Fenland District

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The new district covered the area of six former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=31 May 2023}}

• Chatteris Urban District
• March Urban District
• North Witchford Rural District
• Wisbech Municipal Borough
• Wisbech Rural District
• Whittlesey Urban District

The new district was named Fenland, referencing its position within the Fens.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|access-date=31 May 2023}}

Fenland District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Cambridgeshire County Council. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}}

The council has been under Conservative control since 1999.

The first election to the council was 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:{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre | date=4 March 2016 |access-date=1 June 2023}}{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/councils/html/12ud.stm | title = Fenland | accessdate = 2009-09-09 | work = BBC News Online}}

The leaders of the council since 2014 have been:{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://www.fenland.gov.uk/localgov/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=156 |website=Fenland District Council |access-date=9 June 2022}}

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2023/may/04/elections-2023-results-live-local-council-england#le-full-results|title=Local elections 2023: live council results for England|work=The Guardian|date=9 May 2023 |last1=Voce |first1=Antonio |last2=Leach |first2=Anna |last3=Hoog |first3=Niels de |last4=Torpey |first4=Paul |last5=Clarke |first5=Seán }}

The next election is due in 2027.

{{see also|Fenland District Council elections}}

Since the last boundary changes in 2023, the council has comprised 43 councillors representing 18 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Fenland (Electoral Changes) Order 2023|year=2023|number=48|access-date=15 June 2023}}

In the 2019 election, twelve councillors – all Conservative – were returned unopposed to Fenland District Council, which topped the Electoral Reform Society's list of 'rotten boroughs'.{{cite web|url=https://www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/22854503.fenland-named-electoral-reform-society-top-rotten-boroughs-two-counts---candidate-apathy-blamed-putting-us/|title=Fenland named by Electoral Reform Society as top of their 'rotten boroughs' on two counts – and candidate apathy is blamed for putting us there |date=20 April 2019 |first=John |last=Elworthy |work=Cambs Times |access-date=7 January 2023}}

The council is based at Fenland Hall in March. The original building had been built in 1909 as the county hall for the former Isle of Ely County Council.{{cite news |title=New County Council buildings at March |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=15 June 2023 |work=Cambridge Independent Press |date=30 July 1909 |page=4}}{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://www.fenland.gov.uk/contactus#:~:text=Phone,contact%20centre%20on%2001354%20654321. |website=Fenland District Council |access-date=15 June 2023}}

File:War memorial and church in Elm near Wisbech - geograph.org.uk - 2883379.jpg, one of the many Fenland villages.]]

{{see also|Civil parishes in Cambridgeshire}}

The whole district is divided into 16 civil parishes. The parish councils for Chatteris, March, Whittlesey and Wisbech take the style "town council".{{cite web |title=Town and Parish councils contact details |url=https://www.fenland.gov.uk/localgov/mgParishCouncilDetails.aspx?bcr=1 |website=Fenland District Council |access-date=15 June 2023}}

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Benwick
• Chatteris (town)
• Christchurch
• Doddington
• Elm
• Gorefield
• Leverington
• Manea
• March (town)
• Newton-in-the-Isle
• Parson Drove
• Tydd St Giles
• Whittlesey (town)
• Wimblington
• Wisbech (town)
• Wisbech St Mary

{{div col end}}

The local economy has traditionally been built upon farming and food related industry. The food industry is now well established, and related processing, storage, packaging and distribution has become more sophisticated and diverse. The predominantly rural economy of the area also includes a strong industrial tradition, including brewing, brick making, can making, pet food production, printing and engineering, and many local residents commute outside the district to work or study.

The River Nene provides access to the sea via the Port of Wisbech. Other waterways provide opportunities for angling and other water based activities. Marinas are located in Wisbech and March.

The council run markets in three of the towns (the market in Wisbech is run by Wisbech Town Council) and a number of festivals and other events.{{cite web|title= St. George's Fayre |url=https://www.fenland.gov.uk/article/15670/St-George-s-Fayre-cancelled-for-2021-|website= fenland.gov.uk|access-date= 5 February 2021}}

A proposal for a new Fenland rail link was agreed in June 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk/news/wisbech-march-rail-link-gets-board-approval-1-6687693|title=Historic Agreement|website=wisbechstandard.co.uk|access-date=8 August 2020}}

Fenland council gave £370,400 to its chief executive Tim Pilsbury when he took early retirement in 2010–11.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9774853/100000-pay-offs-for-council-chiefs.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first1=Steven | last1=Swinford | first2=Gregory | last2=Walton | title=£100,000 Pay-Offs For Council Chiefs | date=1 January 2013}}

The term "Fen Tiger" is associated with the Fens. A flag with a tiger is now linked with this part of the county.{{cite web |url=https://britishcountyflags.com/2016/11/21/fenland/ |title=Fenland |website=British County Flags |date=21 November 2016 |access-date=24 November 2022}}

A number of organisations such as the Fenland Archaeological Society (FenArch) and publications such as the Fenland Citizen and The Fens magazine cover much or all of the district. The Wisbech & Fenland Museum for many years was the only museum covering the area, the district council ceased funding the museum in 2016. {{cite web| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxr0rnwn2gwo| website = BBC| title = Museum to chare admission | date = 18 April 2023}}

Since 2012 the Fenland Poet Laureate awards have been eligible for local poets.

Fenland Poet Laureates:- 2012 Elaine Ewart; 2013 Leanne Moden, 2014 Poppy Kleiser; 2015 Jonathan Totman; 2016 Mary Livingstone; 2017 Kate Caoimhe Arthur; 2019 CJ Atkinson; 2021 Kim Allen; 2022 Qu Gao; 2024 Hannah Teasdale.

{{cite web|url= https://www.fenlandcitizen.co.uk/news/poetry-winners-receive-awards-in-fenland-poet-laureate-2022-9285995/|website= Fenland Citizen|title= Poetry Winners|date= 24 November 2022|accessdate= 24 November 2022}}

Fenland is twinned with:

• Nettetal in Kreis Viersen in Germany
• Cook County, New Zealand
• Sunshine Coast, Australia

{{cite book|last= Merrison|first= Karen|title= Secret Fens|year= 2022|publisher= Amberley}}

• Fenland Survey
• The Fens

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.fenland.gov.uk/ Fenland District Council]

{{Cambridgeshire}}

{{East_of_England}}

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Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Cambridgeshire