Salisbury City Council is a parish council, currently led by the Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...

.

It came into existence in April 2009 to serve the city of Salisbury

Salisbury

Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...

, Wiltshire

Wiltshire

Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...

, as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England

2009 structural changes to local government in England

Structural changes to local government in England were effected on 1 April 2009, whereby a number of new unitary authorities were created in parts of the country which previously operated a 'two-tier' system of counties and districts...

, although its first elections were not held until June 2009. The city council is based in the city's historic Guildhall, following the adaptation of the building. In the interim it had its offices and meetings at 22 Bedwin Street, Salisbury.

City status

Salisbury had been ranked a city since "time immemorial

Time immemorial

Time immemorial is a phrase meaning time extending beyond the reach of memory, record, or tradition, indefinitely ancient, "ancient beyond memory or record"...

", and the status had been preserved after 1974 by the Charter Trustees

Charter Trustees

In England and Wales, charter trustees are set up to maintain the continuity of a town charter or city charter after a district with the status of a borough or city has been abolished, until such time as a parish council is established...

 of the City of New Sarum, a body which was dissolved at the time of the new grant. The parish was once again granted city status

City status in the United Kingdom

City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...

 by letters patent

Letters patent

Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...

 dated 1 April 2009.

Coat of arms

On 23 March 2010 the city council was granted a royal licence, transferring of the armorial bearings

Coat of arms

A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...

 of the previous City of New Sarum. The arms and supporters

Supporters

In heraldry, supporters are figures usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. These figures may be real or imaginary animals, human figures, and in rare cases plants or inanimate objects...

 were originally recorded at the heraldic visitation

Heraldic visitation

Heraldic Visitations were tours of inspection undertaken by Kings of Arms in England, Wales and Ireland in order to regulate and register the coats of arms of nobility and gentry and boroughs, and to record pedigrees...

s of Wiltshire in 1565 and 1623. The blazon

Blazon

In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...

 of the arms is:

Barry of eight Azure and Or. Supporters: On either side an eagle displayed with two heads Or, ducally gorged Azure.

There do not appear to be any meanings attached to the design. The traditional explanation that the blue stripes represent the rivers that meet in the city is now discounted. It has also been suggested that the eagles derive from the arms of the de Bouverie family, Earls of Radnor

Earl of Radnor

Earl of Radnor is a title which has been created two times. It was first created in the Peerage of England in 1679 for John Robartes, 2nd Baron Robartes, a notable political figure of the reign of Charles II. He was made Viscount Bodmin at the same time. Robartes was the son of Richard Robartes,...

, benefactors to the city. This also can be discounted as the arms were recorded before the family came to the area.

Membership

The first elections to the city council took place on 4 June 2009. The city is divided into eight wards, each with two or three councillors, as follows:

The council consists of twenty-three councillors. Seven wards return three councillors and one ward (St Mark's and Bishopdown) elects two.

Functions

The council is initially responsible for the following properties and services:

• Parks and associated public conveniences
• Car parks
• Cemeteries
• Play areas
• Sports pitches
• Open spaces
• Guildhall
• Allotments
• Salisbury Crematorium
• Charter market etc.
• Charter fair
• Bemerton Heath Neighbourhood centre
• General fund shops and garages owned by the city prior to 1974
• Events: Christmas Lights, St George's Day
  St George's Day
  St George's Day is celebrated by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. St George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303...
  
  , Salisbury Food Festival, Music in the Parks, Britain in Bloom
  Britain in Bloom
  RHS Britain in Bloom, supported by Anglian Home Improvements, is the largest horticultural campaign in the United Kingdom. It was first held in 1963, initiated by the British Tourist Board based on the example set by Fleurissement de France. It has been organised by the Royal Horticultural Society ...
  
  
• City Centre management
• General Community Fund