South Ribble is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Leyland. The borough also includes the towns and villages of Penwortham, Leyland, Farington, Hutton, Longton, Walmer Bridge, Salmesbury, Lostock Hall, Walton le Dale and Bamber Bridge. Many of the built-up areas in the borough form part of the wider Preston built-up area. The neighbouring districts are Preston, Ribble Valley, Blackburn with Darwen, Chorley, West Lancashire and Fylde.

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of two former districts and parts of a third, which were abolished at the same time: The new district was named South Ribble, reflecting the fact that the River Ribble forms its northern boundary. The new district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.

Governance

South Ribble Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Lancashire County Council. Parts of the borough are covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.

Political control

The council has been under Labour 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 coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1974 political control of the council has been as follows:

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in South Ribble. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2007 have been:

Composition

Following the 2023 election and a subsequent change of allegiance in February 2024, the composition of the council was: The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2015 the council has comprised 50 councillors representing 23 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. The borough straddles the parliamentary constituencies of Ribble Valley and South Ribble.

Premises

The council is based at the Civic Centre on West Paddock in Leyland. The building was built in the early 1970s for the former Leyland Urban District Council.

Parishes

There are eight civil parishes in the borough. The parish council for Penwortham has declared its parish to be a town, allowing it to take the style "town council". The parishes of Samlesbury and Cuerdale share a grouped parish council. The former urban districts of Leyland and Walton-le-Dale are unparished areas. The parishes are:

Twin town

South Ribble is twinned with:

Freedom of the Borough

The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of South Ribble.

Individuals

Military Units

Footnotes