East Suffolk is a local government district in Suffolk, England. The largest town is Lowestoft, which contains Ness Point, the easternmost point of the United Kingdom. The second largest town is Felixstowe, which has the country's largest container port. On the district's south-western edge it includes parts of the Ipswich built-up area. The rest of the district is largely rural, containing many towns and villages, including several seaside resorts. Its council is based in the village of Melton. The district was formed in 2019 as a merger of the two previous districts of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney. In 2021 it had a population of 246,058. It is the most populous district in the country not to be a unitary authority.
The district is on the coast, facing the North Sea. Much of the coast and adjoining areas lies within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Some northern parts of the district lie within The Broads.
The neighbouring districts are Babergh, Ipswich, Mid Suffolk, South Norfolk and Great Yarmouth.
The district was formed on 1 April 2019 as a merger of the two previous districts of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney.[1] The two councils had previously been working in partnership since 2008.[2]
Although it has the same name, the modern district covers a smaller area than the former administrative county of East Suffolk, which was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972.
| East Suffolk Council | |
| Logo Pic: | East Suffolk Council.svg |
| House Type: | Non-metropolitan district |
| Leader1: | Anthony Speca |
| Election1: | 24 May 2023[3] |
| Leader2: | Caroline Topping |
| Election2: | 24 May 2023 |
| Leader3: | Chris Bally |
| Election3: | 2022[4] |
| Members: | 55 councillors |
| Structure1: | East Suffolk District Council 2023.svg |
| Structure1 Res: | 200px |
| Political Groups1: |
|
| Next Election2: | 6 May 2027 |
| Meeting Place: | East Suffolk House, Station Road, Melton, Woodbridge, IP121RT |
East Suffolk Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Suffolk County Council. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[5] [6]
In the parts of the district within The Broads, town planning is the responsibility of the Broads Authority. The district council appoints one of its councillors to sit on that authority.[7]
The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election, being run by a coalition of the Greens, Liberal Democrats and an independent councillor, led by Green councillor Caroline Topping.[8]
Political control of the council since 2019 has been as follows:
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–2023 | ||
| 2023–present | ||
The councillors of the two previous districts formed a shadow authority in the year leading up to the council's creation in 2019. The shadow authority was led by Conservative councillor Mark Bee, leader of the outgoing Waveney District Council. He was unsuccessful in securing a seat on the new council at its first elections in May 2019. From East Suffolk Council's first meeting after coming into effect, the leaders of the council have been:[9]
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Gallant | 22 May 2019 | 7 May 2023 | ||
| Caroline Topping | 24 May 2023 | |||
Following the 2023 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to June 2024, the composition of the council was:[10]
| Party | Councillors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | |||
| 15 | |||
| 12 | |||
| 10 | |||
| 2 | |||
| Total | 55 | ||
East Suffolk comprises 55 councillors representing 26 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[12]
The council is based at East Suffolk House, opposite Melton railway station.[13] The building was purpose-built for the former Suffolk Coastal District Council and opened in 2016, becoming headquarters of the new East Suffolk Council following the formal merger in 2019.[14]
The whole district is divided into civil parishes. Thirteen of the parish councils have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council", being:[15]