South Derbyshire

South Derbyshire is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. The council is based in the town of Swadlincote. The district also contains numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. About a third of the National Forest lies within the district.

This article is about the district. For the parliamentary constituency, see South Derbyshire (UK Parliament constituency).

South Derbyshire District
Non-metropolitan district
Swadlincote, the administrative centre of the South Derbyshire district
Swadlincote, the administrative centre of the South Derbyshire district
Shown within Derbyshire
Shown within Derbyshire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionEast Midlands
Administrative countyDerbyshire
Admin. HQSwadlincote
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district
 • BodySouth Derbyshire District Council
 • MP:Heather Wheeler
Area
 • Total130.5 sq mi (338.1 km2)
 • Rank109th
Population
 (2021)
 • Total108,063
 • RankRanked 222nd
 • Density830/sq mi (320/km2)
Time zoneUTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
Postcode
DE
ONS code17UK (ONS)
E07000039 (GSS)
Ethnicity95.6% White
2.3% S.Asian[1]

The neighbouring districts are Derbyshire Dales, Amber Valley, Derby, Erewash, North West Leicestershire, Lichfield and East Staffordshire.

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of two former districts and part of a third, which were all abolished at the same time:[2]

The new district was named South Derbyshire, reflecting its position within the wider county.[3]

Governance
South Derbyshire District Council
Logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Sean Bambrick,
Labour
since 25 May 2023
Robert Pearson,
Labour
since 18 May 2023
Justin Ives
since 2 May 2023[4]
Structure
Seats36 councillors
Political groups
Administration (23)
  Labour (23)
Other parties (13)
  Conservative (10)
  Liberal Democrats (2)
  Independent (1)
Elections
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Civic Offices, Civic Way, Swadlincote, DE11 0AH
Website
www.southderbyshire.gov.uk

South Derbyshire District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Derbyshire County Council.[5] Much of the borough is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[6]

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since the 2023 election.[7]

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:[8]

Party in controlYears
Labour1974–1976
No overall control1976–1983
Labour1983–2007
Conservative2007–2020
No overall control2020–2023
Labour2023–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:[9]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Bill Dunn Labour1 Jul 2001
Barry Whyman Labour2 Jul 20016 May 2007
Heather Wheeler Conservative24 May 200720 May 2010
Bob Wheeler[10] Conservative20 May 20108 Jan 2018
Hilary Coyle Conservative18 Jan 201817 May 2018
Martyn Ford[11] Conservative17 May 20183 Jan 2021
Kevin Richards Labour14 Jan 20217 May 2023
Robert Pearson Labour18 May 2023

Composition

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:[12]

Party Councillors
Labour 23
Conservative 10
Liberal Democrats 2
Independent 1
Total 36

The next election is due in 2027.

Elections
See also: South Derbyshire District Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2011 the council has comprised 36 councillors, representing 15 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[13]

Premises

The council is based at the Civic Offices on Civic Way in Swadlincote. The building was purpose-built for the council and was completed in 1977, being formally opened on 18 February 1977 by Jack Longland.[14] The council's annual meeting each May, when new the new chair is appointed, is held at Swadlincote Town Hall on The Delph, which had been built as a market hall in 1861.[15][16]

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

The former Swadlincote Urban District is an unparished area. The rest of the district is covered by civil parishes. None of the parishes is styled as a "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting instead of a parish council.[17]

Settlements in the district include:

Arms
Coat of arms of South Derbyshire
Crest
On a wreath of the colours upon a mount Sable inflamed a tower Argent rising therefrom clouds of steam Proper.
Escutcheon
Vert on a chevron Or masoned Sable between three garbs Or a like number of annulets also Sable a chief vairy Ermine and Gules.
Supporters
On the dexter side a lion Ermine gorged with a collar vairy Ermine and Gules and on the sinister side a wolf Erminois gorged with a collar quarterly Ermine and Gules each charged on the shoulder with a Rose Gules barbed Proper thereon another Argent barbed and seeded also Proper.
Motto
The Earth Our Wealth[18]

References
  1. Check Browser Settings
  2. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  3. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  4. "New Chief Executive appointed for South Derbyshire District Council". South Derbyshire District Council. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  5. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  6. "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  7. Torr, George; Roberts, Georgia (5 May 2023). "Local elections 2023: Labour big winners across Derbyshire". BBC News. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  8. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  9. "Council minutes". South Derbyshire District Council. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  10. Bisknell, Eddie (19 January 2018). "Leader of South Derbyshire District Council Bob Wheeler steps down after seven years at the reins". Staffordshire Live. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  11. Kreft, Helen (7 January 2021). "Council leader resigns amid major falling out in South Derbyshire". Staffordshire Live. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  12. "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  13. "The South Derbyshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2011", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2011/165, retrieved 27 July 2023
  14. "Official opening of new council offices". Burton Daily Mail. 17 February 1977. p. 8. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  15. Historic England. "Town Hall (Grade 2) (1334526)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  16. "Committees". South Derbyshire District Council. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  17. "Parish Councils". South Derbyshire District Council. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  18. "East Midlands Region". Civic Heraldry of England. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
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