West Suffolk District

West Suffolk District is a local government district in Suffolk, England, which was established on 1 April 2019, following the merger of the existing Forest Heath district with the borough of St Edmundsbury.[1] The two councils had already had a joint Chief Executive since 2011.[2] At the 2011 census, the two districts had a combined population of 170,756. It is currently controlled by the Conservative Party.[3]

West Suffolk
Coat of arms of West Suffolk
Official logo of West Suffolk
West Suffolk district within Suffolk
West Suffolk district within Suffolk
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionEast of England
Non-metropolitan countySuffolk
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQBury St Edmunds
Incorporated1 April 2019
Government
  TypeNon-metropolitan district council
  BodyWest Suffolk Council
Area
  Total400 sq mi (1,035 km2)
  Rank28th of 309
Population
 (2021)
  Total179,948
  Rank111th of 309
  Density450/sq mi (170/km2)
   Rank256th of 309
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
  Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
Websitewww.westsuffolk.gov.uk

The main towns in the new district are Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Brandon, Haverhill and Mildenhall.

The district covers a smaller area compared to the former administrative county of West Suffolk, which was abolished by the Local Government Act 1972.

Communities

The district council area is made up of 5 towns and 97 civil parishes, with the whole area being parished.

Towns

Civil parishes

Governance

West Suffolk Council
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 2019 (2019-04-01)
Preceded byBorough of St Edmundsbury
Forest Heath District
Leadership
John Griffiths, Conservative
since 22 May 2019
Structure
Seats64 (33 needed for a majority)
Political groups
Administration
  Conservative Party (40)
Other parties
  The Independent Group (19):
  Independent (11)
  West Suffolk Independents (7)
  Green Party (1)
  Labour Party (4)
  Non group Independent (1)
Elections
Last election
2 May 2019
Next election
4 May 2023[4]
Website
www.westsuffolk.gov.uk

As of 2021, the Conservative Party control West Suffolk Council.[5] As of May 2021 the council consists of the following Parties:[6]

Party Seats
Conservative 40
The Independents Group 19
Labour 4
Non-Grouped Independent 1

The Conservatives won 43 of the 64 seats in the first election held on 2 May 2019. It was held concurrently with other local elections across the United Kingdom.[7][8]

Responsibilities

Since 1 April 2019 West Suffolk Council has been responsible for:[9]

  • culture and community development
  • economic development
  • housing
  • licensing and environmental health
  • planning and building control
  • running elections
  • waste and recycling

Councillors

As of March 2022 the council consists of the following Parties. The West Suffolk Independents and Green Party are part of the Independents Group[10] 12 Councillors are also amongst the 14 Suffolk County Councillors elected from West Suffolk District. They marked with an * on the chart below.

Party Seats
Conservative 40
The Independents Group 19
Labour 4
Non-Grouped Independent 1

The council area is divided up into 43 wards and represented by 64 councillors.[11]

Ward Councillor Responsibilities
Abbeygate Julia Wakelam
Joanna Rayner Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Community Hubs
Bardwell Ward Andrew Smith
Barningham Carol Bull Portfolio Holder for Governance
Barrow Ian Houlder Chair of Performance and Audit Scrutiny
Brandon Central Victor Lukaniuk*
Brandon East Philip Wittam
Brandon West David Palmer
Chedburgh and Chevington Michael Chester Vice-Chair of West Suffolk Council
Clare, Hundon and Kedington Marion Rushbrook
Karen Richardson Vice-Chair of Performance and Audit Scrutiny
Nicholas Clarke
Eastgate Clifford Waterman
Exning Simon Cole
Haverhill Central Aaron Luccarini
Haverhill East John Burns
Patrick Hanlon
Haverhill North Elaine McManus
Joseph Mason*
Haverhill South Jason Crooks
David Smith
Haverhill South East Anthony Brown
Haverhill West Margaret Marks Chair of West Suffolk Council
David Roach* Portfolio Holder for Planning
Horringer Nicholas Wiseman
Iceni Dawn Dicker
Michael Bradshaw
Ixworth John Griffiths Leader of the Council
Kentford and Moulton Roger Dicker
Lakenheath Stephen Frost Vice-Chair of Overview and Scrutiny
Colin Noble*
Manor Brian Harvey
Mildenhall Great Heath Richard Alecock
Mildenhall Kingsway and Market Ian Shipp Chair of Overview and Scrutiny/the Independent Group Leader
Mildenhall Queensway Andrew Neal
Minden Robert Everitt* Portfolio Holder for Families and Communities
Clive Springett
Moreton Hall Trevor Beckwith
Birgitte Mager
Peter Thompson*
Newmarket East Rachel Hood*
Robert Nobbs
Newmarket North Karen Soons*
Michael Anderson
Newmarket West Andrew Drummond* Portfolio Holder for Regulatory and Environment
Winston Lay
Pakenham and Troston Ward Simon Brown
Risby Susan Glossop
Rougham Sara Mildmay-White Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health
Southgate Hung Chung
Sarah Stamp
Stanton John Thorndyke
St Olaves Paul Hopfensperger
Max Clarke Non grouped independent
The Fornhams and Great Barton Beccy Hopfensperger*
Sarah Broughton Portfolio Holder for Resources and Property
The Rows Donald Waldron
Lance Stanbury*
Tollgate David Nettleton*
Diane Hind Labour Group Leader
Westgate Richard Rout*
John Augustine
Whepstead and Wickhambrook Sarah Pugh
Withersfield Peter Stephens Portfolio Holder for Operations

See also

References

  1. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (24 May 2018). "The West Suffolk (Local Government Changes) Order 2018". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  2. "West Suffolk: Councils to merge workforces in move to save cash". East Anglian Daily Times. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  3. "Agenda for West Suffolk Council Constitution on Wednesday 5 August 2020". democracy.westsuffolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  4. "About elections". www.westsuffolk.gov.uk. West Suffolk District Council. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  5. "West Suffolk Council election results". www.westsuffolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  6. "Political make up of West Suffolk Council". www.westsuffolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  7. "Local Elections 2019 in the Anglia region". ITV News. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  8. "West Suffolk Council election results". www.westsuffolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  9. "How your council works". www.westsuffolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  10. "Political make up of West Suffolk Council". www.westsuffolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  11. "Your Councillors". democracy.westsuffolk.gov.uk. West Suffolk District Council. Retrieved 3 March 2022.

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