Southampton Court Leet

Southampton Court Leet returns on Tuesday 29 September, one of the city's oldest civic traditions. The earliest surviving records go back to 1549, when it started as a royal court where freemen dealt with minor local criminal cases, later merging with the manorial court. Most court leet ceremonies across the country were abolished in 1972, but Southampton was one of a handful of towns allowed to keep its ancient custom.

It's not the only old custom the city has held onto. In 1957, Southampton revived the tradition of beating the bounds after more than a century of silence. Back then, the mayor and sheriff toured the city boundary on horseback; these days, the sheriff and the director of the legal and governance service make the journey in a car.

These days, the court has no formal legal authority, but it still works as a channel for residents to bring issues to the council's attention. You do this through presentments, which are referred to the relevant cabinet member and reported at a future cabinet meeting. The sitting is heard by a panel of jurors, which includes honorary aldermen, former mayors and previous sheriffs.

It's a civic ceremony where residents can formally raise matters of concern, and the public are invited to take part. The next one is on Tuesday 29 September.