The first borough of Swindon was a municipal borough, created in 1900 as a merger of the two urban districts of Old Swindon and New Swindon.[2]
In 1974 the borough of Thamesdown was created under the Local Government Act 1972. Thamesdown covered the areas of the municipal borough of Swindon and the neighbouring HighworthRural District (which had been created in 1894), which were both abolished at the same time.[3][4] Thamesdown was a lower-tier non-metropolitan district, with Wiltshire County Council being the higher-tier authority for the area. Thamesdown was given borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[5]
On 1 April 1997 Thamesdown was made a unitary authority, making it administratively independent from Wiltshire County Council.[6] In June 1996, during the transition period to becoming a unitary authority, the council passed an order that the area would be renamed Swindon with effect from 1 April 1997 as well.[7] The former Thamesdown name and logo continued to be used by the municipal bus operator, Thamesdown Transport, until 2017 when it was sold and renamed to "Swindon's Bus Company".[8] Swindon remains part of the ceremonial county of Wiltshire for the purposes of lieutenancy.[9]
Geography
The borough of Swindon occupies an area forming the north east corner of Wiltshire and is bordered by two other counties, Gloucestershire (to the north) and Oxfordshire (to the east). West Berkshire is also only a short distance from the borough's south eastern tip.
The generally hilly landscape is sculpted by the upper Thames guiding the northern border, small tributaries draining into the Thames, and the Marlborough Downs rising toward the south.
Map of the Borough of Swindon and major settlements
The borough encompasses the Swindon urban area and surrounding countryside to the north, east and south, including the town of Highworth. It comprises the former Swindon Municipal Borough and a further 18 civil parishes:[10][11]
Since 1 April 2017 the entire Borough has been parished, following the establishment of West Swindon parish and the creation of Central Swindon North and Central Swindon South[11] (styled by its parish council as South Swindon).[12][13] The two Central parishes fall within the boundaries of the town and former municipal borough, divided along the Great Western Main Line railway.
At the same time:
the part of Chiseldon parish north of the M4, including the former hamlet of Coate, was transferred to Central Swindon South;
the parish of Blunsdon St Andrew was divided into St Andrews and Blunsdon, the A419 forming the boundary between them;
the parish of Nythe was expanded to form Nythe, Eldene and Liden.
The council follows a leader and cabinet model[14] and has 57 members elected by 20 wards.[15] Elections are held in three out of every four years, with one-third of the seats being elected at each election.[15] From the first election in 1996 to the 2000 election, Labour had a majority on the council. Following a period where no party had a majority, the Conservatives gained a majority at the 2003 election and had control until the 2023 election, when Labour took control.
Other elections
The borough is divided into two Parliamentary constituencies: North Swindon and South Swindon.[16] Both are seen as key marginal seats at general elections, having been bellwether seats since 1997 when they were created. Currently both seats are held by the Conservative Party.
