Forest of Dean District

Forest of Dean is a local government district in Gloucestershire, England, named after the Forest of Dean. Its council is based in Coleford. Other towns and villages in the district include Blakeney, Cinderford, Drybrook, English Bicknor, Huntley, Littledean, Longhope, Lydbrook, Lydney, Mitcheldean, Newnham and Newent.[3][4]

Forest of Dean District
Non-metropolitan district
Coleford Market Place, the town where Forest of Dean District Council is based
Coleford Market Place, the town where Forest of Dean District Council is based
Forest of Dean shown within Gloucestershire
Forest of Dean shown within Gloucestershire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionSouth West England
Non-metropolitan countyGloucestershire
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQColeford
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyForest of Dean District Council
 • LeadershipLeader & Cabinet
 • MPsMark Harper
Area
 • Total203.2 sq mi (526.4 km2)
 • Rank75th (of 296)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total87,140
 • Rank271st (of 296)
 • Density430/sq mi (170/km2)
 • Ethnicity
99.1% White
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code23UD (ONS)
E07000080 (GSS)
OS grid referenceSO6206309601
Forest of Dean District Council
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Di Martin,
Labour
since 25 May 2023
Mark Topping,
Green
since 25 May 2023
Andrew Grant
since January 2023[1]
Structure
Seats38 councillors[2]
Forest of Dean District Council composition
Political groups
Administration (15)
  Green (15)
Other parties (23)
  Independent (11)
  Labour (5)
  Conservative (4)
  Liberal Democrats (3)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
2027
Meeting place
Council Offices, High Street, Coleford, GL16 8HG
Website
www.fdean.gov.uk

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The new district covered the whole area of four former districts and part of a fifth, which were all abolished at the same time:[5][6]

The new district was named Forest of Dean after the ancient woodland which covers much of the district.[7]

Governance

Forest of Dean District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Gloucestershire County Council.[8] The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[9]

Political control

Since the 2023 election the council has been run by a Green minority administration with support from Labour on a confidence and supply basis.[10]

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[11][12]

Party in controlYears
Independent1974–1976
No overall control1976–1991
Labour1991–2003
No overall control2003–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2007 have been:[13]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Marion Winship Conservative23 May 2007Sep 2009
Peter Amos Conservative11 Sep 20098 May 2011
Patrick Molyneux Conservative26 May 201113 Jul 2017
Tim Gwilliam Independent13 Jul 201725 May 2023
Mark Topping Green25 May 2023

Composition

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:[14]

Party Councillors
Green15
Independent11
Labour5
Conservative4
Liberal Democrats3
Total38

The next election is due in 2027.

Premises

The council is based at the Council Offices on High Street in Coleford.[15]

Elections
See also: Forest of Dean District Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2019, the council has comprised 38 councillors elected from 21 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[16]

Parishes and settlements
See also: List of civil parishes in Gloucestershire

The whole district is divided into civil parishes. The parish councils of Cinderford, Coleford, Lydney and Newent take the style "town council".[17]

Settlements include:

References
  1. "Forest Council appoints £1,000-a-day temporary chief executive". The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Review. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  2. "Find a district councillor - Forest of Dean District Council".
  3. "Forest of Dean Parish Map" (PDF). Gloucestershire County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  4. "Administrative unit Forest of Dean District District/Unitary Authority". A Vision of Britain. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  5. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  6. "Forest of Dean: Local government and public services Pages 377-381 A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 5, Bledisloe Hundred, St. Briavels Hundred, the Forest of Dean". British History Online. Victoria County History. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  7. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  8. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  9. "Election maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  10. Garcia, Carmelo (19 May 2023). "Labour to vote for Green council leader but rules out Forest of Dean coalition administration". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  11. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  12. "Forest of Dean". BBC News Online. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  13. "Council minutes". Forest of Dean District Council. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  14. "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  15. "Contact us". Forest of Dean District Council. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  16. "The Forest of Dean (Electoral Changes) Order 2018", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2018/547
  17. "Parish council contact details". Forest of Dean District Council. Retrieved 25 June 2023.

51°47′N 2°33′W

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