Chichester District
Chichester District | |
---|---|
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Constituent country | England |
Region | South East England |
Non-metropolitan county | West Sussex |
Status | Non-metropolitan district |
Admin HQ | Chichester |
Incorporated | 1 April 1974 |
Government | |
• Type | Non-metropolitan district council |
• Body | Chichester District Council |
• MPs | Andrew Griffith Jeremy Quin Gillian Keegan |
Area | |
• Total | 303.60 sq mi (786.32 km2) |
• Rank | 42nd (of 296) |
Population (2021) | |
• Total | 124,531 |
• Rank | 189th (of 296) |
• Density | 410/sq mi (160/km2) |
Ethnicity (2021) | |
• Ethnic groups | |
Religion (2021) | |
• Religion | List
|
UTC+1 (BST ) |
Chichester is a local government district in West Sussex, England. It is named after the city of Chichester, which is its largest settlement and where the council is based. The district includes the towns of Midhurst, Petworth and Selsey and surrounding rural areas, including many villages. The district includes part of the South Downs National Park, and Chichester Harbour is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. At the 2021 census the district had a population of 124,531.
The district is on the coast, facing the English Channel. The neighbouring districts are Arun, Horsham, Waverley, East Hampshire and Havant.
History
Chichester itself had been an ancient borough, which additionally held city status from 1075 when the Diocese of Chichester moved its seat from Selsey to Chichester.[2][3]
The modern district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as one of seven districts within West Sussex. The new district covered the whole area of three former districts and parts of a fourth, which were all abolished at the same time:[4]
- Municipal Borough(city)
- Chichester Rural District (except 13 parishes which went to Arun)
- Midhurst Rural District
- Petworth Rural District
The new district was named Chichester, after its largest settlement. The medieval territory of the Rape of Chichester had also covered much of the area of the new district.[5] A successor parish was established covering the former borough of Chichester, and Chichester's city status passed to the new parish rather than the wider district. As such, Chichester City Council is a parish council, whilst Chichester District Council has greater powers and covers the much larger area of Chichester District.[6]
Governance
Chichester District Council | ||
---|---|---|
Chief Executive | Diane Shepherd since 2012[8] | |
Structure | ||
Seats | 36 councillors | |
Political groups |
| |
Length of term | 4 years | |
Elections | ||
First-past-the-post | ||
Last election | 4 May 2023 | |
Next election | 6 May 2027 | |
Meeting place | ||
East Pallant House, 1 East Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TY | ||
Website | ||
www |
Chichester District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by West Sussex County Council.[9] The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[10]
In the parts of the district within the South Downs National Park,
Political control
The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since the 2023 election.[12]
The first elections to the council 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:[13][14][15]
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
No overall control | 1974–1976 | |
Conservative | 1976–1995 | |
No overall control | 1995–1999 | |
Conservative | 1999–2004 | |
No overall control | 2004–2006 | |
Conservative | 2006–2019 | |
No overall control | 2019–2019 | |
Conservative | 2019–2020 | |
No overall control | 2020–2023 | |
Liberal Democrats | 2023–present |
Leadership
The
Councillor | Party | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jane Chevis | Conservative | 1999 | 2002 | |
Janet Duncton | Conservative | 2002 | 2005 | |
Andrew Smith | Liberal Democrats | 2005 | 2006 | |
Myles Cullen | Conservative | 2006 | 2011 | |
Heather Caird | Conservative | 2011 | 10 May 2015 | |
Tony Dignum | Conservative | 19 May 2015 | 21 May 2019 | |
Eileen Lintill | Conservative | 21 May 2019 | 7 May 2023 | |
Adrian Moss | Liberal Democrats | 17 May 2023 |
Composition
Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:[17]
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | 25 | |
Conservative | 5 | |
Local Alliance | 4 | |
Green | 2 | |
Total | 36 |
The Local Alliance and Greens sit together as a group, which forms the council's largest opposition group.[18] The next election is due in 2027.
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 36 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[19]
Councillors and wards
List of Chichester district councillors by ward:[20]
Ward | Councillor | Elected | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chichester West | Clare Apel | 1999 | Member of Chichester City Council | |
The Witterings | Iain Ballantyne | 2023 | ||
Southbourne | Tracie Bangert | 2019 | Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing | |
Harbour Villages | Richard Bates | 2023 | ||
North Mundham and Tangmere | David Betts | 2023 | Cabinet Member for Housing and Revenues and Benefits | |
Selsey South | Steve Boulcott | 2023 | ||
Chichester East | Bill Brisbane | 2021 | Cabinet Member for Planning Elected following a by-election held in June 2021[21] | |
Westbourne | Roy Briscoe | 2019 | ||
Lavant | Joseph Brookes-Harmer | 2023 | ||
Chichester North | Jonathan Brown | 2023 | Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environmental Strategy Previously represented Southbourne (2015–2023) | |
Midhurst | Jess Brown-Fuller | 2023 | Cabinet Member for Culture and Events | |
Fernhurst | Brett Elise Burkhart | 2023 | ||
Midhurst | Hannah Burton | 2023 | ||
Chichester East | Rhys Chant | 2023 | Member of Chichester City Council | |
The Witterings | Mark Chilton | 2023 | Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate Services and Chichester Contract Services | |
Chichester North | Maureen Corfield | 2023 | Member of Chichester City Council | |
Fittleworth | John Cross | 2023 | ||
Petworth | Harsha Desai | 2023 | Cabinet Member for Growth and Place | |
Loxwood | Gareth Evans | 2019 | ||
The Witterings | Elizabeth Hamilton | 2019 | Previously represented Easebourne (2007–2015) and West Wittering (2015–2019) | |
North Mundham and Tangmere | Charlie Hastain | 2023 | ||
Southbourne | Oona Hickson | 2023 | ||
Easebourne | Francis Hobbs | 2015 | ||
Sidlesham with Selsey North |
Donna Johnson | 2019 | Member of West Sussex County Council | |
Harbour Villages | Stephen Johnson | 2023 | ||
Selsey South | Timothy Johnson | 2019 | ||
Harbour Villages | Adrian Moss | 2019 | Leader of the Council Previously represented Fishbourne (2003–2011; 2018–2019) | |
Fernhurst | Eleanora Newbery | 2023 | ||
Harting | Tim O'Kelly | 2023 | ||
Goodwood | Henry Potter | 2019 | Previously represented Boxgrove (2007–2019) | |
Chichester West | Sarah Quail | 2023 | Member of Chichester City Council | |
Chichester South | Sarah Sharp | 2019 | Member of West Sussex County Council | |
Loxwood | Charles Todhunter | 2023 | ||
Chichester Central | James Vivian | 2023 | Member of Chichester City Council | |
Sidlesham with Selsey North |
Val Weller | 2023 | ||
Chichester South | Tim Young | 2023 |
Premises
The council is based at East Pallant House, on East Pallant in the centre of Chichester. The oldest part of the building was originally a large house, which had subsequently served as the headquarters of the old Chichester Rural District Council prior to the 1974 reorganisation. Large modern extensions have since been added to the building.[22]
Geography
Chichester District occupies the western part of West Sussex, bordering on
The district, apart from the few main roads, is generally rural in character, as can be seen by the number of villages within it. Apart from the coastal strip there are few main roads, and the erstwhile railways which once served Midhurst have long been closed.
Civil parishes
There are 67 civil parishes in Chichester District.[23][24] The parish of Chichester holds city status, allowing the parish council to call itself a city council.[6] The parish councils for Midhurst, Petworth and Selsey have each 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.[25]
Landmarks
Apart from the geographical landmarks Chichester District contains architectural and cultural places including
Economy
West Sussex County Council and Chichester District Council are major employers in Chichester, along with
Football clubs
- Bosham F.C.
- Chichester City F.C.
- Midhurst & Easebourne F.C.
- Selsey F.C.
References
- ^ Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Inquire into the Municipal Corporations in England and Wales: Appendix 2. 1835. p. 715. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ISBN 0-85033-924-3.
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
- ^ a b "No. 46255". The London Gazette. 4 April 1974. p. 4401.
- ^ "Council minutes, 17 May 2023". Chichester District Council. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ Stephenson, Jo (7 March 2012). "Shepherd moves up to chief". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
- ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ "Members". South Downs National Park Authority. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ Dunn, Karen (18 May 2023). "New Lib Dem leader at Chichester District Council outlines his administration's priorities". Sussex World. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ Colin Rallings; Michael Thrasher (June 2015). "Chichester District Council Election Results 1973-2011" (PDF). The Elections Centre, Plymouth University.
- ^ "Chichester". BBC News Online. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
- ^ "Council minutes". Chichester District Council. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
- ^ "Your councillors by party". Chichester District Council. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "The Chichester (Electoral Changes) Order 2017", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2017/475, retrieved 27 January 2024
- ^ "Your councillors". Chichester District Council. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
- ^ "Declaration of Result of Poll: Chichester District Council Election of a District Councillor for Chichester East Ward on Thursday 24 June 2021".
- ^ Historic England. "East Pallant House (Chichester Rural District Council Offices) (Grade II) (1026811)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Chichester". Office for National Statistics.
- ^ "Chichester". Ordnance Survey.
- ^ "Parish and town council addresses". Chichester District Council. Retrieved 27 January 2024.