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Wychavon

(Redirected from Wychavon District)

52°06′50″N 2°04′52″W / 52.114°N 2.081°W / 52.114; -2.081

Wychavon District
Non-metropolitan district
Evesham, the district's largest town
Evesham, the district's largest town
Wychavon shown within Worcestershire
Wychavon shown within Worcestershire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionWest Midlands
Non-metropolitan countyWorcestershire
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQPershore
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyWychavon District Council
 • LeadershipLeader & Cabinet (Conservative)
 • MPsHarriett Baldwin (Conservative)
Chris Bloore (Labour)
Nigel Huddleston (Conservative)
Area
 • Total256.2 sq mi (663.5 km2)
 • Rank50th (of 296)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total134,536[1]
 • Rank176th (of 296)
Ethnicity (2021)
[2]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[2]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code47UF (ONS) />E07000238 (GSS)
OS grid referenceSO9445346235

Wychavon is a local government district in Worcestershire, England. The largest towns are Evesham and Droitwich Spa; the council is based in the town of Pershore. The district also includes numerous villages and surrounding rural areas, and includes part of the Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The district's name references the Saxon Kingdom of Hwicce and the River Avon. The population in 2022 was 134,536.

The neighbouring districts are Malvern Hills, Worcester, Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Stratford-on-Avon, Cotswold, and Tewkesbury.

History

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The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of five former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:[3]

The name Wychavon was coined for the new district. "Wych" phonetically recalls the Saxon Kingdom of Hwicce, and "Avon" is for the River Avon.[4]

Governance

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Wychavon District Council
 
Type
Type
Leadership
George Duffy,
Conservative
since 15 May 2024[5]
Christopher Day,
Conservative
since 18 October 2023
Vic Allison
since 1 August 2020[6]
Structure
Seats43 councillors
Political groups
Administration (29)
  Conservative (29)
Other parties (14)
  Liberal Democrats (7)
  Green (6)
  Labour (1)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First past the post
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
 
Pershore Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore, WR10 1PT
Website
www.wychavon.gov.uk

Wychavon District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Worcestershire County Council.[7] The whole district is covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[8]

Since 2014 the council has shared a chief executive and other staff with neighbouring Malvern Hills District Council.[9]

 
Droitwich Spa, the district's second-largest town
 
Pershore, known for Pershore Abbey is the third-largest settlement and the administrative centre of the district

Political control

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The council has been under Conservative majority control since 1999.

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[10][11][12]

Party in control Years
Independent 1974–1983
No overall control 1983–1987
Conservative 1987–1995
No overall control 1995–1999
Conservative 1999–present

Leadership

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The leaders of the council since 1999 have been:[13]

Councillor Party From To
John Grantham[14] Liberal Democrats 9 May 1999
Malcolm Meikle[15][16] Conservative May 1999 May 2003
Martin Jennings Conservative May 2003 6 May 2007
Paul Middlebrough Conservative 22 May 2007 20 May 2015
Linda Robinson Conservative 20 May 2015 Oct 2018
Bradley Thomas Conservative 7 Nov 2018 18 Oct 2023
Christopher Day Conservative 18 Oct 2023

Composition

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Following the 2023 election the composition of the council was:[17]

Party Councillors
Conservative 29
Liberal Democrats 7
Green 6
Labour 1
Total 43

The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

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See also: Wychavon District Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 43 councillors representing 27 wards, each electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[18]

Premises

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The council is based at Pershore Civic Centre on Queen Elizabeth Drive, which was purpose-built for the council in 1991. The council also maintains offices in Droitwich and Evesham.[19]

Civil parishes

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Further information: List of civil parishes in Worcestershire

The whole district is divided into civil parishes. The parish councils for Droitwich Spa, Evesham and Pershore have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council". Broadway is a post town, but has not been declared a town by its parish council.[20] The Wychavon district includes the following civil parishes:

References

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  1. ^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Wychavon Local Authority (E07000238)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  3. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  4. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  5. ^ "Wychavon's new chairman vows to make public art a key focus of his new role". Droitwich Standard. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  6. ^ Calkin, Sarah (15 May 2020). "People moves: Districts confirm joint chiefs, Howe returns to local government". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  8. ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  9. ^ Cosgrove, David (17 October 2014). "Malvern Hills and Wychavon Councils to share chief executive". Worcester News. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Complete round-up of results from Thursday's local council elections". The Times. NewsBank. 4 May 1991.
  12. ^ "England council elections". BBC News Online. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Council minutes". Wychavon District Council. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Middle England takes its revenge". Birmingham Post. 8 May 1999. p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  15. ^ "Cutback council 'forgot' £658,000". Birmingham Post. 19 July 1999. p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Leaders picked for Wychavon". Worcester News. 28 May 2003. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  18. ^ "The Wychavon (Electoral Changes) Order 2023", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2023/26, retrieved 11 February 2024
  19. ^ "Contact us". Wychavon District Council. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Parish Councils". Wychavon District Council. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
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