Charter Trustees facts for kids

Charter Trustees are special local leaders in England. They are like regular councillors but they have a unique job: they look after the old traditions and special honours of places that used to be cities.

These trustees make sure that important customs and symbols from a town's past as a city are not forgotten. They help keep the history and pride of these places alive.

What Are Charter Trustees?

Charter Trustees are a unique part of local government in England. They are elected councillors from a specific area, usually a district or unitary authority. Their main role is to preserve the special traditions and honours of a town that used to be a city but no longer has its own city council.

For example, if a city's council was replaced by a different type of local government, Charter Trustees step in. They make sure that important ceremonies, titles, and symbols, like the Mayor's chain or the city's special flag, are still looked after and used.

Why Do We Have Charter Trustees?

Charter Trustees exist because of a law called the Charter Trustees Act 1985. This law was created to help towns keep their historic city status and traditions, even if their local government structure changed.

Before 1974, many towns in England were officially cities with their own city councils. In 1974, the way local government was organized changed a lot. Many city councils were replaced by new district or borough councils. This meant some towns lost their official city council.

The Charter Trustees Act 1985 made it possible for these towns to keep some of their old "privileges and dignities." This means they can continue traditions like having a Mayor, holding special civic events, and looking after historic items that belong to the former city.

What Do Charter Trustees Do?

The main job of Charter Trustees is to protect the history and special identity of a former city. They usually handle things that are more about tradition and ceremony than day-to-day services.

Here are some of their typical duties:

• They look after the historic items of the former city, such as official robes, chains of office, and important documents.
• They organize traditional civic events and ceremonies, like parades or special gatherings.
• They often appoint a Mayor or a similar civic head for the area, who represents the historic city.
• They manage any special funds or property that were originally given to the former city.

It's important to remember that Charter Trustees do not provide services like collecting rubbish, running schools, or maintaining roads. Those jobs are handled by the main district or unitary council. The trustees focus purely on preserving the heritage and ceremonial aspects of the former city.

Where Can You Find Charter Trustees?

You can find Charter Trustees in areas of England where a former city's council was replaced by a new local government structure. These areas often have a rich history and a strong sense of local pride.

For example, if a town was once a city but is now part of a larger district, the councillors for that specific town within the district might also serve as Charter Trustees. They represent the historic heart of what was once a city.