| Newark and Sherwood | |
| Blank Emblem Size: | 150px |
| Mapsize: | 160px |
| Subdivision Type: | Sovereign state |
| Subdivision Name: | United Kingdom |
| Subdivision Type1: | Constituent country |
| Subdivision Name1: | England |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | East Midlands |
| Subdivision Type3: | Administrative county |
| Subdivision Name3: | Nottinghamshire |
| Seat Type: | Admin. HQ |
| Seat: | Newark-on-Trent[1] |
| Government Type: | Newark and Sherwood District Council |
| Leader Title2: | MPs |
| Leader Name2: | Robert Jenrick, Mark Spencer |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Area Rank: | |
| Population Rank: | Ranked |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Ethnicity (2021) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Ethnic groups |
| Demographics Type2: | Religion (2021) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Religion |
| Timezone: | Greenwich Mean Time |
| Utc Offset: | +0 |
| Timezone Dst: | British Summer Time |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +1 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postcode |
| Blank Name: | ISO 3166-2 |
| Blank1 Name: | ONS code |
| Blank1 Info: | 37UG (ONS) E07000175 (GSS) |
| Blank2 Name: | OS grid reference |
| Blank3 Name: | NUTS 3 |
| Blank4 Name: | Ethnicity |
| Blank4 Info: | 98.5% White |
Newark and Sherwood is a local government district in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the largest district by area in the county. The council is based in Newark-on-Trent, the area's largest town. The district also includes the towns of Southwell and Ollerton along with a large rural area containing many villages. Much of the district lies within the ancient Sherwood Forest and there are also extensive forestry plantations in the area.
The neighbouring districts are Rushcliffe, Gedling, Ashfield, Mansfield, Bassetlaw, West Lindsey, North Kesteven, South Kesteven and Melton. In 2021 it had a population of 123,383.
The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering three former districts which were all abolished at the same time:[2]
The new district was initially named Newark, after its largest town.[3] The name was changed to Newark and Sherwood in 1985.[4]
| Newark and Sherwood District Council | |
| Logo Pic: | Newark & Sherwood District Council.svg |
| Logo Res: | 250px |
| House Type: | Non-metropolitan district |
| Leader1: | Jean Hall |
| Election1: | 21 May 2024[5] |
| Leader2: | Paul Peacock |
| Election2: | 23 May 2023 |
| Leader3: | John Robinson |
| Election3: | 23 July 2018[6] |
| Members: | 39 councillors |
| Structure1 Res: | 250px |
| Political Groups1: |
|
| Next Election1: | 6 May 2027 |
| Session Res: | 250px |
| Meeting Place: | Castle House, Great North Road, Newark, NG241BY |
Newark and Sherwood District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Nottinghamshire County Council. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[7]
The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election, being run by a partnership of Labour, the "Independents for Newark and District" group of independent councillors, and the Liberal Democrats.[8]
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1974 political control of the council has been as follows:[9] [10]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| 1974–1976 | ||
| 1976–1979 | ||
| 1979–1991 | ||
| 1991–1999 | ||
| 1999–2007 | ||
| 2007–2023 | ||
| 2023–present | ||
The leaders of the council since 2003 have been:[11]
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Roberts[12] | 2003 | 15 May 2012 | ||
| Roger Blaney | 15 May 2012 | 15 May 2018 | ||
| David Lloyd | 15 May 2018 | 7 May 2023 | ||
| Paul Peacock | 23 May 2023 | |||
Following the 2023 election the composition of the council was:[13]
| Party | Councillors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | |||
| 11 | |||
| 11 | |||
| 3 | |||
| Total | 39 | ||
Of the eleven independent councillors, seven sit together as the "Independents for Newark and District" group, which forms part of the council's administration with Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Another two independents form the "Newark and Sherwood District Independents" group, and the other two do not belong to any group.[14] The next election is due in 2027.
Since the last full review of boundaries in 2015 the council has comprised 39 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[15]
The district is covered by two parliamentary constituencies: Newark, created in 1885, which has been represented by Robert Jenrick, a Conservative, since 2014;[16] and has been held by the Conservative Party since 2001;[17] and Sherwood, created in 1983, represented by Mark Spencer, also a Conservative, since 2010.[18]
The council is based at Castle House, on Great North Road in Newark, adjacent to Newark Castle Railway station. The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 2017.[19]
The council was previously based at Kelham Hall in the village of Kelham, which had been purchased early in 1974 as part of preparations for the local government reorganisation later that year.[20] [21] [22]
The whole district is divided into civil parishes. The parish councils for the three parishes of Newark, Ollerton and Boughton, and Southwell have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council".[23]
Newark-on-Trent, together with Balderton, forms the largest urban area in the district. Newark-on-Trent has many important historic features including Newark Castle, St Mary's Magdalene Church, Georgian architecture and a defensive earthwork from the British Civil Wars. Other important towns in the district include Ollerton and Southwell which is home to Southwell Minster and Southwell Racecourse. Other settlements in the district include:
Balderton, Bathley, Bilsthorpe, Blidworth, Boughton, Brough
Carlton-on-Trent, Caunton, Clipstone, Collingham, Cromwell
Eakring, Edingley, Edwinstowe, Egmanton
Farndon, Farnsfield, Fernwood, Fiskerton
Halam, Halloughton, Hawton, Hockerton
Kelham, Kirklington, Kirton, Kneesall
Laxton, Little Carlton, Lowdham
South Muskham, Sutton-on-Trent
Walesby, Wellow, Weston, Winkburn
The area is served by BBC East Midlands and ITV Central with television signals are received from the Waltham TV transmitter, [24] BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and ITV Yorkshire can also be received from the Belmont TV transmitter. [25]
Radio stations that broadcast to the area are:. [26]