Mid_Suffolk

Mid Suffolk

Mid Suffolk

Non-metropolitan district in England

52.1560°N 1.0489°E / 52.1560; 1.0489

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Mid Suffolk is a local government district in Suffolk, England. The district is primarily a rural area, containing just three towns, being Stowmarket, Needham Market and Eye. Its council was based in Needham Market until 2017 when it moved to shared offices with neighbouring Babergh District Council in Ipswich, outside either district. In 2021 it had a population of 103,417.

The neighbouring districts are East Suffolk, Ipswich, Babergh, West Suffolk, Breckland and South Norfolk.

History

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering five former districts which were all abolished at the same time:

Thedwastre Rural District had been in the administrative county of West Suffolk prior to the reforms; the other districts had all been in East Suffolk.[2] The new district was named Mid Suffolk, reflecting its position within the wider county.[3]

Governance

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Mid Suffolk District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Suffolk County Council.[6] The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[7]

In 2011, Mid Suffolk and Babergh District Councils began working together, with one, fully integrated staff structure.[8]

Political control

The council has been under Green Party majority control since the 2023 election, being the first time that the party had taken majority control of any council.[9][10]

The first elections were 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:[11][12]

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Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2003 have been:[13]

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Composition

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council is:[18]

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From March 2024 to the 2 May 2024 there was a casual vacancy following a resignation of a Chilton councillor;[19] a new Green Party councillor was elected at the subsequent by-election.

The next election is due in May 2027, where all seats of the council will be up for election.

Elections

See also: Mid Suffolk District Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 34 councillors representing 26 wards, with each ward electing one or two councillors. Elections are held every four years.[20]

Premises

Since 2017 Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils have their combined headquarters at Endeavour House in Ipswich, sharing the building with Suffolk County Council.[21][22]

Council Offices, High Street, Needham Market: Council's headquarters 1982–2017

When first created the council inherited offices in Elmswell, Eye, Stowmarket and Needham Market from its predecessors. It initially used the former Hartismere Rural District Council offices on Castleton Way in Eye as its headquarters, retaining the former Gipping Rural District Council offices in Needham Market and Stowmarket Urban District Council offices at Red Gables on Ipswich Road as secondary offices.[23]

The council initially decided to consolidate its offices in Stowmarket, being the district's largest town and a central location, but no suitable site could be found there. Instead it decided to extend the former Gipping Rural District Council's headquarters in Needham Market. The original building there was a large eighteenth century house called "Hurstlea" at 131 High Street.[24][25] A large modern extension was built behind the original building, which was formally opened in January 1982.[26]

Towns and parishes

Further information: List of civil parishes in Suffolk
Hawks Mill at Needham Market
Church and Guildhall at Eye

The whole district is covered by civil parishes. The parish councils for Eye, Needham Market and Stowmarket have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council.[27]

References

  1. [1]
    UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Mid Suffolk Local Authority (E07000203)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. [2]
    "The English Non-metropolitan District (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 17 November 2023
  3. [3]
    "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 3 January 2024
  4. [4]
    "Council minutes, 22 May 2023". Mid Suffolk District Council. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  5. [5]
    "New council chief hired". Suffolk News. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  6. [6]
    "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  7. [7]
    "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  8. [8]
    "One Council » Babergh Mid Suffolk". midsuffolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  9. [9]
    Irwin, Vikki; Cooper, Pete (5 May 2023). "Local elections 2023: Greens secure victory in Mid Suffolk". BBC News. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  10. [10]
    Gecsoyler, Sammy; Topping, Alexandra; Walker, Peter (5 May 2023). "Greens win majority control of council for first time in UK". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  11. [11]
    "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  12. [12]
    "Mid Suffolk". BBC News Online. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  13. [13]
    "Council minutes". Mid Suffolk District Council. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  14. [14]
    Howard, John (6 May 2003). "Tories re-take Mid Suffolk". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  15. [15]
    "New leader at Mid Suffolk District Council replaces police commissioner". BBC News. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  16. [16]
    Maclean, Callum (29 April 2016). "Nick Gowrley appointed new leader of Mid Suffolk District Council". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  17. [17]
    Geater, Paul (3 May 2019). "Suffolk local elections 2019: Council leaders face defeat as voters punish Conservatives in Suffolk". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  18. [18]
    "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  19. [19]
    Sproston, Becca (26 May 2024). "Mid Suffolk by-election called as Green councillor resigns Ward". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  20. [20]
    "The Mid Suffolk (Electoral Changes) Order 2018", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2018/1317, retrieved 6 January 2024
  21. [21]
    Geater, Paul (7 August 2017). "Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils set to move to Ipswich in September". East Anglian Daily Times. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  22. [22]
    "Contact Us". Mid Suffolk District Council. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  23. [23]
    Municipal Year Book. London: Municipal Journal. 1976. p. 792.
  24. [24]
    "No. 45050". The London Gazette. 27 February 1970. p. 2464.
  25. [25]
    Historic England. "131 High Street (Grade II) (1254005)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  26. [26]
    "Four snub £1¾m office opening". Diss Express. 22 January 1982. p. 3. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  27. [27]
    "Parish Council contacts". Babergh District Council. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
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