
South Holland ( nl, Zuid-Holland ) is a province of the Netherlands with a population of over 3.7 million as of October 2021 and a population density of about , making it the country's most populous province and one of the world's most densely ...
,
South Kesteven
South Kesteven is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district in Lincolnshire, England, forming part of the traditional Kesteven division of the county. It covers Bourne, Lincolnshire, Bourne, Grantham, Market Deeping and Stamford, Li ...
and
Newark and Sherwood
Newark and Sherwood is a local government district and is the largest district in Nottinghamshire, England. The district was formed on 1 April 1974, by a merger of the municipal borough of Newark with Newark Rural District and Southwell Rural ...
.
History
The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974. It was one of the most significant Acts of Parliament to be passed by the Heath Gov ...
. It covered the area of three former districts from the
administrative county
An administrative county was a first-level administrative division in England and Wales from 1888 to 1974, and in Ireland from 1899 until either 1973 (in Northern Ireland) or 2002 (in the Republic of Ireland). They are now abolished, although mos ...
of
Kesteven
The Parts of Kesteven ( or ) are a traditional division of Lincolnshire, England. This division had long had a separate county administration (quarter sessions), along with the two other Parts of Lincolnshire, Lindsey and Holland.
Etymology
Th ...
, which were all abolished at the same time:
*
East Kesteven Rural District
*
North Kesteven Rural District
North Kesteven was a rural district in Kesteven, Lincolnshire from 1931 to 1974.
It was created in 1931 under a County Review Order, and was formed from the Branston Rural District, part of the Claypole Rural District and part of the Sleaford Rura ...
*
Sleaford
Sleaford is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. Centred on the former parish of New Sleaford, the modern boundaries and urban area include Quarrington, Lincolnshire, ...
Urban District
Urban district may refer to:
* District
* Urban area
* Quarter (urban subdivision)
* Neighbourhood
Specific subdivisions in some countries:
* Urban districts of Denmark
* Urban districts of Germany
* Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland) (hist ...
The new district was named North Kesteven referencing its position within Kesteven, one of the three historic
parts of Lincolnshire
The three parts of the English county of Lincolnshire are or were divisions of the second-largest county in England. Similar in nature to the three ridings of Yorkshire, they existed as local government units until commencement of the Local Gov ...
.
Governance
North Kesteven District Council provides
district-level services.
County-level services are provided by
Lincolnshire County Council
Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a Counties of England, county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-we ...
. The whole district is also covered by
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority ...
es, which form a third tier of local government.
Political control
The council has been under
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...
majority control since the
2023 election.
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:
Leadership
The
leaders of the council since 2001 have been:
Composition
Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:
Four of the independent councillors sit together as the "Group of Unaligned Members", and the other does not belong to any group. The next election is due in 2027.
Premises
The council is based at the
North Kesteven Council Offices
The North Kesteven Council Offices, formerly County Offices, Sleaford, is a municipal structure in Lafford Terrace, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England. The structure, which is currently used as the headquarters of North Kesteven District Council, i ...
at the corner of Kesteven Street and East Gate in Sleaford. The building had been built in 1856 as a row of houses called Lafford Terrace.
It was purchased around 1930 by
Kesteven County Council
Kesteven County Council was the county council of Parts of Kesteven in the east of England. It came into its powers on 1 April 1889 and was abolished on 1 April 1974. The county council was based at the County Offices in Sleaford. It was amalgama ...
and converted to become its headquarters.
When local government was reorganised in 1974, it was originally planned to have North Kesteven's offices in Bracebridge Hall on Newark Road in Lincoln, then the base of North Kesteven Rural District. In November 1973, a decision was taken to base it in The Hoplands in Sleaford, the base of East Kesteven Rural District. In January 1974 it was realised that this building was too small for the size needed, and the 81 rooms of Kesteven County Council's headquarters in Sleaford would suit the new council instead. The Hoplands was subsequently demolished for housing.
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 43
councillor
A councillor is an elected representative for a local government council in some countries.
Canada
Due to the control that the provinces have over their municipal governments, terms that councillors serve vary from province to province. Unl ...
s representing 24
wards
Ward may refer to:
Division or unit
* Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward
* Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a priso ...
, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.
Geography
![The Forum, North Hykeham, Lincolnshire, England - DSCF1457](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/The_Forum%2C_North_Hykeham%2C_Lincolnshire%2C_England_-_DSCF1457.JPG)
North Kesteven borders
West Lindsey
West Lindsey is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England. Its council is based in Gainsborough.
History
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, from the urban districts of Gainsborough, Market Rasen, along with Caistor Rural Distr ...
(along the
Foss Dyke
The Foss Dyke, or Fossdyke, connects the River Trent at Torksey to Lincoln, the county town of Lincolnshire, and may be the oldest canal in England that is still in use. It is usually thought to have been built around AD 120 by the Romans, ...
and the
River Witham
The River Witham is a river almost entirely in the county of Lincolnshire in the east of England. It rises south of Grantham close to South Witham at , passes through the centre of Grantham (where it may be closely followed using the Riversid ...
) and the city of
Lincoln
Lincoln most commonly refers to:
* Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States
* Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England
* Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S.
* Lincoln ...
to the north,
East Lindsey
East Lindsey is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England. The population of the district council was 136,401 at the 2011 census. The council is based in Manby. Other major settlements in the district include Alford, Wragby, Spilsby ...
to the north-east (along the River Witham),
Boston (borough)
The Borough of Boston is a local government district with borough status in Lincolnshire, England. Its council is based in the town of Boston. The borough covers a wider area that includes villages such as Wyberton, Butterwick, Kirton-in-Holl ...
to the east,
South Holland
South Holland ( nl, Zuid-Holland ) is a province of the Netherlands with a population of over 3.7 million as of October 2021 and a population density of about , making it the country's most populous province and one of the world's most densely ...
to the south-east,
South Kesteven
South Kesteven is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district in Lincolnshire, England, forming part of the traditional Kesteven division of the county. It covers Bourne, Lincolnshire, Bourne, Grantham, Market Deeping and Stamford, Li ...
to the south, and the county of
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire (; abbreviated Notts.) is a landlocked county in the East Midlands region of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west. The traditi ...
to the west.
![F15 and AWACS Operations at RAF Waddington](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/F15_and_AWACS_Operations_at_RAF_Waddington.jpg)
North Kesteven covers an area of , of which 94% is classified as green space, which includes agricultural land and open space.
![St Wilfred's Church, Metheringham - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/St_Wilfred%27s_Church%2C_Metheringham_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2514531.jpg)
The district is characterised by small settlements and large areas of arable farmland. More than 80% of the population live in rural settlements or a market town. The two towns are Sleaford and North Hykeham, and the larger villages include
Cranwell
Cranwell is a village in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It is part of the civil parish of Cranwell and Byard's Leap and is situated approximately north-west from Sleaford and south-east from the city and county town o ...
,
Metheringham
Metheringham is an English village and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 3,605. It is about south of the city and county town of Lincoln and north of Sleafor ...
,
Navenby
Navenby is a village and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. Lying south from Lincoln and north-northwest from Sleaford, Navenby had a population of 2,128 in the 2011 census and in March 2011, it was named ...
,
Ruskington
Ruskington is a large village and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England, located approximately 4 miles (7 km) north of Sleaford on the north–south B1188 road and slightly north of the A153 road. The village ...
and
Waddington.
The district has two main RAF stations -
RAF Cranwell
Royal Air Force Cranwell or more simply RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England, close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. Among other functions, it is home to the Royal Air Force College (RAFC), which trai ...
(near Sleaford), and
RAF Waddington
Royal Air Force Waddington otherwise known as RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station located beside the village of Waddington, south of Lincoln, Lincolnshire in England.
The station is the RAF's Intelligence Surveillance Target A ...
(near Lincoln), both situated close to the
A15, the main north–south road running through North Kesteven. The district is also home to
RAF Digby
Royal Air Force Digby otherwise known as RAF Digby is a Royal Air Force station located near Scopwick and south east of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Lincoln, in Lincolnshire, England. The station is home to the tri-service Joint Service Signals Organi ...
, which lies between Sleaford and
Metheringham
Metheringham is an English village and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 3,605. It is about south of the city and county town of Lincoln and north of Sleafor ...
. The former
RAF Swinderby
Royal Air Force Swinderby or more simply RAF Swinderby was a Royal Air Force station airfield opened in 1940, one of the last of the stations completed under the RAF's expansion plans started in the 1930s. It was built near the village of Swin ...
, which can be found adjacent to the
A46 near the western edge of the district, closed in 1995.
Demography
![Pond at North Hykeham - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Pond_at_North_Hykeham_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1094664.jpg)
The predominantly rural nature of the district has encouraged people to move to the area to take advantage of its quality of life, low crime rates, relatively low house prices, good-quality education and local heritage. This is reflected in research, which has shown 90% of residents are satisfied with their local area as a place to live and 82% of residents feel their area is a place where people from different backgrounds can get on well together.
North Kesteven is mostly rural in character but there are urban areas around the towns of North Hykeham and Sleaford. Sleaford forms an urban area with the nearby villages of Greylees, Holdingham, Leasingham and Quarrington, North Hykeham and Waddington form part of an urban area with the city of Lincoln. Within the district, 40% of the population live in the "Lincoln Fringe", the area immediately surrounding Lincoln City. 72 parishes serve the district communities, comprising 58 parish councils, two town councils and 12 parish meetings.
The population of the district was 107,766 at the 2011 census.
Education
![College Hall, RAF Cranwell - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/College_Hall%2C_RAF_Cranwell_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2663405.jpg)
The district has comprehensive schools in
North Hykeham
North Hykeham is a town and civil parish in the North Kesteven district, in the county of Lincolnshire, England. It forms part of the Lincoln Urban Area. The population of the town at the 2011 census was 13,884.
History
North Hykeham was ori ...
,
Branston and
Welbourn
Welbourn is a village and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 647. The village is situated on the A607 road, south from Lincoln and north-west from S ...
. The area around
Sleaford
Sleaford is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. Centred on the former parish of New Sleaford, the modern boundaries and urban area include Quarrington, Lincolnshire, ...
(including
Ruskington
Ruskington is a large village and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England, located approximately 4 miles (7 km) north of Sleaford on the north–south B1188 road and slightly north of the A153 road. The village ...
) has selective schools. Other schools in the area include
Kesteven and Sleaford High School and
Branston Community College.
The district part funds
The National Centre for Craft & Design
The Hub (sometimes The National Centre for Craft & Design) is an arts centre in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, which holds England's largest exhibition space for craft and design. It comprises a shop, cafebar, galleries, dance studio, and design worksh ...
, in the Hub building in Sleaford. Adjacent to it are annex buildings of
Grantham College
Grantham College is a further education and Sixth Form college in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England.
History Construction
Air Chief Marshal Arthur Longmore lived at Elsham House from about 1920; his daughter Janet was mother of Tony Worth, wh ...
, funded by the East Midlands
LSC.
Towns and parishes
The entire district is divided into
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority ...
es. The parish councils for Sleaford and North Hykeham take the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes share grouped parish councils or have
parish meeting
A parish meeting, in England, is a meeting to which all the electors in a civil parish are entitled to attend.
In some cases, where a parish or group of parishes has fewer than 200 electors, the parish meeting can take on the role of a parish cou ...
s instead of parish councils.
Arms
References
External links
Volunteer Centre Services
{{coord, 53.15, -0.50, region:GB_type:adm3rd, display=title
Non-metropolitan districts of Lincolnshire
Local government districts of the East Midlands