Worthing - Governance

Governance

Worthing was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1890, when the towns absorbed the neighbouring civil parish of Heene. Subsequent enlargements took place in 1902, 1929 and 1933 before being reincorporated as a borough in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. Since its inception as a borough, the authority has granted freedom of the town to some 18 individuals.

The borough's coat of arms includes three silver mackerel, a Horn of Plenty overflowing with corn and fruit on a cloth of gold, and the figure of a woman, considered likely to be Hygieia, the Ancient Greek goddess of health, holding a snake. The images represent the health given from the seas, the fullness and riches gained from the earth and the power of healing.

Worthing's motto is the Latin Ex terra copiam e mari salutem, which translates as 'From the land plenty and from the sea health'.

The borough is divided into 13 wards, with eleven returning three councillors and two returning two councillors to form a total council of 37 members. The borough is unparished.

As of the 2011 local elections, the authority is Conservative-controlled, with seats allocated as follows:

Worthing remains part of the two-tier structure of local government, with some services being provided by West Sussex County Council. The town currently returns 9 councillors to the county council from 9 single member electoral divisions.

The town has two Members of Parliament (MPs): Tim Loughton (Conservative) for East Worthing and Shoreham, who is Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families; and Peter Bottomley (Conservative) for Worthing West. At the 2010 general election, both seats were safe Conservative seats and have been held by the incumbents since the seats' creation in 1997.

From 1945 to 1997 Worthing returned one MP. Since 1945 Worthing has always returned Conservative MPs. Until 1945 Worthing formed part of the Horsham and Worthing parliamentary constituency.

Worthing is included in the South East England constituency for elections to the European Parliament.