Newark and Sherwood

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox settlement Newark and Sherwood is a local government district in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the largest district by area in the county. The council is based in Newark-on-Trent, the area's largest town. The district also includes the towns of Southwell and Ollerton along with a large rural area containing many villages. Much of the district lies within the ancient Sherwood Forest and there are also extensive forestry plantations in the area.

The neighbouring districts are Rushcliffe, Gedling, Ashfield, Mansfield, Bassetlaw, West Lindsey, North Kesteven, South Kesteven and Melton. In 2021 it had a population of 123,383.

History

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering three former districts which were all abolished at the same time:<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

The new district was initially named Newark, after its largest town.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref> The name was changed to Newark and Sherwood in 1985.<ref>Template:Cite web (See downloadable boundary-legislation-changes-from-1973.xls spreadsheet.)</ref>

Governance

Template:Infobox legislature

Newark and Sherwood District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Nottinghamshire County Council. The whole 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 no overall control since the 2023 election, being run by a partnership of Labour, the "Independents for Newark and District" group of independent councillors, and the Liberal Democrats.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1974 political control of the council has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>Template:Cite web (Put "Newark & Sherwood" 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	1979–1991
Template:Party name with colour	1991–1999
Template:Party name with colour	1999–2007
Template:Party name with colour	2007–2023
Template:Party name with colour	2023–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2003 have been:

Councillor	Party		From
Tony Roberts<ref name=Buckland>Template:Cite news</ref>	Template:Party name with colour	2003	15 May 2012
Roger Blaney<ref name=Buckland/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Party name with colour	15 May 2012	May 2018
David Lloyd<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	Template:Party name with colour	May 2018	May 2023
Paul Peacock<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Party name with colour	23 May 2023

Composition

Following the 2023 election,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and subsequent changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:

Party		Councillors
Template:Party name with colour	14
Template:Party name with colour	10
Template:Party name with colour	10
Template:Party name with colour	3
Template:Party name with colour	2
Total		39

Of the ten independent councillors, six sit together as the "Independents for Newark and District" group, which forms part of the council's administration with Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Another two independents form the "Newark and Sherwood District Independents" group, and the other two do not belong to any group.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The next election is due in 2027.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Elections

Template:Also Since the last full review of boundaries in 2015 the council has comprised 39 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

The district is covered by two parliamentary constituencies: Newark, created in 1885, which has been represented by Robert Jenrick, a Conservative, since 2014;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and has been held by the Conservative Party since 2001;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Sherwood Forest, created in 1983, represented by Michelle Welsh, a Labour MP, elected in 2024.

Premises

The council is based at Castle House, on Great North Road in Newark, adjacent to Newark Castle Railway station. The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 2017.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The council was previously based at Kelham Hall in the village of Kelham, which had been purchased early in 1974 as part of preparations for the local government reorganisation later that year.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Subscription required</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Settlements

The whole district is divided into civil parishes. The parish councils for the three parishes of Newark, Ollerton and Boughton, and Southwell have declaredTemplate:When their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Newark-on-Trent, together with Balderton, forms the largest urban area in the district. Newark-on-Trent has many important historic features including Newark Castle, St Mary's Magdalene Church, Georgian architecture and a defensive earthwork from the British Civil Wars. Other important towns in the district include Ollerton and Southwell which is home to Southwell Minster and Southwell Racecourse. Other settlements in the district include: