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Borough of Bournemouth
Geography
Status:	Unitary, Borough
Region:	South West England
Ceremonial county:	Dorset
Historic county:	Hampshire
Area: - Total	Ranked 305th 46.18 km²
Admin. HQ:	Bournemouth
Grid ref:	SZ 09 92
ONS code:	00HN
Demographics
Population: - Total (2006 est.) - Density	Ranked 99th 161,200 3491 / km²
Ethnicity:	96.7% White
Politics
Bournemouth Borough Council http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/
Leadership:	Leader & Cabinet
Executive:	Conservative
Mayor:	Anne Filer
MPs:	John Butterfill, Tobias Ellwood

The Borough of Bournemouth has been a unitary authority in South East Dorset since 1 April 1997. It is named after Bournemouth, the town it serves. Between 1974 and 1997 it was an administrative district in the shire county of Dorset.^[1]

The Borough can trace its history back to 27 August 1890 when the Municipal Borough of Bournemouth was created by Royal Charter. On 1 April 1900 it received County Borough status which lasted until 1974.^[1]

Contents 1 Government and politics 1.1 Wards 1.2 Composition 2 Coat of Arms 3 Twin Towns 4 References 5 See also

The borough is administered by Bournemouth Borough Council.

The Council has 18 wards covering the borough.

• Boscombe East
• Boscombe West
• Central
• East Cliff & Springbourne
• East Southbourne & Tuckton
• Kinson North
• Kinson South
• Littledown & Iford
• Moordown
• Queen's Park
• Redhill & Northbourne
• Strouden Park
• Talbot & Branksome Woods
• Throop & Muscliff
• Wallisdown & Winton West
• West Southbourne
• Westbourne & Westcliff
• Winton East

The Council currently consists of 54 elected members, 3 from each of the 18 wards. Prior to 2003 there were 19 wards (57 members). Elections take place every four years where all seats are contested.

The current Council composes of:

Party		Councillors	+/-
	Conservative Party	41	+23
	Liberal Democrats	7	-23
	Labour Party	3	0
	Independent	3	0
	Con Gain from Lib Dem

The whole Council will be up for election in 2011.

The famous Bournemouth Coat of Arms has a truly regal and dignified appearance, enhancing anything it embellishes. At one time it was painted in full colour on the town's yellow buses, and all Bournemouth schoolboys wore it on their blazers. In fact prefects at the town's Grammar School were honoured to wear a special silver badge of the arms, pinned to their brown and blue caps (a modified version of which practice continues today, largely in the form of tie-clips). Upon the advent of unitary authority status Bournemouth Borough Council adopted the Coat of Arms and crest as its corporate identity and, once again, it adorns literature, road signs and vehicles just as it did many years ago.

The Bournemouth Arms were granted as long ago as 24 March 1891, and while most people merely cast a cursory glance at the design, it is worth a while to study it more closely, because each intricate part has a very important metaphorical significance. The Helmet, sometimes called the Helm, is mounted above the shield as a reminder that knights wore such a helmet in battle to protect themselves.

The Crest is part of the Coat of Arms which was originally worn on top of the Helm as a means of recognition in battle. Bournemouth's crest consists of four English Roses surmounted by a Pine Tree, befitting indeed for a town which boasts such award-winning gardens and parks. The town's motto, "Pulchritudo et Salubritas", is printed on an ornamental scroll at the base of the arms, the Latin words reminding all that Bournemouth is both "beautiful and healthy".

The main part of the Coat of Arms is the Shield. In the time of chivalrous Knights, this was, of course, held in the hand and used as protection to the body in battle. Bournemouth's shield, in both design and colour, is based on the Royal Arms of King Edward the Confessor, in whose Royal estate the area now known as "Bournemouth" was situated. The four salmon represent those to be found in the River Stour, which marks the boundary between Christchurch and Bournemouth.

Each of the lions on Bournemouth's crest holds a rose between its paws. What look like six birds, are in fact Martlets. They have no legs and exist only in heraldry - not in the real world of nature. The nearest similar actual bird, as regards the name, is the Sand Martin. The Roses, four above the headband supporting the crest, and two held by the lions, are first and foremost a Royal Emblem of England, and secondly a reminder that Bournemouth used to be in the County of Southampton, more generally called Hampshire. The attitude of the lions is said to denote watchfulness and readiness for defence in the event of an attack along the sea coast close to the town.

It is perhaps a little ironic, that a resort with such a short history, should have a Coat of Arms reflecting times and attitudes predominant long before it existed, but the irony is balanced because the age of courtesy and spirit reflected in the Arms, appositely illustrates the chivalry and the charm of the people and the town of Bournemouth.

The Borough of Bournemouth is twinned with the following Towns:

• Lucerne, Switzerland (1981).
• Netanya, Israel.

1. ^ ^{a b} Bournemouth Borough Council. History of the Council. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.

Bournemouth local elections

v • d • e Districts of South West England

Bath and North East Somerset • Bournemouth • Bristol • Caradon • Carrick • Cheltenham • Christchurch • Cotswold • East Devon • East Dorset • Exeter • Forest of Dean • Gloucester • Isles of Scilly • Kennet • Kerrier • Mendip • Mid Devon • North Cornwall • North Devon • North Dorset • North Somerset • North Wiltshire • Penwith • Plymouth • Poole • Purbeck • Restormel • Salisbury • Sedgemoor • South Gloucestershire • South Hams • South Somerset • Stroud • Swindon • Taunton Deane • Teignbridge • Tewkesbury • Torbay • Torridge • West Devon • West Dorset • West Somerset • West Wiltshire • Weymouth and Portland Counties with multiple districts: Cornwall • Devon • Dorset • Gloucestershire • Somerset • Wiltshire

Coordinates: 50°43′N 1°53′W / 50.717, -1.883