North Kesteven is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England. The council is based in Sleaford. The district also contains the town of North Hykeham, which adjoins the neighbouring city of Lincoln, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.
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:[6]
Four of the independent councillors sit together as the "Group of Unaligned Members", and the other two do not belong to any group.[10] The next election is due in 2027.
Premises
The council is based at the North Kesteven Council Offices 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.[11][12] It was purchased in 1925 by Kesteven County Council 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 Council. In November 1973, a decision was taken to base it in The Hoplands in Sleaford, the base of East Kesteven Rural District Council. 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.
Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 43 councillors representing 24 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[13]
North Kesteven covers an area of 356 square miles (920 km2), of which 94% is classified as green space, which includes agricultural land and open space.[14]
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.[15] The two towns are Sleaford and North Hykeham, and the larger villages include Cranwell, Metheringham, Navenby, Ruskington and Waddington.
The district has two main RAF stations - RAF Cranwell (near Sleaford), and RAF Waddington (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, which lies between Sleaford and Metheringham. The former RAF Swinderby, which can be found adjacent to the A46 near the western edge of the district, closed in 1995.
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.[16]
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.[17] Within the district, 40% of the population live in the "Lincoln Fringe", the area immediately surrounding Lincoln City.[18] 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.[19]
The entire district is divided into civil parishes. 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 meetings instead of parish councils.[20]
Arms
Coat of arms of North Kesteven
Crest
On a wreath Argent and Vert out of the battlements of a tower a crane wings expanded and inverted proper supporting with the interior foot a Maltese cross resting upon the battlements quarterly Gules and Argent.
Escutcheon
Per chevron Vert and Sable on a chevron Or between in chief two bars wavy the nether issuant Argent surmounted of a demi eagle issuant displayed wings inverted Or and in base an oak tree issuant fructed Or three estoiles Sable.
