The municipal year is a period used by

local government Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state. Local governments typically constitute a subdivision of a higher-level political or administrative unit, such a ...

in the United Kingdom. The municipal year usually begins in May, following any local elections. It is not a fixed date so the number of days in any municipal year varies.

History

The municipal year has been in use as a concept since at least 1555, and has also been used – very occasionally – by town councils in the United States, though much less so now. The start of the municipal year follows any local elections taking place that year. Some councils have elections every four years whereas others have elections on three years out of four, with a third of seats contested at each election. Historically, in England the beginning of a new municipal year took place in November when the local authorities elections took place, and was a traditional time for celebration and festivities. In

Newcastle-under-Lyme Newcastle-under-Lyme is a market town and the administrative centre of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. It is adjacent to the city of Stoke-on-Trent. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census, the population ...

in the 19th century, the election was known as ''Mayor-choosing day'', or ''clouting-out day'', and was – according to one contemporary source, "the very

Saturnalia Saturnalia is an Roman festivals, ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the List of Roman deities, god Saturn (mythology), Saturn, held on 17 December in the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities until 19 December. By t ...

of play." Large-scale street games were played by children (imprisonment and subsequent rescue, or "clouting out", with knotted ropes, of young people was the source of the name), and the free distribution of

apple An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are agriculture, cultivated worldwide. The tree originated ...

s and penny coins were also customs. In the Irish city of

Galway Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...

, in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

, the newly appointed or -elected officers would, by convention, provide an enormous

feast A banquet (; ) is a formal large meal where a number of people consume food together. Banquets are traditionally held to enhance the prestige of a host, or reinforce social bonds among joint contributors. Modern examples of these purposes inc ...

for the town's "more distinguished citizens", while others took to the streets and made merry. The

Representation of the People Act 1948 The Representation of the People Act 1948 ( 11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 65) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that altered the law relating to parliamentary and local elections. It is noteworthy for abolishing plural voting for parlia ...

Representation of the People Act 1948 s57 changed the time of local elections to April for county councillors and May for borough councillors.

Function

England and Wales

The

Local Government Act 1972 The Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974. It was one of the most significant acts of Parliament to be passed by the Heath Gov ...

Section 99 requires that an annual meeting must take place between 8 and 21 days of the election of councillors, and outside of election years the annual meeting can take place on any day in March, April or May.Local Government Act 1972 Section 23 (1) requires that "the election of the chairman shall be the first business transacted at the annual meeting of a

principal council A principal council is a Local government in the United Kingdom, local government authority carrying out statutory duties in a principal area in England and Wales. The term "principal council" was first defined in the Local Government Act 1972, Se ...

". Vice-chairmen are also elected by the councillors. The chairman and vice-chairman of a borough in England, and a county borough in Wales, is known as mayor (spelt ''maer'' in Welsh) and deputy mayor (''dirprwy faer'' in Welsh). In councils with directly-elected mayor

executive arrangements In England, local authorities are required to adopt one of three types of executive arrangements, having an "elected mayor and cabinet", a "leader and cabinet", or a "committee system". The type of arrangement used determines how decisions will ...

, a chairman or civic mayor is elected by the councillors in the same way. During the rest of the year the council can hold as many meetings as are required.

References

{{Reflist Local government legislation in England and Wales Calendars

History

Function

England and Wales

See also

References