Warwick District

Warwick is a local government district in Warwickshire, England. It is named after the historic county town of Warwick, which is the district's second largest town; the largest town is Royal Leamington Spa, where the council is based. The district also includes the towns of Kenilworth and Whitnash and surrounding villages and rural areas. Leamington Spa, Warwick and Whitnash form a conurbation which has about two thirds of the district's population.[2]

Warwick District
Non-metropolitan district
Leamington Spa, the largest settlement in the district.
Leamington Spa, the largest settlement in the district.
Shown within Warwickshire
Shown within Warwickshire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionWest Midlands
Administrative countyWarwickshire
Admin. HQLeamington Spa
Government
 • MPs:Matt Western (L)
Jeremy Wright (C)
Area
 • Total109 sq mi (283 km2)
 • Rank124th
Population
 (2021 census)
 • Total148,500
 • Rank143rd
 • Density1,360/sq mi (524/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
ONS code44UF (ONS)
E07000222 (GSS)

The neighbouring districts are Rugby, Stratford-on-Avon, Solihull and Coventry.

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The new district was formed through the merger of four former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:[3]

The new district was named Warwick after the county town.[4]

Proposals to merge the district with neighbouring Stratford-on-Avon District were put forward in 2021 and provisionally agreed, before eventually being abandoned in April 2022.[5][6]

Governance
Warwick Avon District Council
Logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Sidney Syson,
Liberal Democrat
since 17 May 2023[7]
Ian Davison,
Green
since 17 May 2023
Chris Elliott
Structure
Seats44 councillors
Political groups
Administration (24)
  Green (14)
  Labour (10)
Other parties (20)
  Liberal Democrats (10)
  Conservative (6)
  Whitnash RA (3)
  Independent (1)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First past the post
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Town Hall, The Parade, Leamington Spa, CV32 4AT
Website
www.warwickdc.gov.uk

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

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2019. Following the 2023 election a coalition of the Greens and Labour formed to run the council, led by Green councillor Ian Davison.[10]

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing councils before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1974 political control of the council has been as follows:[11][12]

Party in controlYears
No overall control1974–1976
Conservative1976–1995
No overall control1995–2007
Conservative2007–2019
No overall control2019–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1995 have been:[13]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Ian Dove Labour199519 Apr 2000
Margaret Begg Liberal Democrats19 Apr 200013 Jun 2001
Ian Dove Labour13 Jun 200124 Apr 2002
Bob Crowther Labour24 Apr 2002May 2007
Michael Coker ConservativeMay 20072008
Michael Doody Conservative20084 Dec 2013
Andrew Mobbs Conservative4 Dec 20135 May 2019
Andrew Day Conservative15 May 201917 May 2023
Ian Davison Green17 May 2023

Composition

Following the 2023 election and a change of allegiance in April 2024, the composition of the council was:[14][15]

Party Councillors
Green 14
Labour 10
Liberal Democrats 10
Conservative 6
Whitnash Residents Association 3
Independent 1
Total 44

The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 44 councillors representing 17 wards with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[16]

Premises
Council's main offices: Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Leamington Spa, CV32 5HZ

Council meetings are usually held at Leamington Spa Town Hall on The Parade, which had been built in 1884 for the old Leamington Borough Council.[17] The council has its main offices at Riverside House on Milverton Hill in Leamington, close to the River Leam. That building was completed in 1984 as the headquarters of the Leamington Spa Building Society, and was subsequently bought by the council in the late 1990s.[18] Plans are being considered to move the council's main offices nearer to the town centre of Leamington Spa; various schemes have been proposed since 2016, but none has yet to come to fruition.[19][20]

The environment

On 27 June 2019 the elected members at the Full Council meeting declared a "climate emergency" in response to ongoing global climate change. The council aims to become carbon neutral by 2025, whilst trying to make the whole district carbon neutral by 2030.[21] On 20 January 2020 it was announced that electric cars would be given free parking in council car parks.[22] On 4 February of that year it was proposed by the council group leaders to increase council tax by around £1 a week on Band D properties to create £3 million per year. This would be ring-fenced for environmental purposes. If this proposal was accepted by the other councillors then a district wide referendum would have been held on 7 May to decide if the public accept it.[23] On 26 February the full council unanimously agreed the proposal, triggering the 7 May referendum,[24] – which was put back to 6 May 2021, due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. As of April 2022 the referendum has not yet occurred and no date has been set.

Demography
Ethnic Group 2001[25] 2011[26]
Number % Number %
White: British111,04388.19%114,73983.36%
White: Irish2,5252.01%2,1461.56%
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller410.03%
White: Other3,4482.74%5,7894.21%
White: Total117,01692.94%122,71589.15%
Asian or Asian British: Indian5,2184.14%6,7454.90%
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani2220.18%4800.35%
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi220.02%690.05%
Asian or Asian British: Chinese5210.41%1,1550.84%
Asian or Asian British: Other Asian4350.35%1,4961.09%
Asian or Asian British: Total6,4185.10%9,9457.22%
Black or Black British: Caribbean3600.29%3890.28%
Black or Black British: African1680.13%4740.34%
Black or Black British: Other Black590.05%1100.08%
Black or Black British: Total5870.47%9730.71%
Mixed: White and Black Caribbean5060.40%8610.63%
Mixed: White and Black African930.07%2330.17%
Mixed: White and Asian5030.40%1,0700.78%
Mixed: Other Mixed2810.22%6390.46%
Mixed: Total1,3831.10%2,8032.04%
Other: Arab2310.17%
Other: Any other ethnic group9810.71%
Other: Total5040.40%1,2120.88%
BAME: Total8,8927.06%14,93310.85%
Total125,908100.00%137,648100.00%
Religion 2001[27] 2011[28]
Number % Number %
Christian89,76371.28%80,18558.25%
Buddhist3470.28%5210.38%
Hindu8480.67%1,6331.19%
Jewish2070.16%2680.19%
Muslim6300.50%1,2990.94%
Sikh4,2393.37%5,3733.90%
Other religion3550.28%5310.39%
No religion20,49416.27%37,85927.50%
Religion not stated9,0517.19%9,9797.25%
Total125,934100.00%137,648100.00%

Travel, education and healthcare

The district has six railway stations – Warwick, Warwick Parkway, Leamington Spa, Kenilworth, Hatton and Lapworth. Regular bus services run between Warwick, Leamington and Kenilworth and onwards to Coventry, Stratford upon Avon and the University of Warwick. The Grand Union Canal flows through the district and the M40 motorway also passes through. Right on the edge of the district is Coventry Airport.

National Health Service general healthcare is provided by South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust and mental health care by Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust. Local hospitals include Warwick Hospital, the Leamington Spa Hospital,[29] St Michael's Hospital and the Warwickshire Nuffield Hospital (non-NHS, part of the Nuffield Health group)[30] Social services is pro On 13 July 2021 a coronavirus "mega lab" was opened in the town. Named after English chemist Rosalind Franklin. The site is expected to be capable of processing "hundreds of thousands of samples a day". The largest laboratory of its kind in the UK, and it is hoped it will create up to 1,500 jobs. It will also play a "key role in responding to new variants of the virus".[31] Historic hospitals included St Michael's Leper Hospital, Warneford Hospital and Central Hospital. Social services and fostering are dealt with on a countywide basis by Warwickshire County Council.

Freedom of district
  • MoD Kineton: 4 April 2013.[32]
  • On 26 November 2013 the freedom of the district was bestowed on the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers following a parade through Royal Leamington Spa.[33]

Towns and parishes

The district is divided into 32 civil parishes, which cover the whole area. The parish councils for Kenilworth, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick and Whitnash have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council". The small parish of Bushwood has a parish meeting rather than a parish council. The parishes are:[34]

  • Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire and the second-largest settlement in the district
    Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire and the second-largest settlement in the district
  • Kenilworth, the third-largest settlement in the district and close to the border with Coventry
    Kenilworth, the third-largest settlement in the district and close to the border with Coventry
  • Whitnash, the fourth-largest settlement in the district
    Whitnash, the fourth-largest settlement in the district
  • Leamington Spa Town Hall, the meeting place of both Leamington Spa Town Council and Warwick District Council
    Leamington Spa Town Hall, the meeting place of both Leamington Spa Town Council and Warwick District Council
  • Collegiate Church of St Mary, the parish church of Warwick and one of the largest churches in Warwickshire
    Collegiate Church of St Mary, the parish church of Warwick and one of the largest churches in Warwickshire
  • Warwick Castle, Warwick is the historic castle of the town and one of its oldest landmarks.
    Warwick Castle, Warwick is the historic castle of the town and one of its oldest landmarks.
  • All Saints Church, Leamington Spa, the parish church of Leamington Spa and a grade-II* listed building
    All Saints Church, Leamington Spa, the parish church of Leamington Spa and a grade-II* listed building
  • Kenilworth Castle, the historic castle in the market town of Kenilworth
    Kenilworth Castle, the historic castle in the market town of Kenilworth
  • The Royal Pump Rooms and Baths, Leamington Spa which house the spa baths and give Leamington Spa its status as a spa town.
    The Royal Pump Rooms and Baths, Leamington Spa which house the spa baths and give Leamington Spa its status as a spa town.
  • Warwick Racecourse in Warwick, which is a horse-racing track
    Warwick Racecourse in Warwick, which is a horse-racing track
  • Whitnash parish church and Warwick Gates.
    Whitnash parish church and Warwick Gates.
  • Lord Leycester Hospital, an old hospital in Warwick
    Lord Leycester Hospital, an old hospital in Warwick
  • Guy's Cliffe House in the north of Warwick is a ruined Gothic house.
    Guy's Cliffe House in the north of Warwick is a ruined Gothic house.

References
  1. UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Warwick Local Authority (E07000222)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Royal Leamington Spa Built-up area (E34004841)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  3. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  4. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  5. "Plans to merge Warwick and Stratford District Councils into single 'mega authority' have been scrapped". Warwickshireworld. Leamington Courier. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  6. "Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon councils merger plans scrapped". BBC News. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  7. "Council minutes, 24 May 2023". Stratford-on-Avon District Council. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  8. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  9. "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  10. "Greens and Labour form a coalition on Warwick District Council". Leamington Observer. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  11. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  12. "Warwick". BBC News Online. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  13. "Council minutes". Warwick District Council. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  14. "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  15. Boothroyd, David (26 April 2024). "Not for glory, nor riches, nor honours". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  16. "The Warwick (Electoral Changes) Order 2018", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2018/1313, retrieved 24 January 2024
  17. "Councillors move out as renovation begins on Leamington Town Hall". Leamington Observer. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  18. "On the move". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 15 November 1984. p. 5. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  19. "Warwick District Council set to agree HQ move". leamingtonobserver.co.uk. Leamington Observer. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  20. "Latest on plans to relocate council to Leamington town centre - and what could happen next". www.coventrytelegraph.net. Coventry Telegraph. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  21. "Warwick District Council declares a climate emergency". Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  22. "Council to offer free parking for electric vehicles". Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  23. "Warwick District's Climate Emergency Action Programme". Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  24. "Residents in Warwickshire to vote on council tax rise for climate change fund". 26 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  25. "Ethnic Group by measures". NOMIS. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  26. "Ethnic Group by measures". NOMIS. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  27. "Religion". Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  28. "QS208EW - Religion". Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  29. "How Leamington Rehab Hospital's friends make the road to recovery smoother for patients". Leamington Courier. 15 August 2012. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  30. "Nuffield Hospital Warwick". NHS Choices. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  31. "Covid-19: Leamington Spa 'mega lab' opens to speed up testing". BBC News. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  32. "Warwick Freedom Scroll" (JPG). www.calligraphyanddesign.com. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  33. "Fusiliers granted freedom of Warwick District". BBC News. BBC. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  34. "Warwick District - parishes". City Population. Retrieved 22 January 2024.

52.2894°N 1.5435°W / 52.2894; -1.5435

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