Borough of Melton


Melton is a local government district with borough status in north-eastern Leicestershire, England. It is named after its main town, Melton Mowbray. Other settlements include Asfordby and Bottesford. It has a population of 46,861, increasing to 50,376 at the 2011 census.
Melton Borough is an rural area in the north-east part of Leicestershire and at the heart of the East Midlands. It is the 10th smallest district in England. The main activities of the Borough are centred on the single market town of Melton Mowbray which has a population of about 26,000.
There are some 70 small villages within the surrounding rural area and the area of the Borough is 48,138ha.

History

It was formed in 1974, from the Melton Mowbray Urban District and the Melton and Belvoir Rural District. The council offices on Nottingham Road burnt down on 30 May 2008. Across the road were situated the main offices of the East Midlands Regional Assembly before it was abolished in 2010.

Food

The borough is the home of Stilton Cheese and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies.

Parishes

There are 28 Councillors, of which 22 are Conservative and so control the Council. Five Councillors are Independents, and there is one Green Councillor – together they have formed an ‘Opposition Group’ with Cllr Elaine Holmes as leader. The Conservative Leader of the Council is Cllr Joe Orson, who represents the Old Dalby Ward.
The Melton and Rutland constituency is Conservative.
East Midlands Councils is based opposite the former Melton borough offices on the A606 within the PERA complex.

Geography

The district borders South Kesteven, in Lincolnshire, to the east, Rutland to the south, Charnwood to the west, and Rushcliffe and Newark and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire to the north. The north part of the district is known as the Vale of Belvoir.

Economy

Farming and food production are the main industries with Pedigree Petfoods in Melton, and its Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition at Waltham on the Wolds. There is a large creamery at Long Clawson. Samworth Brothers are headquartered in Melton. The Royal Army Veterinary Corps and Defence Animal Training Regiment are also in Melton.
The Birmingham to Peterborough Line runs through the borough, and the borough is criss-crossed by the A607 and the A606. Both these roads meet in the centre of Melton, with resulting congestion.

Education

Until September 2008, the district operated the three-tier education system, whereby there were three middle schools. All these schools fed into the same upper school in Melton from 14-18. At both GCSE and A level, the district's results are above the England average. From age 16 Students can attend either Melton Vale Post 16 Centre for academic sixth form courses, or Brooksby Melton College for vocational courses.

Demographics

The Borough of Melton has experienced steady population growth in recent times albeit at a rate lower than the other districts within Leicestershire.

Highest rate of accidental death in England in 2010/11

In March 2012, Melton was identified as having the highest rate of accidental death by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, with statistics over the period from 2010/11 showing an average of 29 deaths for 100,000 people.