South Staffordshire

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South Staffordshire is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. Its council is based in Codsall. Other notable settlements include Brewood, Cheslyn Hay, Coven, Essington, Featherstone, Four Ashes, Great Wyrley, Huntington, Kinver, Landywood, Penkridge, Perton, Wedges Mills, Weston-under-Lizard and Wombourne. The district covers a largely rural area lying immediately to the west and north-west of the West Midlands conurbation.

The neighbouring districts are Stafford, Cannock Chase, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Bromsgrove, Wyre Forest, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The new district covered two former districts, which were both abolished at the same time:<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

The new district was named South Staffordshire, reflecting its position within the wider county.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

Governance

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South Staffordshire District Council, which styles itself "South Staffordshire Council", provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Staffordshire 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 Conservative majority control since 1976.

The first elections were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>Template:Cite web (Put "South Staffordshire" in search box to see specific results.)</ref>

Party in control Years
Template:Party name with colour 1974–1976
Template:Party name with colour 1976–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1982 have been:

Councillor Party From To
Bill Brownhill<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Party name with colour 1982 2005
Brian Edwards<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Party name with colour 2005 13 Aug 2021
Roger Lees<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=Ashdown/> Template:Party name with colour 14 Sep 2021 Sep 2024
Kath Perry<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=Ashdown>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Party name with colour 24 Sep 2024

Composition

Following the 2023 election the composition of the council was:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Party Councillors
Template:Party name with colour 29
Template:Party name with colour 5
Template:Party name with colour 4
Template:Party name with colour 2
Template:Party name with colour 2
Total 42

The next election is due in 2027.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Elections

Template:Also Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 42 councillors representing 20 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

The district covers a similar geographic area to South Staffordshire parliamentary constituency, although the north of the district is covered by the Stafford constituency. Sir Patrick Cormack of the Conservative Party held the South Staffordshire seat, and its predecessor, Staffordshire South-West, between 1974 and 2010, when he retired and the seat was won by Gavin Williamson for the Conservative Party.

Premises

The council is based at the Council Offices on Wolverhampton Road in Codsall. The building was purpose-built for the council shortly after it was created, opening in 1976 to replace buildings in Penkridge and Wombourne that the council inherited from its predecessors.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Settlements and parishes

Template:Further The whole district is divided into civil parishes. No parish in South Staffordshire has been declared to be a town by its parish council.Template:Efn None of South Staffordshire's settlements are classed as post towns either; postal addresses in the district therefore all include the name of a post town outside the district, the main ones being Cannock, Stourbridge, Stafford, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The district's parishes are:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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At the 2021 census the Office for National Statistics identified three built-up areas in the district with a population over 10,000, being Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay with 17,640 people, Wombourne with 12,815 and Codsall (including Bilbrook) with 11,865.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Countryside

There are many beauty spots within the South Staffordshire district, for example the village of Wombourne has the Wom Brook Walk and the Bratch Locks on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal in the nearby village of Bratch. Other sites include:

Bunkers Tree Wood is also in the area and contains a large Corvid roost.

Media

In terms of television, the area is served by BBC West Midlands and ITV Central. Television signals are received from the either Sutton Coldfield or Wrekin TV transmitters. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Radio stations for the area are:

Local newspaper is the Express & Star.

References

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