South Norfolk

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of Diss Urban District, Wymondham Urban District, Depwade Rural District, Forehoe and Henstead Rural District and Loddon Rural District.

Elections are held every four years, with the last elections occurring in May 2023. The next elections are due to take place in May 2027. The composition of the council, after by-elections and defections, is as follows;

UK Youth Parliament

Although the UK Youth Parliament is an apolitical organisation, the elections are run in a way similar to that of the Local Elections. The votes come from 11 to 18 year olds and are combined to make the decision of the next, 2 year Member of Youth Parliament. The elections are run at different times across the country with South Norfolk's typically being in early Spring and bi-annually.

The current Member of Youth Parliament for South Norfolk is Ewan Brett MYP.[3][4][5]

South Norfolk population pyramid

The district is entirely parished, and is made up of 119 civil parishes. At the time of the 2001 census, the district had an area of 909 km², with a population of 110,710 in 46,607 households.[6]

The district contains the following civil parishes:

• Alburgh, Aldeby, Alpington, Ashby St. Mary, Ashwellthorpe and Fundenhall, Aslacton
• Barford, Barnham Broom, Bawburgh, Bedingham, Bergh Apton, Bixley, Bracon Ash, Bramerton, Brandon Parva, Coston, Runhall and Welborne, Bressingham, Brockdish, Brooke, Broome, Bunwell, Burgh St. Peter, Burston and Shimpling
• Caistor St. Edmund, Carleton Rode, Carleton St. Peter, Chedgrave, Claxton, Colney, Costessey, Cringleford
• Denton, Deopham, Dickleburgh and Rushall, Diss, Ditchingham
• Earsham, East Carleton, Easton, Ellingham
• Flordon, Forncett (comprising Forncett St Mary and Forncett St Peter), Framingham Earl, Framingham Pigot
• Geldeston, Gillingham, Gissing, Great Melton, Great Moulton
• Haddiscoe, Hales, Heckingham, Hedenham, Hellington, Hempnall, Hethersett, Heywood, Hingham, Holverston, Howe
• Keswick and Intwood, Ketteringham, Kimberley, Kirby Bedon, Kirby Cane, Kirstead
• Langley with Hardley, Little Melton, Loddon, Long Stratton
• Marlingford and Colton,
• Morley, Morningthorpe and Fritton, Mulbarton, Mundham
• Needham, Newton Flotman, Norton Subcourse
• Poringland, Pulham Market, Pulham St. Mary
• Raveningham, Redenhall with Harleston, Rockland St. Mary, Roydon
• Saxlingham Nethergate, Scole, Seething, Shelfanger, Shelton and Hardwick, Shotesham, Sisland, Starston, Stockton, Stoke Holy Cross, Surlingham, Swainsthorpe, Swardeston
• Tacolneston, Tasburgh, Tharston and Hapton, Thurlton, Thurton, Thwaite, Tibenham, Tivetshall St Margaret, Tivetshall St. Mary, Toft Monks, Topcroft, Trowse with Newton,
• Wacton, Wheatacre, Wicklewood, Winfarthing, Woodton, Wortwell, Wramplingham, Wreningham, Wymondham
• Yelverton

In October 2020, Private Eye reported a total of £594,000 was paid to two managers leaving South Norfolk council as a result of the merger of the management teams at South Norfolk and Broadland councils, which included £540,000 to outgoing chief executive Sandra Dinneen.[7] (A further £357,000 in termination payments was to be shared between three managers leaving Broadland council due to the merger.) The councils stated these so-called "golden goodbyes" would save them money, as they would have fewer highly paid senior officials after they departed.[8]

In early 2023, South Norfolk District Council and Broadland District Council moved into a joint headquarters in the Broadland Business Park near Norwich. As a result of this move, South Norfolk District Council's headquarters no longer sits within the district. However, proponents of the move defend the decision, stating that due to the population density of the district being heavily weighted towards the greater Norwich suburbs, the new headquarters is more accessible to the majority of the district's residents than the previous headquarters in Long Stratton.

• Diss Express - district's local newspaper website

52.4920°N 1.2312°E / 52.4920; 1.2312