The Borough of Crewe and Nantwich was created on 1 April 1974 under the
Local Government Act 1972 by the merger of the
borough of
Crewe (an industrial town), the
urban district of
Nantwich (a smaller market town), and
Nantwich Rural District.[1] The new district was proposed to be called just "Crewe", but the shadow authority elected in 1973 to oversee the transition to the new system successfully petitioned the government to change the name to "Crewe and Nantwich" before the district came into being.[2][3][4] The new district was awarded
borough status from its creation, allowing the chairman of the council to take the title of mayor.[5]
Economically active full-time student: 2.6% (2.6%)
Retired: 15.0% (13.6%)
Economically inactive student: 3.6% (4.7%)
Looking after home/family: 6.1% (6.5%)
Permanently sick or disabled: 5.1% (5.5%)
Other economically inactive: 2.6% (3.1%).
Crime levels (per 1000 population)
Violence against the person: 5.7 (England and Wales: 11.4).
Sexual offences: 0.2 (0.7).
Robbery: 0.4 (1.8).
Burglary from a dwelling: 7.2 (7.6).
Theft of a motor vehicle: 2.4 (6.4).
Theft from a motor vehicle: 7.8 (11.9).
According to 2003 figures, Crewe had the lowest crime rate and highest detection levels in Cheshire.
Political control
The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council from 1974 until its abolition in 2009 was held by the following parties:[8]
On 4 May 2006 a referendum was held to decide whether the "Leader and Cabinet" form of local government would be replaced by an
elected mayor. The proposal was rejected by 18,768 (60.8%) votes to 11,808 (38.2%) on a 35.3% turnout.
^"It's Crewe and Nantwich Council". Crewe Chronicle. 24 January 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 5 September 2022. The Secretary of State for the Environment has consented to the name of Crewe District Council being changed to Crewe and Nantwich District Council...