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Wyre Forest District

Summary

Wyre Forest is a local government district in Worcestershire, England. It is named after the ancient woodland of Wyre Forest. The largest town is Kidderminster, where the council is based. The district also includes the towns of Stourport-on-Severn and Bewdley, along with several villages and surrounding rural areas.

Wyre Forest
Non-metropolitan district
Kidderminster, the district's largest town and administrative centre
Kidderminster, the district's largest town and administrative centre
Wyre Forest shown within Worcestershire
Wyre Forest shown within Worcestershire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionWest Midlands
Non-metropolitan countyWorcestershire
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQKidderminster
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyWyre Forest District Council
 • MPMark Garnier
Area
 • Total75.4 sq mi (195.4 km2)
 • Rank147th (of 296)
Population
 (2021 Census)
 • Total101,600
 • Rank237th (of 296)
 • Density1,300/sq mi (520/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code47UG (ONS)
E07000239 (GSS)
OS grid referenceSO8264776847

The district borders Bromsgrove District to the east, Wychavon to the south-east, Malvern Hills District to the south-west, Shropshire to the north-west, and South Staffordshire to the north.

History edit

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The new district covered the area of four former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:[2]

The new district was named after the ancient woodland of Wyre Forest, much of which lies within the area.[3]

Since 2011, Wyre Forest has formed part of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.

Governance edit

Wyre Forest District Council
 
Type
Type
Leadership
Chris Rogers,
Conservative
since 17 May 2023
Marcus Hart,
Conservative
since 17 May 2023
Ian Miller
since December 2009[4]
Structure
Seats33 Councillors
Political groups
Administration (20)
  Conservative (20)
Other parties (13)
  Independent (7)
  Labour (3)
  Liberal Democrats (2)
  Green (1)
Elections
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
2027
Meeting place
 
Wyre Forest House, Finepoint Way, Kidderminster, DY11 7WF
Website
www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk

Wyre Forest District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Worcestershire County Council. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[5]

Political control edit

The council has been under Conservative majority control since the 2023 election.

The first elections to the council were 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:[6][7][8][9][10]

Party in control Years
No overall control 1974–1976
Conservative 1976–1979
No overall control 1979–1996
Labour 1996–1999
No overall control 1999–2002
Health Concern 2002–2002
No overall control 2002–2008
Conservative 2008–2009
No overall control 2009–2010
Conservative 2010–2012
No overall control 2012–2015
Conservative 2015–2019
No overall control 2019–2023
Conservative 2023–present

Leadership edit

The leaders of the council since 1974 have been:[11][12]

Councillor Party From To
Graham Smith[13] Labour 1974 1975
Malcolm Cooper[14] Conservative 1975 1979
Anthony Batchelor[15] Liberal 1979 May 1983
Graham Ballinger[16] Conservative 1983 1984
Anthony Batchelor Liberal 1984 1985
Mike Oborski Liberal 1985 1986
Gilbert Edwards Liberal 1986 1989
Jamie Shaw[17] Labour 1989 1994
Jane Bonnick[18][19] Liberal Democrats 1994 Oct 1995
Jamie Shaw[20][21] Labour 1996 1999
(no leader) 1999 2000
Mike Oborski[22][23] Liberal 2000 15 May 2002
Liz Davies[24] Health Concern 15 May 2002 14 May 2003
Howard Martin[25] Health Concern 14 May 2003 13 Jun 2004
Stephen Clee Conservative 30 Jun 2004 16 May 2007
John Campion Conservative 16 May 2007 2 Apr 2014
Marcus Hart Conservative 2 Apr 2014 22 May 2019
Graham Ballinger Health Concern 22 May 2019 12 May 2021
Helen Dyke[18] Independent 12 May 2021 17 May 2023
Marcus Hart Conservative 17 May 2023

Composition edit

Following the 2023 election and a change of allegiance in February 2024, the composition of the council was:[26][27]

Party Councillors
Conservative 20
Independent 7
Labour 3
Liberal Democrats 2
Green 1
Total 33

The Green councillor sits in a group with the independents.[28] The next election is due in 2027.

Premises edit

 
Civic Centre, New Street, Stourport-on-Severn: Council's headquarters until 2012.

The council is based at Wyre Forest House, which was purpose-built for the council and completed in 2012.[29] The building is in the parish of Stourport-on-Severn, but lies on the outskirts of Kidderminster and has a Kidderminster postal address. Prior to 2012 the council was based at the Civic Centre on New Street in Stourport-on-Severn, which had been completed in 1966 for the old Stourport-on-Severn Urban District Council.[30]

Elections edit

Since the last boundary changes in 2015 the council has comprised 33 councillors representing 12 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[31]

Wards edit

 
Stourport-on-Severn, the second-largest settlement in the district.

The wards are:[31]

  • Aggborough & Spennells
  • Areley Kings & Riverside
  • Bewdley & Rock
  • Blakebrook & Habberley South
  • Broadwaters
  • Foley Park & Hoobrook
  • Franche & Habberley North
  • Lickhill
  • Mitton
  • Offmore & Comberton
  • Wribbenhall & Arley
  • Wyre Forest Rural

Wider politics edit

The Wyre Forest parliamentary constituency, which covers most of the district, is represented by the Conservative MP Mark Garnier. He has held the seat since the 2010 general election, when he gained it from Richard Taylor of Health Concern, who had held the seat from 2001 to 2010.[32]

Demography edit

In Wyre Forest, the population size has increased by 3.7%, from around 98,000 in 2011 to 101,600 in 2021.[33]

Parishes edit

 
Bewdley, best known for the Severn Valley Railway and its historic Georgian buildings is the third-largest settlement in the district

The whole district is divided into civil parishes. The parish councils for Bewdley, Kidderminster and Stourport-on-Severn take the style "town council".[34]

Schools edit

There are five secondary schools within the district.

Media edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Wyre Forest Local Authority (E07000239)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  3. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  4. ^ "New chief exec for district council". Kidderminster Shuttle. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  6. ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Wyre Forest". BBC News. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  8. ^ Land, Jon (11 December 2009). "Huge boost for Labour in latest council by-elections". 24dash.com. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  9. ^ "local elections 2010". theguardian.com. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Tories take total control of Wyre Forest Council". The Shuttle. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  11. ^ "Council minutes". Wyre Forest District Council. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Past Leaders of Wyre Forest District Council". Wyre Forest District Council. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  13. ^ Alston, Trevor (12 December 1974). "Groups ready for a battle to stop the West Orbital route". Birmingham Post. p. 21. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Parties' musical chairs". Birmingham Post. 21 April 1976. p. 24. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  15. ^ "Jobs are the big issue in carpet country". Evening Mail. Birmingham. 30 May 1983. p. 7. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Warning of 6p rate rise next year". Sandwell Evening Mail. West Bromwich. 20 September 1983. p. 19. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Council faces £1m shortfall". Sandwell Evening Mail. West Bromwich. 10 December 1992. p. 14. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  18. ^ a b Rawlins, Jack (13 May 2021). "Helen Dyke appointed as Wyre Forest District Council leader". The Shuttle. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Leader resigns". Birmingham Mail. 12 October 1995. p. 5. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  20. ^ Gray, Chris (4 May 1996). "Labour gains spark loony left warning". Birmingham Post. p. 1. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Wyre Forest Labour 'horrified' by James Shaw's child sex crime". Kidderminster Shuttle. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  22. ^ Meadowcroft, Michael (5 April 2007). "Mike Oborski". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Town suffers from 18-mile factor". Worcester News. 14 March 2002. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Health party takes control". Worcester News. 9 May 2002. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  25. ^ "New man at the helm". Worcester News. 15 May 2003. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  27. ^ Rawlins, Jack (2 February 2024). "Wyre Forest Labour leader Leigh Whitehouse quits party". The Shuttle. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Independent and Green group". Wyre Forest District Council. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  29. ^ "New £10.5m Wyre Forest District Council HQ to open its doors". The Shuttle. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  30. ^ "History of the Civic". The Civic Stourport. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  31. ^ a b "The Wyre Forest (Electoral Changes) Order 2015", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2015/70, retrieved 7 July 2023
  32. ^ Klensch, Sabine (7 May 2010). "General election 2010: Tories gain Wyre Forest from independent Taylor". politics.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  33. ^ "How the population changed in Wyre Forest, Census 2021 - ONS". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Town and parish councils". Wyre Forest District Council. Retrieved 7 July 2023.

External links edit

  • Wyre Forest District Council

52°23′20″N 2°15′18″W / 52.389°N 2.255°W / 52.389; -2.255

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