Derbyshire County Council
{{Short description|Local authority for Derbyshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox legislature
| name = Derbyshire County Council
| coa_pic = Arms of Derbyshire County Council.svg
| coa_res = 150
| coa-pic =
| logo_pic = Derbyshire County Council.svg
| logo_res = 250px
| logo_alt = Derbyshire County Council logo
| house_type = Non-metropolitan county council
| leader1_type = Chair
| leader1 = Trevor Ainsworth
| party1 =
Conservative
| leader2_type = Leader
| leader2 = Barry Lewis
| party2 =
Conservative
| leader3_type = Managing Director
| leader3 = Emma Alexander
| party3 =
| seats = 64 councillors
| structure1 = United Kingdom Derbyshire County Council 2025.svg
| structure1_res = 250px
| structure1_alt = Derbyshire County Council composition
| political_groups1 =
; Administration (40)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Conservative (40)
; Other parties (24)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Labour Party (16)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Liberal Democrats (4)}}
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Independent}}|border=darkgray}} Independent (3)}}
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} Green (1)}}
| term_length = 4 years
| last_election1 = 6 May 2021
| next_election1 = 1 May 2025
| voting_system1 = First-past-the-post
| session_room = Matlock_-_County_Offices_frontage.jpg
| session_res = 250
| meeting_place = County Hall, Smedley Street, Matlock, DE4{{nbsp}}3AG
| website = {{url|www.derbyshire.gov.uk}}
}}
Derbyshire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Derbyshire in England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county, which additionally includes Derby. The county council is based at County Hall in Matlock. Since 2017 the council has been under Conservative majority control. The council is a constituent member of the East Midlands Combined County Authority.
History
The council was first set up in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, covering the administrative county. It was reconstituted in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 with some adjustments to its territory, most notably gaining Derby which had previously been a county borough independent from the county council. In 1997, the city of Derby left the area covered by the council becoming a unitary authority, but the city remains part of Derbyshire for ceremonial purposes.
In 2024 a combined county authority was established covering Derbyshire, Derby, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, called the East Midlands Combined County Authority. The combined authority is chaired by the directly elected Mayor of the East Midlands and oversees the delivery of certain strategic functions across the area.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024|year=2024|number=232|access-date=6 May 2024}}
District and Borough Councils
Political control
The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2017.
Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre | date=4 March 2016 |access-date=10 August 2022}}{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/09/html/3854.stm | title = Derbyshire | access-date = 2009-10-12 | work = BBC News Online | date=19 April 2009}}
| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Party in control | Years |
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} | 1974–1977 |
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | 1977–1981 |
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} | 1981–2009 |
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | 2009–2012 |
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} | 2012–2013 |
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} | 2013–2017 |
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | 2017–present |
=Leadership=
The leaders of the council since 1981 have been:{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://democracy.derbyshire.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx |website=Derbyshire County Council |access-date=21 August 2022}}
=Composition=
Since the 2021 election there have been several changes to the make up of the council. Labour won two by-elections in October 2022 and August 2023 from the Conservatives and three Conservative councillors have left the party and now sit as Independents. As of January 2025 the composition of the council was:{{cite web|title= Long Eaton by election|url=https://www.erewash.gov.uk/elections-section/long-eaton-by-election.html}}{{cite web |title=Council agenda, 22 March 2023 |url=https://democracy.derbyshire.gov.uk/documents/g1182/Public%20reports%20pack%20Wednesday%2022-Mar-2023%2014.00%20Council.pdf?T=10 |website=Derbyshire County Council |access-date=28 July 2023}}
| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party ! Councillors |
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| align=center|40 |
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
| align=center|16 |
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
| align=center|4 |
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}}
| align=center|1 |
| {{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}}
| align=center|3 |
| colspan=2|Total
! align=center|64 |
|---|
The next election is due in May 2025.
Premises
File:Former county hall, St Marys Gate, Derby (geograph 4178083).jpg: Council's meeting place 1889–1955.]]
From its creation in 1889 until 1955 the council met at County Hall, Derby, which had been built in 1660.{{National Heritage List for England|num=1279174|desc=County Hall, Derby|accessdate=13 August 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.derbyshireuk.net/derby/derby_history.html |title=Short History of Derby UK |access-date=18 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927073920/http://www.derbyshireuk.net/derby/derby_history.html |archive-date=27 September 2011 |df=dmy }} In 1955 the council moved to the current county hall in Matlock. This newer county hall is in a former hydrotherapy complex called Smedley's Hydro which was built in 1867.
Elections
{{also|Derbyshire County Council elections}}
Since 2013 the council has comprised 64 councillors. Following the most recent Boundary Review, from the 2025 election each electoral division will be represented by a single councillor. Elections are held every four years.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Derbyshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2024|year=2024|number=xxxx|access-date=5 October 2024}}
Notable former members
- Dennis Skinner (1964–1970), later member of parliament for Bolsover
- Andrew Lewer (2005-2014 Leader 2009-2013), later member of European Parliament for East Midlands
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{cite news|url=http://www.andrewspages.dial.pipex.com/matlock/misc/spa_rc.htm|title=Matlock and Matlock Bath: The Varied Fortunes of a Derbyshire Spa|author=Roy Christian|publisher=Country Life|date=15 August 1963|pages=356–358|access-date=18 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928215908/http://www.andrewspages.dial.pipex.com/matlock/misc/spa_rc.htm|archive-date=28 September 2011|df=dmy-all}}
}}
External links
- [http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk Derbyshire County Council]
{{Derbyshire}}
{{England county councils}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Local government in Derbyshire
Category:County councils of England
Category:1889 establishments in England
Category:Local education authorities in England
Category:Local authorities in Derbyshire