Bolsover District is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. It is named after the town of Bolsover, which is near the geographic centre of the district, but the council is based in the large village of Clowne to the north. The district also includes the town of Shirebrook and several villages and surrounding rural areas.
Bolsover District | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bolsover Castle | |
 Shown within Derbyshire | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Ceremonial county | Derbyshire |
| Admin. HQ | Clowne |
| Government | |
| • Type | Bolsover District Council |
| • Leadership: | Leader & Cabinet |
| • Executive: | Labour |
| • MPs: | Natalie Fleet (L) |
| Area | |
• Total | 60 sq mi (160 km2) |
| • Rank | 162nd |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 81,553 |
| • Rank | Ranked 278th |
| • Density | 1,300/sq mi (510/km2) |
| Ethnicity (2021) | |
| • Ethnic groups | |
| Religion (2021) | |
| • Religion | List
|
| Time zone | UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (British Summer Time) |
| Postcode | |
| ONS code | 17UC (ONS) E07000033 (GSS) |
| Ethnicity | 99.1% White[citation needed] |
The neighbouring districts are Amber Valley, North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Rotherham, Bassetlaw, Mansfield, and Ashfield.
History
editThe district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of three former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:[2]
The new district was named Bolsover, after its largest town.[3]
Governance
editBolsover District Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Karen Hanson since November 2022[5] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 37 councillors |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 4 May 2023 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
| The Arc, High Street, Clowne, S43 4JY | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Bolsover District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Derbyshire County Council. The district is also entirely covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[6]
Since 2014 the district has been a non-constituent member of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (formerly known as the Sheffield City Region); the council sends representatives to meetings of the combined authority, but the electorate of Bolsover District do not vote in elections for the Mayor of South Yorkshire.[7]
Political control
editThe council has been under Labour majority control since 2021.
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:[8][9]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1974–2019 | |
| No overall control | 2019–2021 | |
| Labour | 2021–present | |
Leadership
editThe leaders of the council since 2003 have been:[10]
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eion Watts[11] | Labour | 2003 | 10 May 2015 | |
| Ann Syrett | Labour | 21 May 2015 | 5 May 2019 | |
| Steve Fritchley | Labour | 22 May 2019 | ||
Composition
editFollowing the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:[12]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 31 | |
| Independent | 3 | |
| Conservative | 2 | |
| Reform UK | 1 | |
| Total | 37 | |
The next election is due in 2027.
Elections
editSince the last boundary changes in 2019, the council has comprised 37 councillors, elected from 17 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[13]
Premises
editThe council is based at The Arc in Clowne, which is a combined leisure centre and council headquarters. The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 2013. When first created the council used the former Blackwell Rural District Council's offices in Mansfield (outside the district) as its main offices. In 1994 it moved to Sherwood Lodge on Oxcroft Lane in Bolsover, comprising a large Victorian house and modern office extensions. After the move to Clowne in 2013 Sherwood Lodge was sold. A retail development has since been built on the site.[14][15]
Media
editIn terms of television, the district receives better TV signals from the Emley Moor transmitter which broadcast BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire.[16] However, southern parts of the district can still receive TV signals from the Waltham transmitter which broadcast BBC East Midlands and ITV Central. [17]
Radio stations for the area are:
- BBC Radio Sheffield (covering Bolsover)
- BBC Radio Derby
- BBC Radio Nottingham can also be heard
- Mansfield Radio
- Elastic Radio[18]
The Derbyshire Times is the weekly local newspaper that serves the district.
Building developments
editFollowing the September, 2022 commercial failure of Woodhead Construction Ltd, an Edwinstowe-based business contracting to the council since 2016,[19] and mid-way into delivering a Bolsover Homes scheme,[20] Bolsover District Council created their own development business, Dragonfly Development Limited based at The Arc in Clowne, with the intention of fullfilling ongoing contracts and having potential to undertake entirely new construction and development works outside of the council's normal remit.[21][19][22]
Councillor Fritchley stated the only risks involved were "calculated risks".[23]
Parishes
edit
The district is divided into 16 civil parishes.[24] The parish councils for Old Bolsover (which covers the town of Bolsover) and Shirebrook take the style "town council".[25]
References
edit- ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Bolsover Local Authority (E07000033)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
- ^ "Council minutes, 24 May 2017" (PDF). Bolsover District Council. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Council minutes, 2 November 2022" (PDF). Bolsover District Council. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
- ^ "The Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority Order 2014", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2014/863
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ "England council elections". BBC News Online. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ "Council minutes". Bolsover District Council. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "Council has a new look cabinet". Worksop Guardian. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
- ^ "The Bolsover (Electoral Changes) Order 2017", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2017/1265, retrieved 21 August 2022
- ^ "New plans revealed for former Bolsover council offices". Derbyshire Politics. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ Chambers, Scott (22 May 2024). "Happy birthday, as Council celebrates golden anniversary". Worksop Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) Full Freeview transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Full Freeview on the Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "About Us". Elastic FM. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ a b Agenda item - Dragonfly Development Limited - Full Business Case Bolsover District Council, 1 February 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024
- ^ Bolsover's first ever 'Future Homes scheme' is being built in Whaley Thorns Chad, 23 May 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2024
- ^ Council steps in to save building projects after contractor Woodhead Construction goes bust business-live.co.uk, 20 September 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2024
- ^ Bolsover District Council set to demolish 49 bungalows and possibly pave the way for new development Derbyshire Times, 22 March 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024
- ^ Fritchley, Stephen (director) (10 November 2022). Council sets up new company- Dragonfly Developments (Vimeo short video). Bolsover District Council. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Parish council contact details". Bolsover District Council. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
