Breckland District Explained

Breckland is a local government district in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in Dereham, although the largest town is Thetford. The district also includes the towns of Attleborough, Swaffham and Watton, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.

The district derives its name from the Breckland landscape region, a gorse-covered sandy heath of south Norfolk and north Suffolk. The term "Breckland" dates back to at least the 13th century.

The neighbouring districts are King's Lynn and West Norfolk, North Norfolk, Broadland, South Norfolk, Mid Suffolk and West Suffolk.

History

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering six former districts which were all abolished at the same time:[1]

The new district was named Breckland after the distinctive landscape which covers parts of the area.[2] The name was chosen following a competition organised by the outgoing authorities which invited local schools, organisations and individuals to put forward suggested names.[3]

Governance

Breckland Council
Logo Pic:Breckland Council logo.svg
Logo Res:180px
House Type:Non-metropolitan district
Leader1:Keith Gilbert
Election1:23 May 2024[4]
Leader2:Sam Chapman-Allen
Election2:16 May 2019
Leader3:Maxine O'Mahony
Election3:2021[5]
Members:49 councillors
Structure1:Breckland_District_Council_2023.svg
Structure1 Res:250px
Political Groups1:
Administration (31)
  • Conservative (31)
    Other parties (18)
  • Labour (12)
    • Next Election2:6 May 2027
    Meeting Place:Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham, NR191EE

    Breckland District Council, which styles itself "Breckland Council", provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Norfolk County Council. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[6] [7]

    Political control

    The council has been under Conservative majority control since 1999.

    The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[8]

    Party in controlYears
    1974–1979
    1979–1995
    1995–1999
    1999–present

    Leadership

    The leaders of the council since 1998 have been:[9]

    Councillor Party From To
    Cliff Jordan[10] 1998 2005
    William Nunn[11] 2005 5 Sep 2013
    Michael Wassell[12] [13] 11 Sep 2013 31 Mar 2016
    William Nunn[14] [15] 31 Mar 2016 16 May 2019
    Sam Chapman-Allen 16 May 2019

    Composition

    Following the 2023 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of the council was:[16] [17]

    PartyCouncillors
    31
    12
    5
    1
    Total 49

    Four of the independent councillors and the Green councillor sit together as the 'Independent and Green Group'. The next election is due in 2027.

    Elections

    Since the last boundary changes in 2015 the council has comprised 49 councillors representing 27 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[18]

    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 Breckland's typically being in early Spring and bi-annually.[19] [20] [21]

    Premises

    The council has its headquarters at Elizabeth House, a modern office building on the edge of Dereham; the council moved its main offices there in 2003.[22] Prior to that it had been based at the Guildhall on St Withburga Lane in Dereham, which had previously been the offices of Mitford and Launditch Rural District Council, one of the council's predecessors.[23]

    The council also maintains an area office at Breckland House on St Nicholas Street in Thetford, which was completed in 1992 and formally opened on 20 May 1993 by Elizabeth II.[24] [25]

    Towns and parishes

    The district is entirely divided into 113 civil parishes. The parish councils for Attleborough, Dereham, Swaffham, Thetford and Watton have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council. The parishes are:[26]

    External links

    52.6333°N 59°W

    Notes and References

    1. si. The English Non-metropolitan District (Definition) Order 1972. 1972. 2039. 17 November 2023.
    2. si. The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973. 1973. 551. 31 May 2023.
    3. News: Breckland may be name of new council . 3 December 2023 . Lynn Advertiser . 8 December 1972 . 8.
    4. Web site: Council minutes, 23 May 2024 . Breckland Council . 14 July 2024.
    5. News: Webb . Allister . Breckland Council confirms new chief executive . 4 December 2023 . Lynn News . 14 October 2021.
    6. act. Local Government Act 1972. 1972. 70. 31 May 2023.
    7. Web site: Election Maps . Ordnance Survey . 21 September 2023.
    8. Web site: Compositions calculator . The Elections Centre . 4 March 2016 . 1 June 2023.
    9. Web site: Council minutes . Breckland District Council . 24 June 2022.
    10. News: Hannant . David . Norfolk County Council leader Cliff Jordan resigns following lung cancer diagnosis . 24 June 2022 . Eastern Daily Press . 18 May 2018.
    11. News: Breckland Council leader William Nunn to resign . 24 June 2022 . BBC News . 20 August 2013.
    12. News: McMahon . Rosa . Breckland Council's new leader and deputy vow to innovate . 24 June 2022 . Eastern Daily Press . 12 September 2013.
    13. News: Lazzari . Adam . Breckland Council leader stands down for 'personal and private reaons' . 24 June 2022 . Eastern Daily Press . 11 March 2016.
    14. News: Ward . Zach . Breckland Council has confirmed previous leader William Nunn has retaken the role . 24 June 2022 . Diss Express . 1 April 2016.
    15. News: Parkin . Simon . Breckland council leader stands down day after local elections . 24 June 2022 . Eastern Daily Press . 4 May 2019.
    16. Web site: Local elections 2023: live council results for England. The Guardian.
    17. Web site: Breckland . Local Councils . Thorncliffe . 14 July 2024.
    18. si. The Breckland (Electoral Changes) Order 2014. 2014. 3290. 4 December 2023.
    19. Web site: Members of Youth Parliament - Norfolk County Council. www.norfolk.gov.uk.
    20. Web site: Your Norfolk -. yournorfolk.norfolkpublications.org.uk.
    21. Web site: Norfolk's four new Members of Youth Parliament are announced. Lauren. Cope. Eastern Daily Press. 30 March 2018 .
    22. Web site: Welcome to Breckland . Breckland Council . 4 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030618013828/http://www.breckland.gov.uk/ . 18 June 2003.
    23. News: New twist to Guildhall saga . 4 December 2023 . Dereham Times . 9 January 2008.
    24. News: A Royal Splash . 4 December 2023 . Bury Free Press . 21 May 1993 . 1.
    25. Web site: Visit us . Breckland Council . 4 December 2023.
    26. Web site: Town and parish councils . Breckland Council . 4 December 2023.

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