User:Protalina/sandbox

Sandboxed

 * Thomas Hughes (priest) (18181876)

Local government
Stanley was successively part of the Lanchester Poor Law Union (from 1837 onwards); Stanley Local Government Board (1892); Stanley Urban District (1894); Derwentside District (1974);  and County Durham (2009).

Since 2007, Stanley Town Council has provided the first tier of local government. The council has the statutory right to do what it considers will achieve the improvement of the economic, social or environmental well-being of the area. It has a duty to provide allotments and to consider the potential impact of every policy and action on reducing crime. The council's powers include the provision and maintenance of bus shelters, community centres, play areas and play equipment, and the awarding of grants to local community organisations. It can also issue fixed penalty fines for offences such as littering, graffiti, fly-posting, and contraventions of dog control orders.

The town council has 20 councillors, elected every four years by electors in the seven parish wards. The last election was in 2021 for the 20212025 term. Each year the councillors elect, from amongst themselves, a town mayor and deputy, and a council leader and deputy.

Durham County Council provides the second tier of local government. Eight Stanley town councillors serve on the county council. Its responsibilities include education, housing, social services, highways, planning, and refuse collection. In May 2024, the county council became a member of a new upper tier of local government, the North East Combined Authority.

Stanley is in the UK parliamentary constituency of North Durham. Since 2001, this has been represented by MP Kevan Jones.