Editing Durham, England (section)

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = City of Durham Parish Council
| coa_pic            = 
| coa_caption        = 
| coa_res            = 
| coa_alt            =
| logo_res           = 
| logo_alt           =
| foundation         = 1 April 2018
| house_type         = [[w:Parish councils in England|Parish Council]]
| leader1_type       = Chairperson
| leader1            = Cllr Elizabeth Scott
| leader2_type       = [[Municipal clerk#United Kingdom|Clerk]]
| leader2            = Adam Shanley
| members            = 15 Councillors
| structure1         =
| structure1_res     = 
| structure1_alt     = 
| seats1_title       = [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]
| seats1             = {{Composition bar|10|15|hex={{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}}}
| seats2_title       = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]
| seats2             = {{Composition bar|4|15|hex={{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}}}
| seats3_title       = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| seats3             = {{Composition bar|1|15|hex={{party color|Independent}}}}
| seats4_title       = [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]]
| seats4             = {{Composition bar|0|15|hex={{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}}}
| voting_system1     = [[Plurality-at-large voting|Plurality-at-large]]
| last_election1     = 1 May 2025
| next_election1     = 3 May 2029
| website            = {{URL|https://cityofdurham-pc.gov.uk/}}
| meeting_place      = Millennium Pl, Durham
| footnotes          =
}}
[[File:Durham Indoor Market - geograph.org.uk - 883874.jpg|left|thumbnail|upright=0.75|[[Durham Town Hall]] (Guildhall)]]
{{Further|Durham County Council}}
The ancient borough covering Durham was [[Durham and Framwelgate]], which was reformed by the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]]. In 1974 it was merged with [[Durham Rural District]] and [[Brandon and Byshottles Urban District]] to form the [[Durham (district)|City of Durham]] district of County Durham. The district was abolished in 2009 with its responsibilities assumed by [[Durham County Council]], a [[unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]].

Since April 2009, [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] has been held by [[charter trustees]], who are the Durham county councillors for the area of the former district. The trustees appoint the Mayor of Durham.<ref>[http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/2767/Charter-Trust-and-Mayor Durham County Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028020759/http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/2767/Charter-Trust-and-Mayor |date=28 October 2014 }} Charter Trust</ref> The creation of the new City of Durham Parish Council has not affected the charter trustees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northdurham/durham/15130116.What_you_need_to_know_about_a_new_parish_council_for_Durham_city_centre/|title=What you need to know about a new parish council for Durham city centre|website=The Northern Echo|language=en|access-date=23 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523095521/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northdurham/durham/15130116.What_you_need_to_know_about_a_new_parish_council_for_Durham_city_centre/|archive-date=23 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Durham's [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) is [[Mary Foy (politician)|Mary Foy]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]).

[[Durham Town Hall]] is located on the west side of the Market Place. The earliest part of the complex of buildings is the guildhall which dates from 1665. The town hall, at the rear, was opened in 1851 (at the same time as the indoor market, which extends beneath and either side of the hall).<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Town Hall and Guildhall|num=1160184|access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref>

A local referendum was held on creating a [[Parish councils in England|parish council]] for [[Unparished area|unparished]] areas of Durham City in February and March 2017, in which 66% of voters supported the proposal. The County Council approved the plans in September 2017. The City of Durham Parish Council was created on 1 April 2018, with the first elections for the 15 council seats taking place on 3 May 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/17293/New-council-for-Durham-City|title=New council for Durham City – Durham County Council|website=www.durham.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110054901/https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/17293/New-council-for-Durham-City|archive-date=10 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northdurham/durham/15362154.Councillors_vote_for_new_authority_after_hearing_about_strength_of_feeling_on_the_doorsteps_of_Durham/|title=Councillors vote for new authority after hearing about strength of feeling on the doorsteps of Durham|website=The Northern Echo|language=en|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902223615/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northdurham/durham/15362154.Councillors_vote_for_new_authority_after_hearing_about_strength_of_feeling_on_the_doorsteps_of_Durham/|archive-date=2 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The parish council is divided into three electoral wards, electing a total of 15 councillors. One in Aykley Heads, 6 in Elvet and Gilesgate and 8 in Nevilles Cross.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 April 2025 |title=Notice of Poll: City of Durham Aykley Heads |url=https://cityofdurham-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/City-of-Durham-Aykley-Heads.pdf |access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 April 2025 |title=Notice of Poll: City of Durham Elvet and Gilesgate |url=https://cityofdurham-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/City-of-Durham-Elvet-Gilesgate.pdf |access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 April 2025 |title=Notice of Poll: City of Durham Nevilles Cross |url=https://cityofdurham-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/City-of-Durham-Nevilles-Cross.pdf |access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref> These councillors are responsible for burial grounds, allotments, play areas and some street lighting. Elections to the town council are held every four years and the most recent elections were held in May 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parish Council election results - 1 May 2025 |url=https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/32690/Parish-Council-election-results-1-May-2025 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Durham County Council |language=en}}</ref>