Braintree District

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox settlement Braintree District is a local government district in Essex, England. The district is named after the town of Braintree, where the council is based. The district also includes the towns of Halstead and Witham and surrounding rural areas.

The neighbouring districts are Colchester, Maldon, Chelmsford, Uttlesford, South Cambridgeshire, West Suffolk, and Babergh.

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as one of 14 districts within Essex. The new district covered the area of five former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

• Braintree and Bocking Urban District
• Braintree Rural District
• Halstead Rural District
• Halstead Urban District
• Witham Urban District

The new district was named Braintree, after the area's largest town.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

Witham was originally planned to be in Maldon district, it was later decided to place it in Braintree district.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Governance

Template:Infobox legislature Braintree District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Essex County Council. Much of the district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

Political control

The council has been under Conservative control since 2007.

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:<ref name=compositions>Template:Cite web (Put "Braintree" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name=gain>Template:Cite news</ref>

Party in control		Years
Template:Party name with colour	1974–1976
Template:Party name with colour	1976–1979
Template:Party name with colour	1979–1995
Template:Party name with colour	1995–2003
Template:Party name with colour	2003–2007
Template:Party name with colour	2007–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1995 have been:

Councillor	Party		From	To
John Gyford<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	Template:Party name with colour	1995	9 Oct 2000
Ian Pointon<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	Template:Party name with colour	9 Oct 2000	May 2003
David Finch<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	Template:Party name with colour	21 May 2003	28 Apr 2004
Graham Butland<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Party name with colour	28 Apr 2004

Composition

Following the 2023 election,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a subsequent change of allegiance in February 2025, the composition of the council was:<ref name=Thorncliffe>Template:Cite web</ref>

Party		Councillors
Template:Party name with colour	25
Template:Party name with colour	9
Template:Party name with colour	8
Template:Party name with colour	4
Template:Party name with colour	3
Total		49

The Greens and seven of the independent councillors sit together as the "Independent and Green Group".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The next election is due in 2027.<ref name=Thorncliffe/>

Premises

The council has its headquarters at Causeway House on Bocking End in Braintree. The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 1981.<ref>Plaque in building's porch reads: "This building was opened on 25th April 1981 by Councillor R. E. W. Hawkins / Chairman, Braintree District Council / Chief Executive P. W. Cotton / Project Manager D. J. Brisley"</ref>

Halstead, one of the three towns of the district

Witham, one of the three towns of the district

Elections

Template:Also Since the last full review of boundaries in 2015, the council has comprised 49 councillors representing 26 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref name=2014order>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

Wards

The wards are:<ref name=2014order/> Template:Div col

• Bocking Blackwater
• Bocking North
• Bocking South
• Braintree Central & Beckers Green
• Braintree South
• Braintree West
• Bumpstead
• Coggeshall
• Gosfield & Greenstead Green
• Great Notley & Black Notley
• Halstead St Andrew's
• Halstead Trinity
• Hatfield Peverel & Terling
• Hedingham
• Kelvedon & Feering
• Rayne
• Silver End and Cressing
• Stour Valley North
• Stour Valley South
• The Colnes
• Three Fields
• Witham Central
• Witham North
• Witham South
• Witham West
• Yeldham

Towns and parishes

Template:See There are 63 civil parishes in the district. The former Braintree and Bocking Urban District, covering the town of Braintree itself, is an unparished area. The parish councils for Halstead and Witham are styled "town councils".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Enjoy Braintree District; places to stay, arts, museum, culture events listing by the Braintree Council
• Braintree District Council
• Enjoy Braintree District