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A quick investigation of the history of Bournemouth's administration reveals an example of determination on behalf of the pioneers of this important seaside resort.
Way back in August 1854, a specially convened meeting of interested residents decided to apply for a Local Act "for the improvement of Bournemouth". Known as "The Bournemouth Improvement Act", it was given Royal Assent in 1856. The Act called for a board of 13 Commissioners, of which the Lord of the Manor and his nominee were to be non-elected members, with the rest being subject to election. In those days, in order to vote electors had to be rated under the Act for property of an annual value of £7 situated within the area. The provisions of the Act allowed for improving the town generally, such as supplying better paving, sewering, draining and lighting, and also entitled the Commissioners to levy an annual General Improvement Rate of not more than three shillings in the pound.
An area of 1,140 acres was administered by the Commissioners, and the population grew in one year from just over 1,500 to over 6,500 in 1871. Within another 10 years, the population had risen amazingly quickly to almost 17,000 in 1881, and a year after that, a petition was drawn up requesting that the town become a Municipal Borough. After a five-day public hearing in 1884, the petition was refused by the Hon. T. W. H. Pelham.
By August 1885, the Commissioners' boundary had extended so they now had under their control nearly 2,500 acres, a population of 37,000 and a rateable value of all but £250,000. A second petition was presented in March 1888 and again a Charter was refused. However a Privy Council meeting in June 1890, presided over by Queen Victoria herself, gave its approval, and the official day of granting the charter, Wednesday, 27th August 1890, was observed locally as a general holiday.
The town's first municipal elections took place in November of the same year, and 18 Councillors were returned. The Mayor and six Aldermen were required to complete the constitution. Mr. T. J. Hankinson became the first Mayor of Bournemouth and his name is engraved on the Mace and the Mayoral Badge, which were presented to Bournemouth In March 1891, by Mr. and Mrs. Merton Russell-Cotes.
In July 1898, Councillor C. Mate led the call to secure an autonomous self-government by applying to become a County Borough. Such status was granted on All Fools' Day in 1900. From that date, the size and population of the County Borough increased ever-rapidly, only to lose its status and return to a Borough in 1974 when the whole system of local government was reorganised. The new Borough was no longer part of Hampshire but had been encapsulated within the bounds of Dorset. So Bournemouth, had many administrative decisions taken by the County Council based in Dorchester, while but the Borough Council remained in charge of other local services.
In terms of Parliamentary constituency, from 1832 until 1918, Bournemouth was in the Parliamentary Borough of Christchurch but when the "Representation of People Act" was passed in 1918, Bournemouth became a constituency in its own right. The first member of Parliament was Henry Page Croft. In 1948, Bournemouth was divided into two constituencies, Bournemouth East Constituency, and Bournemouth West.
Since April 1997, Bournemouth Council has been responsible for providing all local government services for the Town.
This will mean that local people only need to approach one local authority with any queries they may have regarding all of the following services, and many more:
| Contact details | |
|---|---|
| Bournemouth Council | |
| Town Hall, Bourne Avenue Bournemouth BH2 6DY | |
| Tel: 01202 451451 | |
| Fax: 01202 451000 | |
| Minicom: 01202 454728 | |
| Email: Enquiries | |