I live in Kent. My local authority is Kent County Council. KCC published recently a glossy magazine entitled Around Kent which in an orgy of self-congratulation and smugness tells us what wonderful things KCC is doing on behalf of Kent.
But if I reside in Rochester or Beckenham do I live in Kent? Rochester may be in the area of Medway Council but I imagine its residents consider they live in Kent. People in Beckenham may live in the local government area called the London Borough of Bromley, but many still think they are part of the county of Kent. Kent County Cricket Club still plays matches at Beckenham.
In Yorkshire, people living in Middlesbrough became part of Teesside, then Cleveland, now reside in a unitary authority, but for ceremonial purposes are part of North Yorkshire! Residents of Kingston-upon-Hull were part of Humberside County Council from 1974 to 1996.
Some historic counties have disappeared entirely as far as first tier local government organisation is concerned - Westmorland is now part of Cumbria.
Middlesex has disappeared although there is still Middlesex Cricket Club.
The 39 historic counties were ancient ancient subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and were in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires.
Community loyalty to the historic shire boundaries runs deep. Leaders of local authorities need to be reminded, during their frequent bouts of pomposity, that when they claim to speak for an area it is only for the area within their council boundary. KCC does not speak for all of Kent: thank God some say.
But if I reside in Rochester or Beckenham do I live in Kent? Rochester may be in the area of Medway Council but I imagine its residents consider they live in Kent. People in Beckenham may live in the local government area called the London Borough of Bromley, but many still think they are part of the county of Kent. Kent County Cricket Club still plays matches at Beckenham.
In Yorkshire, people living in Middlesbrough became part of Teesside, then Cleveland, now reside in a unitary authority, but for ceremonial purposes are part of North Yorkshire! Residents of Kingston-upon-Hull were part of Humberside County Council from 1974 to 1996.
Some historic counties have disappeared entirely as far as first tier local government organisation is concerned - Westmorland is now part of Cumbria.
Middlesex has disappeared although there is still Middlesex Cricket Club.
The 39 historic counties were ancient ancient subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and were in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires.
Community loyalty to the historic shire boundaries runs deep. Leaders of local authorities need to be reminded, during their frequent bouts of pomposity, that when they claim to speak for an area it is only for the area within their council boundary. KCC does not speak for all of Kent: thank God some say.
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