South Ribble is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Leyland. The borough includes the towns and villages of Penwortham, Leyland, Farington, Farington Moss, Hutton, Longton, Walmer Bridge, Much Hoole, Coupe Green, Samlesbury, 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: Leyland Urban District Preston Rural District (parishes of Cuerdale, Farington, Hutton, Little Hoole, Longton, Much Hoole, Penwortham and Samlesbury only, rest split between Preston and Ribble Valley) Walton-le-Dale Urban District (which included Bamber Bridge)
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.
Under current local government reorganisation plans, all district councils in Lancashire, as well as the county council, will be abolished in 2028, with the district becoming part of a new South Lancashire unitary authority.
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: (Put "South Ribble" in search box to see specific results.) Party in control Years 1974–1995 1995–1999 1999–2007 2007–2019 2019–2023 2023–present
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:
Councillor Party From To Margaret Smith 200720 Jul 2016 Peter Mullineaux 15 Sep 2016 17 May 2018 Mary Green 17 May 2018 15 Oct 2018 Paul Foster 15 Oct 2018 1 Nov 2018 Margaret Smith 1 Nov 2018 May 2019 Paul Foster 15 May 2019 17 Jul 2024 Jacky Alty 17 Jul 2024 21 May 2025 Matthew Tomlinson 21 May 2025
Composition Following the 2023 election, and subsequent changes of allegiance up to July 2025, 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:
Cuerdale Farington Hutton Little Hoole Longton Much Hoole Penwortham (town) Samlesbury
Twin town South Ribble is twinned with: South Ribble Borough Council, Town Twinning retrieved 21 January 2019 Schleswig-Flensburg, Germany
Freedom of the Borough The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of South Ribble.
Individuals Anthony Kelly: September 2010.
Military Units The King's Royal Hussars: 1992.
Footnotes
External links South Ribble Borough Council