Non-metropolitan district in England
Forest of Dean is a local government district in west Gloucestershire , England, named after the Forest of Dean . Its council is based in Coleford . Other towns and villages in the district include Blakeney , Cinderford , Drybrook , English Bicknor , Huntley , Littledean , Longhope , Lydbrook , Lydney , Mitcheldean , Newnham and Newent .[4] [5]
History
The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 . The new district covered the whole area of four former districts and part of a fifth, which were all abolished at the same time:[6] [7]
The new district was named Forest of Dean after the ancient woodland which covers much of the district.[8]
Governance
Forest of Dean District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Gloucestershire County Council .[9] The whole district is also covered by civil parishes , which form a third tier of local government.[10]
Political control
Since the 2023 election the council has been run by a Green minority administration with support from Labour on a confidence and supply basis.[11]
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[12] [13]
Leadership
The leaders of the council since 2007 have been:[14]
Composition
Following the 2023 election , the composition of the council was:[17]
The next election is due in 2027.
Premises
The council is based at the Council Offices on High Street in Coleford.[18]
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2019, the council has comprised 38 councillors elected from 21 wards , with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[19]
Parishes and settlements
The whole district is divided into civil parishes. The parish councils of Cinderford, Coleford, Lydney and Newent take the style "town council".[20]
Settlements include:
Alvington , Awre , Aylburton
Blaisdon , Birdwood, Bream , Brockweir , Bromsberrow , Blakeney
Churcham , Cinderford , Coleford
Drybrook , Dymock
Ellwood , English Bicknor
Gorsley and Kilcot
Hartpury , Hewelsfield , Highleadon , Huntley
Kempley
Littledean , Little London , Longhope , Lydbrook , Lydney
Malswick , Mitcheldean
Newent , Newland , Newnham
Oxenhall
Pauntley , Parkend
Redmarley D'Abitot , Ruardean , Rudford , Ruspidge
Soudley , St. Briavels , Staunton (near Coleford) , Symonds Yat
Taynton , Tibberton , Tidenham
Upleadon
Westbury-on-Severn , West Dean , Woolaston
References
^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Forest of Dean Local Authority (E07000080)" . Nomis . Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 5 January 2024 .
^ "New Forest of Dean Council chief exec on £110k a year describes role as a 'great opportunity' " . The Forester . 10 August 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2024 .
^ "Find a district councillor - Forest of Dean District Council" .
^ "Forest of Dean Parish Map" (PDF) . Gloucestershire County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020 .
^ "Administrative unit Forest of Dean District District/Unitary Authority" . A Vision of Britain . Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020 .
^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972" , legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives , SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
^ "Forest of Dean: Local government and public services Pages 377-381 A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 5, Bledisloe Hundred, St. Briavels Hundred, the Forest of Dean" . British History Online . Victoria County History. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2020 .
^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973" , legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives , SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
^ "Local Government Act 1972" , legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives , 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
^ "Election maps" . Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 6 June 2023 .
^ Garcia, Carmelo (19 May 2023). "Labour to vote for Green council leader but rules out Forest of Dean coalition administration" . Gloucestershire Live . Retrieved 25 June 2023 .
^ "Compositions calculator" . The Elections Centre . Retrieved 1 June 2023 .
^ "Forest of Dean" . BBC News Online . Retrieved 26 September 2009 .
^ "Council minutes" . Forest of Dean District Council . Retrieved 28 June 2022 .
^ Tunnidge, Sarah (11 April 2024). "Forest of Dean council leader steps down" . BBC News . Retrieved 20 April 2024 .
^ Garcia, Carmelo (19 April 2024). " 'Inexperienced' councillor chosen to lead council" . BBC News . Retrieved 20 April 2024 .
^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England" . The Guardian.
^ "Contact us" . Forest of Dean District Council . Retrieved 25 June 2023 .
^ "The Forest of Dean (Electoral Changes) Order 2018" , legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives , SI 2018/547
^ "Parish council contact details" . Forest of Dean District Council . Retrieved 25 June 2023 .
External links
Unitary authorities Boroughs or districts Major settlements (cities in italics) Rivers Topics
51°47′N 2°33′W / 51.783°N 2.550°W / 51.783; -2.550