Editing Sleaford (section)

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[[File:North Kesteven UK locator map.svg|thumb|Sleaford is in the North Kesteven District of Lincolnshire (coloured red on this map).]]There are three tiers of local government covering Sleaford, at parish, district and county level: Sleaford Town Council, [[North Kesteven District Council]] and [[Lincolnshire County Council]], respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Councillors |url=https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/councillors |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=Sleaford Town Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610091153/https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/councillors |archive-date=10 June 2024}}</ref> County councils have statutory responsibility for some public services, including education, transport, libraries, planning and social care. District councils manage social housing, planning applications, council tax, and waste and recycling.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Understand How Your Council Works |url=https://www.gov.uk/understand-how-your-council-works |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=[[HM Government]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715122759/https://www.gov.uk/understand-how-your-council-works|archive-date=15 July 2024}}</ref> Town councils have powers to run some local amenities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Is Local Government Organised? |url=https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/councillor-and-officer-development/councillor-hub/introduction-local-government/how |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=[[Local Government Association]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614183833/https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/councillor-and-officer-development/councillor-hub/introduction-local-government/how|archive-date=14 June 2024}}</ref>{{Refn|group="n"|Sleaford Town Council owns and manages the town cemetery,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Town Cemetery |url=https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/cemetery |work=Sleaford Town Council |access-date=9 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241117013807/https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/cemetery|archive-date=17 November 2024}}</ref> as well as the Boston Road Recreation Ground and six other public open spaces;<ref name="STparks">{{Cite web |title=Parks & Open Spaces |url=https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/parks-and-gardens |work=Sleaford Town Council |access-date=9 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610225808/https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/parks-and-gardens|archive-date=10 June 2024}}</ref> it also manages the market,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sleaford Market |url=https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/markets |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Sleaford Town Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613170136/https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/markets|archive-date=13 June 2024}}</ref> Eastgate Car Park,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Car Parks |url=https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/car-parks |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Sleaford Town Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609171033/https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/car-parks|archive-date=9 June 2024}}</ref> the town's allotments on The Drove and Galley Hill,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Allotments |url=https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/allotments |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609171032/https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/allotments|archive-date=9 June 2024 |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Sleaford Town Council}}</ref> and several bus stops,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bus Stops & Shelters |url=https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/bus-stops-and-shelters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614170241/https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/bus-stops-and-shelters|archive-date=14 June 2024 |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Sleaford Town Council}}</ref> public toilets,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Building Maintenance |url=https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/building-maintenance |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612190020/https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/building-maintenance |archive-date=12 June 2024 |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Sleaford Town Council}}</ref> and street lighting and furniture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Street Furniture |url=https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/street-furniture |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611025817/https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/street-furniture|archive-date=11 June 2024|access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Sleaford Town Council}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Street Lighting |url=https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/street-lighting |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613230154/https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/street-lighting|archive-date=13 June 2024|access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Sleaford Town Council}}</ref>}}

Since the [[2023 United Kingdom local elections|2023 local elections]], the town council has been composed of 18 councillors from five [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|wards]]: Sleaford Castle (3 seats), Sleaford Holdingham (2 seats), Sleaford Navigation (3 seats), Sleaford Quarrington (7 seats) and Sleaford Westholme (3 seats).<ref name=":10">[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/1052/article/1/made The North Kesteven (Electoral Changes) Order 2021]</ref> There are seven representatives from five wards on the district council, as of 2023: Sleaford Castle (1 seat), Sleaford Holdingham (1 seat), Sleaford Navigation (1 seat), Sleaford Quarrington and Mareham (3 seats), and Sleaford Westholme (1 seat).<ref name=":10" /> Under the most recently devised boundaries, Sleaford has one seat on Lincolnshire County Council.<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/1226/schedule/1/made The Lincolnshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2016]</ref>[[File:Lafford Terrace (geograph 5574532).jpg|thumb|[[North Kesteven Council Offices]], Kesteven Street]]Since 2015, the town council has had its headquarters at the Town Hall in Quayside House, off Carre Street,<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.sleaford.gov.uk/ |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=Sleaford Town Council |archive-url=|archive-date=}}</ref> part of the modern Navigation Yard development.<ref>{{cite web |title=Navigation Yard |url=https://sleafordheritage.co.uk/about/locations/navigation-yard/ |access-date=21 November 2023 |website=The Sleaford Heritage Trail |publisher=Sleaford and District Civic Trust |archive-url=|archive-date=}}</ref>{{Refn|The town council met in and maintained an office at Westgate House from 1973 until 1981, after which it shared rooms at the new civic centre at [[St George's Academy|St George's School]]; in 2002, the offices moved to 3 Hill House, Carre Street, but the council continued to meet at St George's until 2006, after which it met at [[Carre's Grammar School]] until 2011, after which meetings were held at The Source in Southgate. In 2015, it very briefly met at Mill House, before moving both its offices and council chamber to Quayside House that year; it purchased the property in 2016.<ref>{{Harvnb|Brand|Pawley|2024|pp=9–10}}.</ref>|group="n"}} The district council is based at the [[North Kesteven Council Offices|Council Offices]] on Kesteven Street; the oldest part had been built as a row of houses called Lafford Terrace in the 1850s before being mostly being bought by the former Kesteven County Council (KCC) for offices in 1925; a large extension took place in 1960. After KCC's abolition in 1974, the complex was transferred to the newly established North Kesteven District Council, serving as its offices and, after a major extension in 1991, becoming its sole office building and host to its council chamber.<ref>{{Harvnb|Brand|Pawley|2024|pp=7, 12–13}}.</ref><ref name=":53">{{NHLE|num=1062147|desc=Lafford Terrace|access-date=15 March 2015|mode=cs1|fewer-links=yes}}</ref>