The Borough of Brentwood is a local government district with borough status in Essex, England. The borough is named after its main town of Brentwood, where the council is based; it includes several villages and the surrounding rural area.
The new district was named Brentwood after its main town.[7]
The district was awarded borough status on 10 March 1993, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[8]
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[11][12][13]
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Brentwood. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1991 have been:[14]
Since the last boundary changes in 2002, the council has comprised 37 councillors representing 15 wards; each ward elects one, two or three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with roughly a third of the council being elected each time for a four-year term. In the fourth year of the cycle, when there are no elections for the borough council, elections for Essex County Council are held instead.[17]
Geography
There are still large areas of woodland including Shenfield Common, Hartswood (named after its last private owner, a Mr. Hart), Weald Country Park, and Thorndon Country Park.
Transport
The main transport links run through the borough in a south-west to north-east direction, with other important links running west to east.
A major trunk road running through the borough is the A12 dual-carriageway, running from East London to Chelmsford, Colchester, the ports of Harwich and Felixstowe, Ipswich and Lowestoft. The old Roman road (A1023) passes through the centre of Brentwood and joins the A12, which by-passes the town. Within different parts of Brentwood, the A1023 is called (from west to east) Brook Street, London Road, High Street, Shenfield Road, and Chelmsford Road.
Hutton All Saints Church of England Primary School
Ingatestone and Fryerning Church of England Primary School
Ingatestone Infant School
Ingrave Johnstone Church of England Primary School
Kelvedon Hatch Community Primary School
Larchwood Primary School
Long Ridings Primary School
Mountnessing Church of England Primary School
St. Helen's Catholic Infant School
St. Helen's Catholic Junior School
St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Primary School
St. Mary's Church of England Primary School
St. Peter's Church of England Primary School
St. Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Infant School
St. Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Junior School
Warley Primary School
West Horndon Primary School
Willowbrook Primary School (formerly Brookfield School)
Special schools
The Endeavour School
Grove House School
Civil parishes and settlements in the borough
There are nine civil parishes in the borough. The former Brentwood Urban District is an unparished area, directly administered by Brentwood Borough Council.[21][22]
Originally granted to Brentwood Urban District Council on 1 August 1951.
Crest
On a wreath of the colours rising from the battlements of a tower Azure a demi stag Or.
Escutcheon
Per fesse rayonée Argent and Gules in chief a Cornish chough Proper between two pilgrim's staves erect Sable in base three ancient crowns two and one Or.