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Huntingdon’s history stretches as far back as Palaeolithic
and Neolithic times and is probably due to its strategic position.
Four centuries of Roman rule left its mark, with the creation of
the long straight Roman roads of Ermine Street linking London to
York and the Via Devana, which linked the area with Colchester via
Cambridge. 
The town grew up on the River Great Ouse, once a major route inland
for invaders, and at the crossroads for access to East Anglia or
the West Midlands with a major route, known today as the A1, from
London to the North. London being just under an hour away by train,
many of Huntingdon’s residents are employed in the Capital
and commute daily, enjoying the relatively quiet market town environment
for their home life away from the contrasting pressure of City life.
Huntingdon’s proximity to Cambridge makes it an attractive
settlement for those drawn to the famous University Town with its
biotechnology and other science-related industries.
Until 1974, when Huntingdonshire was included with the county of
Cambridgeshire, Huntingdon was the county town of the historic county
of Huntingdonshire. The Town’s population has grown at a remarkable
rate in the last 50 years. Between 1951 and 1961, the population
of Huntingdon & Godmanchester increased from 7,784 to 8,821.
By 1974 this figure had increased to 17,500, rising to 20,600 in
2001 and was estimated at 22,050 in 2009. Godmanchester, a separate
Parish since 1982, has a current population of approximately 6,400.
Most of Huntingdon’s housing expansion has been to the North
and East of the older town of Huntingdon at Oxmoor, Sapley, Stukeley
Meadows and Hinchingbrooke with further development planned for
the near future on land situated between Huntingdon and the Stukeleys.
Huntingdon celebrated the 800th Anniversary of its Chartering in
2005. In 1205, the Town was granted the first in a series of Charters
by John the King of England. Dated 7th August that year, it confirmed
Huntingdon’s rights as a borough and permitted weekly markets
to be held. In 1941 the original Charter was discovered in an old
iron safe under the office of the then Town Clerk, John Winter.
The Charter is preserved and maintained by Huntingdon Library and
Archives, Princess Street.
Huntingdon Town Council represents the tier of local government
in Huntingdon that is closest to its electors. Employing just over
twenty staff in total, the Town Council consists of sixteen Councillors
elected for a four-year term to represent constituents in the town’s
three wards of Huntingdon North, East and West. Due to boundary
changes in April 2010, when parts of Hinchingbrooke were transferred
from Stukeley Parish Council to Huntingdon Town Council, the number
of seats for election in the west ward in May 2011 will increase
by three increasing the Council size to nineteen.
Town Council meetings take place every six-eight weeks and are presided
over by the Mayor, who is elected from among fellow Councillors
each year at the Annual Mayor Making ceremony. Consisting of all
Councillors, the Town Council’s main committees – those
of Planning, Finance and Leisure & Community Services –
also meet every six-eight weeks to discuss and decide issues relating
to the Council’s business.
The Planning Committee’s business is to comment on every planning
application submitted to the Huntingdonshire District Council as
a statutory consultee in the planning process. Matters relating
to the Local Development Framework, Structure, Transport and Waste
& Minerals plans are also considered by the members of this
committee. The Finance Committee manages the Council’s budgeting
process, ensures that the Council’s assets are protected and
controls expenditure and income, the latter being applied for as
“precept” from the District Council as a portion of
council tax revenues. Twinning matters are also dealt with by Finance
Committee members. The Leisure & Community Services Committee
governs matters concerning parks, gardens and play areas; community
events; allotments; cemeteries; arts and tourism; sports facilities;
the community newsletter “About Town” and Huntingdon’s
environment.
The Council’s decisions are carried out by the Town Clerk,
Ms Karen Cameron, who is assisted by a Deputy and three other administrative
staff at the Council’s Offices at 1 Trinity Place, together
with a team of six groundstaff and staff at the Commemoration Hall
and Medway Centre.
Huntingdon Town Council produces an annual Performance Plan which
sets out its aims for the year. In addition, services provided by
the Council are regularly reviewed to ensure that their delivery
is being achieved using public monies in the most efficient way
possible. Huntingdon Town Council was the first Council in Cambridgeshire
to be granted Quality Council Status in 2003 and retains its status
today.
Huntingdon Town Council maintains a traditional approach to local
government. Town Council meetings and important Civic Events see
the Mayor, Town Clerk and Councillors fully robed. The Mayor is
attended by his or her Macebearer, who carries the Mace when the
Mayor enters and leaves the Council Chambers and ensures that it
is placed correctly in repose whilst meetings are in progress. The
Macebearer wears a formal top hat and gold band together with a
plain black gown and the Town Clerk wears a gown and wig.
Huntingdon is twinned with three European towns in France, Germany
& Hungary. These are Salon de Provence, Wertheim am Main &
Szentendre respectively. The Huntingdon & Godmanchester Twinning
Association and Huntingdon Town Council play an active part in encouraging
links between the three towns. A friendship link has been formed
with Gubbio, a town in Northern Italy.
Various festivals are organised enabling both young and older people
from each twinned town to meet and work together over a week of
varied events and culminating in a joint performance involving all
the participants. In 2003, a delegation from the Town of Huntington
in the State of New York, US, visited Huntingdon with a proclamation
of sisterhood between the two towns. This visit marked the 350th
Anniversary of Huntington’s existence and a wish to share
the benefits of continuing goodwill and friendship between the communities
of Huntingdon & Huntington.
Huntingdon Town Council places community development high on its
list of objectives and in particular aims to ensure a varied programme
of entertainment, social and cultural activities is available to
all sections of the community. To this end the Council makes available
the Town Hall and the Medway Centre for community use. On behalf
of the Huntingdon Commemoration Hall Charity, Council staff also
service the Commemoration Hall. An annual Spring Party and Christmas
tea for Pensioners; High Street Races on Pancake Day and Summer
Outdoor Music Performances are organised by the Council as are other
special events, such as the 2010 Huntingdon Heritage Festival. Representatives
from a wide range of community groups and organisations are invited
to the annual civic events such as the Christmas Service, the Annual
Civic Service, Mayor Making and Remembrance Day. Huntingdon Town
Council also works closely with other organisations such as Huntingdon
Town Partnership to bring the Christmas Light’s Switch On
and the Boat Club and Rotary Club for the annual Riverside Gala.
In April 2010, Huntingdon Town Council awarded the 1st Battalion
of the Royal Anglian Regiment the Freedom of Huntingdon .The Market
Square and the surrounding streets were filled with large numbers
of spectators from Huntingdon who all came to welcome their local
Battalion home and to see them receive the Freedom of Huntingdon
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