All you need to know about Southampton's Court Leet

The city holds beating the bounds and court leet on the first Tuesday after Michaelmas, September 29.

This year this falls on October 1 and Southampton residents are invited to take an active part by putting forward a local subject or issue before the council.

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The Sheriff of Southampton James Baillie Southampton reintroduced the beating the bounds custom in 1957 after a gap of more than 100 years.

Traditionally the mayor and sheriff, alongside other civic officials, toured Southampton’s boundary on horseback to check it was intact.

This responsibility now is undertaken by the sheriff of Southampton and the legal and governance service director in a car rather than horseback.

After the boundary has been toured and checked to be intact, the sheriff returns to the Civic Centre, where they take on their duty as foreman of the jury at Court Leet.

Originally Court Leet was a royal court where freemen met to deal with minor local criminal cases and raise other matters of concern.

Later, it often merged, including in Southampton, with the manorial court which dealt with the use of common fields and pastures.

While many of these courts disappeared over time, Southampton’s remained. The city was one of a handful that was allowed to keep its ancient event when court leet ceremonies were abolished in 1972.

The oldest surviving court leet records for Southampton date back to the mid-16th century.

In the late 1500s, subjects raised included water supply, proper measures for beer and rubbish control.

In modern times, while it has no formal powers, the annual court leet in Southampton gives the city’s residents the opportunity to make representations, called presentments, about local matters which might not normally come to the attention of the city council.

The court has a panel of jurors, typically honorary aldermen, former mayors and previous sheriffs.

The legal and governance service director takes the role of steward of the manor of court leet while the current sheriff is the foreman of the jury.

After the conclusion of each presentment, the jury will vote on whether to reject or accept it. This is normally based on whether it is within the city council’s remit.

Any accepted presentments are forwarded to a subsequent cabinet meeting.

Sheriff of Southampton Cllr James Baillie said: “I’m really looking forward to court leet as it provides a valuable opportunity for any citizen or group of citizens in Southampton, to make representations about matters of local concern, which might not normally come to the attention of the city council.

“It is vital that we, as a council, listen to the concerns of our residents and it is one of the highlights of my role.”

Southampton residents can submit their presentment ahead of court leet via the council’s democratic services department using the email address democratic.services@southampton.gov.uk.

They must be sent in by 5pm today (Monday, September 30).