Lewes District

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Lewes District
Non-metropolitan district
Lewes UK locator map.svg
Lewes shown within East Sussex
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
Region South East England
Non-metropolitan county East Sussex
Status Non-metropolitan district
Admin HQ Lewes
Founded1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyLewes District Council
Area
 • Total112.74 sq mi (292.00 km2)
 • Rank120th (of 296)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total100,677
 • Rank242nd (of 296)
 • Density890/sq mi (340/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 •  Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 •  Religion
List
Time zone UTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code 21UF (ONS)
E07000063 (GSS)
OS grid reference TQ420104

Lewes is a local government district in East Sussex, England. The district is named after the town of Lewes. The largest town is Seaford. The district also includes the towns of Newhaven, Peacehaven and Telscombe and numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The council meets in Lewes and has its main offices in Newhaven.

Contents

The district lies on the south coast, and a large part of it lies within the South Downs National Park. The district covers an area of 113 sq mi (290 km2), with 9 miles (14.5 km) of coastline. [2] Plumpton Racecourse is within the district. There are 28 parishes in the district.

The neighbouring districts are Brighton and Hove, Mid Sussex and Wealden.

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The new district covered the area of four former districts, which were all abolished at the same time: [3]

The new district was named after Lewes, the ancient county town of Sussex. [4]

Since 2016 the council has shared a chief executive and other staff with nearby Eastbourne Borough Council. [5]

Governance

Lewes District Council
Lewes District Council.svg
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1974
Leadership
Lesley Boniface,
Liberal Democrat
since 20 May 2024 [6]
Zoe Nicholson,
Green
since 22 May 2023 [7]
Robert Cottrill
since 18 January 2016 [lower-alpha 1]
Structure
Seats41
United Kingdom Lewes District Council 2023.svg
Political groups
Administration (24)
  Green (16)
  Labour (8)
Other parties (17)
  Liberal Democrats (15)
  Independent (2)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
 4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
East Sussex County Hall.jpg
County Hall, St Anne's Crescent, Lewes, BN7 1UE
Website
www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk

Lewes District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by East Sussex County Council. [8] The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government. [9]

In the parts of the district within the South Downs National Park, town planning is the responsibility of the South Downs National Park Authority. The district council appoints one of its councillors to serve on the 27-person National Park Authority. [10]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2018. Since the 2023 election an alliance of the Greens and Labour has formed the council's administration. [11]

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows: [12] [13]

Party in controlYears
Conservative 1974–1991
Liberal Democrats 1991–2011
Conservative 2011–2013
No overall control 2013–2015
Conservative 2015–2018
No overall control 2018–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1999 have been: [14]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Ann De Vecchi Liberal Democrats May 19998 May 2011
Tony Nicholson Conservative 25 May 201120 Feb 2012
James Page Conservative 20 Feb 201226 Feb 2014
Rob Blackman Conservative 26 Feb 2014Sep 2015
Andy Smith Conservative 14 Oct 20155 May 2019
Isabelle Linington Conservative 20 May 201915 Jul 2019
Zoe Nicholson Green 15 Jul 201920 Jul 2020
James MacCleary Liberal Democrats 20 Jul 202015 Jul 2021
Zoe Nicholson Green 15 Jul 202118 Jul 2022
James MacCleary Liberal Democrats 18 Jul 202222 May 2023
Zoe Nicholson Green 22 May 2023

Composition

Following the 2023 election and changes of allegiance up to June 2024, the composition of the council was: [15] [16] [17]

PartyCouncillors
Green 16
Liberal Democrats 15
Labour 8
Independent 2
Total41

The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 41 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. [18]

The wards, with their populations at the 2021 Census, are:

WardPopulation
(2021 Census)		Number of
Councillors		Population
per Councillor
Chailey, Barcombe and Hamsey5,20422,602
Ditchling and Westmeston2,55412,554
East Saltdean and Telscombe Cliffs7,39432,461
Kingston1,90411,904
Lewes Bridge4,83422,417
Lewes Castle3,96421,982
Lewes Priory7,91632,639
Newhaven North4,87722,439
Newhaven South7,81422,605
Newick2,44612,446
Ouse Valley and Ringmer6,51332,171
Peacehaven East5,37722,689
Peacehaven North5,18622,593
Peacehaven West4,87222,436
Plumpton, Streat, East Chiltington
and St John (Without)		2,22212,222
Seaford Central5,02322,512
Seaford East4,77622,388
Seaford North5,20722,604
Seaford South4,38822,194
Seaford West4,47122,236
Wivelsfield2,96412,964
Total Lewes99,905412,437

The district straddles the constituencies of Lewes and Brighton Kemptown. [9]

Premises

Marine Workshops, Railway Quay, Newhaven, BN9 0ER: Council's main offices since 2023 UTC@Harbourside (University Technical College), Railway Quay, Newhaven (July 2019) (1).JPG
Marine Workshops, Railway Quay, Newhaven, BN9 0ER: Council's main offices since 2023

Since 2013, full council meetings have been held at County Hall in Lewes, the headquarters of East Sussex County Council. [14] In 2023 the council moved its main offices to Marine Workshops, a former industrial building in Newhaven which it shares with East Sussex Colleges Group. [19]

When created in 1974 the council inherited four sets of offices from its predecessor councils:

Southover House: Council's headquarters 1998-2022 Southover House.jpg
Southover House: Council's headquarters 1998–2022

The Downs was converted into housing and a leisure centre built behind it. The new council's offices were divided between the other three buildings. In 1998 the council acquired Southover House on Southover Road in Lewes, which had previously been offices of East Sussex County Council, to serve as its main offices, remaining there until 2022. [20]

Geography

The Prime Meridian passes through the district.

Sussex Police has its head office in the town of Lewes. [21]

Towns and parishes

The whole district is divided into civil parishes. The parish councils for Lewes, Newhaven, Peacehaven, Seaford and Telscombe take the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council. [22]

ParishTypePopulation
(2021 Census)		Area
(sq km)		Pop Density
per km2
Barcombe Parish Council1,49117.8183.7
Beddington Parish Council27315.7117.4
Chailey Parish Council2,97517.81119.4
Ditchling Parish Council2,26515.50146.1
East Chiltington & St John Without ‡Parish Council45813.5833.7
Falmer & St Ann Without ‡Parish Council25017.0214.7
Firle Parish Council26713.8719.3
Glynde & Tarring Neville ‡Parish Council1949.7220.0
Hamsey Parish Council73411.4464.2
Iford Parish Meeting1779.7118.2
Kingston near Lewes Parish Council8165.70143.1
Lewes Town Council16,72311.421,464.4
Newhaven Town Council12,6937.181,767.6
Newick Parish Council2,4457.80313.4
Peacehaven Town Council15,4425.182,979.4
Piddinghoe Parish Council2343.8061.5
Plumpton Parish Council1,5999.66165.5
Ringmer Parish Council4,76525.91183.9
Rodmell & Southease ‡Parish Council42911.2738.1
Seaford Town Council23,86517.311,378.7
South Heighton Parish Council1,0158.49119.6
Streat Parish Meeting1645.1831.6
Telscombe Town Council7,3924.731,563.5
Westmeston Parish Council2908.4834.2
Wivelsfield Parish Council2,96010.79274.3
Total Lewes99,905292.10342.0

‡ St John Without, St Ann Without, Tarring Neville and Southease are separate civil parishes with parish meetings, but due to their small size population statistics are not published separately for them.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sussex</span> County of England

East Sussex is a ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Kent to the north-east, West Sussex to the west, Surrey to the north-west, and the English Channel to the south. The largest settlement is the city of Brighton and Hove, and the county town is Lewes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewes</span> County town and civil parish in East Sussex, England

Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England. The town is the administrative centre of the wider district of the same name. It lies on the River Ouse at the point where the river cuts through the South Downs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaford, East Sussex</span> Town in East Sussex, England

Seaford is a town in East Sussex, England, east of Newhaven and west of Eastbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newhaven</span> Port town in East Sussex, England

Newhaven is a port town in the Lewes district of East Sussex, England, lying at the mouth of the River Ouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wealden District</span> District in East Sussex, England

Wealden is a local government district in East Sussex, England. Its council is based in Hailsham, the district's second largest town. The district also includes the towns of Crowborough, Polegate and Uckfield, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The district's name comes from the Weald, the landscape and ancient woodland which occupies much of the centre and north of the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peacehaven</span> Town in East Sussex, England

Peacehaven is a town and civil parish in the Lewes district of East Sussex, England. It is located above the chalk cliffs of the South Downs approximately six miles (9.7 km) east of Brighton city centre, on the A259 road. Its site coincides with the point where the Greenwich meridian crosses the English south coast. Peacehaven is next to Telscombe Cliffs, a later western extension to Peacehaven, which lies within a separate parish and has a separate town council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewes (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1868 onwards

Lewes is a constituency in East Sussex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by James MacCleary, a Liberal Democrat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1950 onwards

Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since the 2024 general election by Chris Ward of the Labour Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southease</span> Village in East Sussex, England

Southease is a small village and civil parish in East Sussex, in South East England between the A26 road and the C7 road from Lewes to Newhaven. The village is to the west of the River Ouse, Sussex and has a church dedicated to Saint Peter. Southease railway station lies roughly a kilometre east over the river and may be reached via a swing bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John Without</span> Parish in East Sussex, England

St John Without is a small civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England, covering an area to the north-west of the town of Lewes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telscombe</span> Human settlement in England

Telscombe is a town and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. It consists of three distinct settlements, separated from each other by an open area of downland called Telscombe Tye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sussex County Council</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seahaven FM</span> Radio station in Eastbourne

Seahaven FM is the local radio station covering Eastbourne, Lewes, Newhaven, Peacehaven, Polegate and Seaford in East Sussex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastbourne Borough Council</span> Local government body

Eastbourne Borough Council is the local authority for Eastbourne in East Sussex, England. Eastbourne has had an elected council since 1859, which has been reformed on several occasions. Since 1974, Eastbourne has been a non-metropolitan district with borough status.

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References

  1. ↑ Serves as shared chief executive to both Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council. [5]
  1. 1 2 UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Lewes Local Authority (E07000063)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "Lewes District Council: News and local information". Lewes District Council. 2009. Archived from the original on 2 July 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  3. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 2 August 2023
  4. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  5. 1 2 "Robert Cottrill has been formally confirmed as shared chief executive for Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council". The Argus. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "The Chair of Lewes District". Lewes District Council. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "Council minutes, 22 May 2023". Lewes District Council. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  9. 1 2 "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "Members". South Downs National Park Authority. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  11. ↑ Oxburgh, Huw (23 May 2023). "Greens and Labour join forces to run Lewes District Council". Sussex World. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "Election 2011 - England council elections - Lewes". BBC News.
  14. 1 2 "Council minutes". Lewes and Eastbourne Councils. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  15. ↑ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  16. ↑ Boothroyd, David (5 April 2024). "North Northants gets the Bill". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  17. ↑ Boothroyd, David (14 June 2024). "Labour's win is Clydebuilt". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "The Lewes (Electoral Changes) Order 2016", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2016/1229, retrieved 17 August 2023
  19. ↑ "New cultural hub in Lewes". Lewes District Council. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  20. ↑ "Council to move out of Southover House in Lewes". Sussex World. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  21. ↑ "Non-emergency enquiries." (Archive) Sussex Police. Retrieved 13 February 2011. "Sussex Police Headquarters Church Lane, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2DZ."
  22. ↑ "Town and Parish Council contact details". Lewes District Council. Retrieved 17 August 2023.

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