Rochford District

{{Infobox settlement

| timezone = GMT

| utc_offset = 0

| timezone_DST = BST

| utc_offset_DST = +1

| settlement_type = Non-metropolitan district

| subdivision_type = Sovereign state

| subdivision_type1 = Constituent country

| subdivision_type2 = Region

| subdivision_type3 = Non-metropolitan county

| subdivision_type4 = Status

| subdivision_type5 = Admin HQ

| subdivision_name = United Kingdom

| subdivision_name1 = England

| subdivision_name4 = Non-metropolitan district

| government_type = Non-metropolitan district council

| leader_title = Leadership

| leader_title1 = MPs

| established_title1 = Incorporated

| population_density_km2 = auto

| blank1_name = ONS code

| blank2_name = OS grid reference

| official_name = Rochford District

| image_skyline = Aerial View of Rochford - geograph.org.uk - 2176414.jpg

| imagesize = 240px

| image_alt =

| image_caption = Rochford, the administrative centre and one of the towns of the district

| image_shield =

| shield_size =

| shield_alt =

| shield_link =

| image_map = Rochford UK locator map.svg

| mapsize = 150px

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Rochford shown within Essex

| subdivision_name2 = East of England

| subdivision_name3 = Essex

| subdivision_name5 = Rochford

| established_date1 = 1 April 1974

| governing_body = Rochford District Council

| leader_party = {{English district control|GSS=E07000075}}

| leader_name = Alternative - Sec. 31

| leader_name1 = Bayo Alaba
Mark Francois

| area_total_km2 = 169.49

| area_rank = {{English district area rank|GSS=E07000075}} (of {{English district total}})

| population_total = {{English district population|GSS=E07000075}}

| population_as_of = {{English statistics year}}

| population_rank = {{English district rank|GSS=E07000075}} (of {{English district total}})

| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity (2021)

| demographics1_footnotes = {{NOMIS2021|id=E07000075|title=Rochford Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}

| demographics1_title1 = Ethnic groups

| demographics1_info1 =

{{Collapsible list

| 95.9% White

| 1.7% Mixed

| 1.4% Asian

| 0.7% Black

| 0.3% other

}}

| demographics_type2 = Religion (2021)

| demographics2_footnotes =

| demographics2_title1 = Religion

| demographics2_info1 =

{{Collapsible list

| 47.6% Christianity

| 44.9% no religion

| 7% other

| 0.5% Islam

}}

| blank1_info = 22UL (ONS)
E07000075 (GSS)

| blank2_info = {{gbmappingsmall|TQ876904}}

}}

Rochford is a local government district in Essex, England. It is named after one of its main settlements, Rochford, where the council is based. The largest town in the district is Rayleigh. Other places in the district include Hockley, Ashingdon, Great Wakering, Canewdon and Hullbridge.

The district borders Maldon District to the north, the City of Chelmsford to the north-west, the Borough of Basildon to the west, the Borough of Castle Point to the south-west, and the City of Southend-on-Sea to the south. To the east, it has a stretch of coast at Foulness Island.

Most of the built-up areas are in the western part of the district, along the railway line from {{rws|Shenfield}} to {{rws|Southend Victoria}}. Southend Airport straddles the district's border with the City of Southend-on-Sea. The eastern part of the district is more sparsely populated.

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of two former districts, which were 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}}{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|access-date=31 May 2023}}

Governance

{{Infobox legislature

| name = Rochford District Council

| native_name =

| transcription_name =

| legislature =

| coa_pic =

| coa_res =

| logo_pic = Rochford District Council logo.svg

| logo_res = 200px

| house_type = Non-metropolitan district

| body =

| houses =

| leader1_type = Chair

| leader1 = Sarah-Jane Page

| party1 =
Liberal Democrat

| election1 = 21 May 2024{{cite web |title=Election of new Chairman for Rochford District Council |url=https://www.rochford.gov.uk/election-of-new-chairman-for-rochford-district-council |website=Rochford District Council |access-date=4 July 2024 |date=24 May 2024}}

| leader2_type = Leader

| leader2 = James Newport

| party2 =
Liberal Democrat

| election2 = 21 May 2024{{cite web |title=New administration appointed at Rochford District Council |url=https://www.rochford.gov.uk/new-administration-appointed-at-rochford-district-council |website=Rochford District Council |access-date=4 July 2024 |date=24 May 2024}}

| leader3_type = Chief Executive

| leader3 = Jonathan Stephenson

| party3 =

| election3 = 1 August 2021{{cite news |last1=Ferris |first1=Mick |title=Joint chief executive appointed to oversee Brentwood and Rochford councils |url=https://www.yellowad.co.uk/joint-chief-executive-appointed-to-oversee-brentwood-and-rochford-councils/ |access-date=8 June 2023 |work=Yellow Advertiser |date=29 July 2021}}

| members = 39 councillors

| house1 =

| structure1 = Rochford_District_Council_2024.svg

| structure1_res = 250px

| political_groups1 =

;Administration (21)

:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Liberal Democrats (11)}}

:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} Independent (9)}}

:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} Green (1)}}

;Other parties (18)

:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Conservative (10)}}

:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Rochford District Residents}}|border=darkgray}} Rochford Residents (8)}}

| committees1 =

| committees2 =

| joint_committees =

| voting_system1 =

| voting_system2 =

| last_election1 = 2 May 2024

| next_election1 = 7 May 2026

| session_room = File:Civic Suite, 2 Hockley Road, Rayleigh, Essex.jpg

| session_res =

| meeting_place = Civic Suite, 2 Hockley Road, Rayleigh, SS6{{nbsp}}8EB

| website = {{URL|www.rochford.gov.uk}}

| footnotes =

}}

Rochford District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Essex County Council. The district is also entirely 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}}

File:Rayleigh Windmill - geograph.org.uk - 2935459.jpg, one of the towns of the district and its largest settlement]]

=Political control=

The council has been under no overall control since 2023.{{cite news |last1=Dedman |first1=Simon |title=Tories lose control of council after three quit |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2q9d9qpzygo |access-date=1 May 2023 |work=BBC News |date=24 February 2023}} Following the 2024 election a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and independents formed to run the council, led by Liberal Democrat councillor James Newport.{{cite web |title=New administration appointed at Rochford District Council |url=https://www.rochford.gov.uk/new-administration-appointed-at-rochford-district-council |website=Rochford District Council |access-date=4 July 2024 |date=24 May 2024}}

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}}

colspan="2"\|Party in control	Years
class="wikitable"
{{Party name with colour\|No overall control}}	1974–1976
{{Party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	1976–1990
{{Party name with colour\|No overall control}}	1990–1994
{{Party name with colour\|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}	1994–1998
{{Party name with colour\|No overall control}}	1998–2002
{{Party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	2002–2023
{{Party name with colour\|No overall control}}	2023–present

=Leadership=

The leaders of the council since 2004 have been:{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://rochford.cmis.uk.com/rochford/Meetings.aspx |website=Rochford District Council |access-date=26 May 2022}}

class=wikitable ! Councillor !! colspan=2\|Party !! From !! To
Terry Cutmore	{{Party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|22 Jun 2004	align=right\|14 May 2019
Mike Steptoe	{{Party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|14 May 2019	align=right\|9 Jul 2020
Simon Wootton	{{Party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|9 Jul 2020	align=right\|23 May 2023
John Mason	{{Party name with colour\|Rochford District Residents}}	align=right\|23 May 2023	align=right\|21 May 2024
James Newport	{{Party name with colour\|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}	align=right\|21 May 2024	align=right\|

=Composition=

Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was:{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Matt |title=Essex local elections 2024: Rochford results in full as council remains in political limbo |url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/essex-local-elections-2024-rochford-9262798 |access-date=4 July 2024 |work=Essex Live |date=3 May 2024}}

colspan=2\|Total	39
class="wikitable" ! colspan=2\| Party !! Councillors
{{Party name with colour\|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}	align=center\|11
{{Party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=center\|10
{{Party name with colour\|Independent politician}}	align=center\|9
{{Party name with colour\|Rochford District Residents}}	align=center\|8
{{Party name with colour\|Green Party of England and Wales}}	align=center\|1

The Green councillor sits with the independents as the "non-aligned group", which forms the council's administration with the Liberal Democrats. The next election is due in May 2026.{{cite web |title=Rochford |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=rochford |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=4 July 2024}}

=Premises=

File:Rochford District Council offices - geograph.org.uk - 923338.jpg

The council has its main offices on South Street in Rochford. When the council was created it inherited the former Rochford Rural District Council's offices at Roche House, 7 South Street, Rochford and the former Rayleigh Urban District Council's offices at Barringtons, 2 Hockley Road, Rayleigh. Both buildings were converted houses. The council acquired other properties along South Street in Rochford and combined them with Roche House to form the council's headquarters.{{cite web |title=Rochford Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan |url=https://rochford.cmis.uk.com/rochford/Document.ashx?czJKcaeAi5tUFL1DTL2UE4zNRBcoShgo=jsC8mRfPBNY89LTo6K%2B8MtTfg10ssxs8HzP51tff%2B9T31QafNPv5iQ%3D%3D&rUzwRPf%2BZ3zd4E7Ikn8Lyw%3D%3D=pwRE6AGJFLDNlh225F5QMaQWCtPHwdhUfCZ%2FLUQzgA2uL5jNRG4jdQ%3D%3D&mCTIbCubSFfXsDGW9IXnlg%3D%3D=hFflUdN3100%3D&kCx1AnS9%2FpWZQ40DXFvdEw%3D%3D=hFflUdN3100%3D&uJovDxwdjMPoYv%2BAJvYtyA%3D%3D=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&FgPlIEJYlotS%2BYGoBi5olA%3D%3D=NHdURQburHA%3D&d9Qjj0ag1Pd993jsyOJqFvmyB7X0CSQK=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&WGewmoAfeNR9xqBux0r1Q8Za60lavYmz=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&WGewmoAfeNQ16B2MHuCpMRKZMwaG1PaO=ctNJFf55vVA%3D |website=Rochford District Council |access-date=8 June 2023 |date=April 2006}}

The civic suite wing of Barringtons in Rayleigh, including the council chamber, was retained by the council and serves as the council's main meeting place. It closed in 2020 but reopened in 2024 after a period of uncertainty about its future.{{cite news |last1=Emes |first1=Toby |title=Protest held over plans to build on Civic Suite, Rayleigh |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/19640295.protest-held-plans-build-civic-suite-rayleigh/ |access-date=8 June 2023 |work=Southend Echo |date=12 October 2021}}{{cite web |title=Council's Rayleigh reception moves to Mill Arts and Events Centre |url=https://www.rochford.gov.uk/councils-rayleigh-reception-moves-to-mill-arts-and-events-centre#:~:text=Council's%20Rayleigh%20reception%20moves%20to%20Mill%20Arts%20and%20Events%20Centre,-31%20January%202023&text=The%20Civic%20Suite%20on%20Hockley,Centre%20from%20Monday%2C%206th%20February. |website=Rochford District Council |access-date=8 June 2023}}{{cite web |title=Rochford Council evening meetings returning to the council chamber at the Civic Suite in Rayleigh |url=https://www.rochford.gov.uk/rochford-council-evening-meetings-returning-to-the-council-chamber-at-the-civic-suite-in-rayleigh |website=Rochford District Council |access-date=19 September 2024 |date=17 September 2024}}

=Elections=

Since the last boundary changes in 2016 the council has comprised 39 councillors representing 13 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four for a third of the council at a time. Elections to Essex County Council are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no district council elections.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Rochford (Electoral Changes) Order 2015|year=2015|number=1860|access-date=8 June 2023}}

Parishes

File:Hawkwell, Essex - St.Marys Church.jpg, one of the villages of the district]]

The district is divided into 14 civil parishes. The parish council for Rayleigh takes the style "town council".{{cite web |title=Parish and Town Council Clerks |url=https://www.rochford.gov.uk/parish-and-town-council-clerks |website=Rochford District Council |access-date=8 June 2023}}{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=8 June 2023}}

Arms

{{Infobox COA wide

|escutcheon = Chequy of twelve Or a rose Gules barbed and seeded proper charged with a like rose Argent barbed and seeded Proper and Gules a garb Or.

|crest = Issuant from an ancient crown Or a mount Vert thereon in front of a representation of Rayleigh windmill Proper a seaxe fesswise Proper.

|mantling = Gules doubled Or.

|supporters = On the dexter side a bull [guardant] Sable armed unguled and winged Or and sinister a wyvern Vert.

|badge = A roundel barry dancetty of six Gules and Or a pale wavy Argent charged with two pallets wavy Azure.

|motto = Our Heritage Our Future.{{cite web|url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/east_of_england.html |title=East of England Region |publisher=Civic Heraldry of England |accessdate=9 March 2021}}

|notes = Granted 8 March 1975.}}

References

{{coord|51.5817|0.7082|type:adm3rd_dim:25000_region:GB-ESS|display=title}}

Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Essex

class=wikitable ! Councillor !! colspan=2\|Party !! From !! To
Terry Cutmore	{{Party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|22 Jun 2004	align=right\|14 May 2019
Mike Steptoe	{{Party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|14 May 2019	align=right\|9 Jul 2020
Simon Wootton	{{Party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=right\|9 Jul 2020	align=right\|23 May 2023
John Mason	{{Party name with colour\|Rochford District Residents}}	align=right\|23 May 2023	align=right\|21 May 2024
James Newport	{{Party name with colour\|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}	align=right\|21 May 2024	align=right\|

colspan=2\|Total	39
class="wikitable" ! colspan=2\| Party !! Councillors
{{Party name with colour\|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}	align=center\|11
{{Party name with colour\|Conservative Party (UK)}}	align=center\|10
{{Party name with colour\|Independent politician}}	align=center\|9
{{Party name with colour\|Rochford District Residents}}	align=center\|8
{{Party name with colour\|Green Party of England and Wales}}	align=center\|1