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Lichfield District

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Lichfield District (UK: /ˈlɪtʃˌfiːld/)[2] is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. The district is named after its largest settlement, the city of Lichfield, which is where the district council is based. The district also contains the towns of Burntwood and Fazeley, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas, including part of Cannock Chase, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Lichfield District
Non-metropolitan district
Lichfield Cathedral and city centre from air
Lichfield Cathedral and city centre from air
Shown within Staffordshire
Shown within Staffordshire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionWest Midlands
Ceremonial countyStaffordshire
Admin HQLichfield
Created1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district
 • MPs:Dave Robertson L
Sarah Edwards L
Area
 • Total
127.9 sq mi (331.3 km2)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
108,352 (Ranked 222nd)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
Post Code
WS7, 9, 13-15, DE13, B74-78
Area code01543

The neighbouring districts are Cannock Chase, Stafford, East Staffordshire, South Derbyshire, North West Leicestershire, North Warwickshire, Tamworth, Birmingham and Walsall.

History

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The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The new district covered two former districts, which were both abolished at the same time:[3][4][5]

The borough of Lichfield had held city status from time immemorial. When the new district was created the area of the former borough became an unparished area with charter trustees to preserve its city status and other civic dignities. In 1980 the area of the former borough was made a civil parish, the charter trustees were wound up and the city status was re-conferred onto the new parish of Lichfield. As such, "Lichfield City Council" is a parish council, whilst "Lichfield District Council" is a district council with wider powers and covering the much larger area of Lichfield District.[6][7]

Between 2011 and 2023, Lichfield formed part of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.[8]

Governance

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Lichfield District Council
 
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1974
Leadership
Ann Hughes,
Labour
since 12 December 2023[9][10]
Doug Pullen,
Conservative
since 21 May 2019[11]
Simon Fletcher
since 2021[12]
Structure
Seats47 councillors
Political groups
Administration (21)
  Conservative (21)
Other parties (26)
  Labour (17)
  Liberal Democrats (7)
  Independent (2)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
 
District Council House, Frog Lane, Lichfield, WS13 6YU
Website
lichfielddc.gov.uk

Lichfield District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Staffordshire County Council. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[13]

Political control

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The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election, being run by a Conservative minority administration.[14][15]

The first election to the district 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:[16][17]

Party in control Years
No overall control 1974–1976
Conservative 1976–1995
Labour 1995–1999
Conservative 1999–2023
No overall control 2023–present

Leadership

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The leaders of the council since 1977 have been:[18]

Councillor Party From To
David Lightbown[19] Conservative 1977 1983
Arnold Ward[20] Conservative 1983 May 1995
Peter Van Hagen[21] Labour May 1995 Dec 1998
Tony Lanchester[22] Labour Dec 1998 May 1999
David Smith[23] Conservative May 1999 11 May 2010
Mike Wilcox Conservative 11 May 2010 21 May 2019
Doug Pullen Conservative 21 May 2019

Composition

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Following the 2023 election, and subsequent changes of allegiance in October 2023, the composition of the council was:[24][25][26]

Party Councillors
Conservative 21
Labour 17
Liberal Democrats 7
Independent 2
Total 47

The next election is due in 2027.

Premises

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Old Grammar School: Headmaster's house (left) and old school room, now council chamber (right).

The district council is based at the District Council House on Frog Lane. The building began as Lichfield Grammar School, which had been founded in 1495 and moved to this site in 1577. The oldest surviving part of the complex is the former headmaster's house at 45 St John Street, built in 1682. The main school room behind the house was rebuilt in 1849. The school moved to new premises in 1903 and later became the King Edward VI School in 1971. The former school buildings at the corner of St John Street and Frog Lane were bought by Lichfield Rural District Council in 1917 and subsequently converted to be that council's offices in 1920.[27] Following the local government reorganisation in 1974 the building passed to the current Lichfield District Council. A large extension was added in 1987 facing Frog Lane, incorporating a new main entrance.[28] The 1849 school room serves as the council chamber.[29]

Elections

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See also: Lichfield District Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2015 the council has comprised 47 councillors representing 22 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[30]

Wards

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Lichfield District's 22 wards are:[30][31]

Wider political boundaries

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The district includes areas in two parliamentary constituencies: Lichfield and Tamworth.[32]

Geography

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Settlements within the district

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Parishes

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Further information: List of civil parishes in Staffordshire

The entire district is divided into civil parishes. The parish council for Lichfield itself takes the style "city council", and the parish councils for Burntwood and Fazeley take the style "town council".[33]

Demography

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According to mid-2020 estimates,[34] the population of Lichfield district is 105,637, with 53,583 (50.7%) of the population female.

In the 2011 census,[35] 69% of the population reported their religion as Christianity, and 23% reported no religion. 6% did not state a religion, with the remainder reporting other religions.[35] The most common ethnicity was White British, 94.6%, followed by Other White, 1.5%, and Asian/Asian British: Indian, 0.9%.[35]

Places of interest

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Drayton Manor Theme Park
 
Lichfield Cathedral
 
Bishop's Palace
 
A path in Beacon Park
 
Minster Pool with Lichfield Cathedral in the background
 
Chasewater

Adventure and excitement

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Arts and entertainment

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History and heritage

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  •  Lichfield Cathedral – The only medieval cathedral in Europe with three spires. The present building was started in 1195, and completed by the building of the Lady Chapel in the 1330s. It replaced a Norman building begun in 1085 which had replaced one, or possibly two, Saxon buildings from the seventh century.
  • Cathedral Close – Surrounding the Cathedral with its many fine buildings is one of the most unspoilt in the country.
  •  Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum – A museum to Samuel Johnson's life, work and personality.
  •  Erasmus Darwin House – Home to Erasmus Darwin, the house was restored to create a museum which opened to the public in 1999.
  •  Lichfield Heritage Centre – in St Mary's Church in the market square, an exhibition of 2,000 years of Lichfield's history.
  •  Bishop's Palace – Built in 1687, the palace was the residence of the Bishop of Lichfield until 1954, it is now used by the Cathedral School.
  • Milley's Hospital – Located on Beacon Street, it dates back to 1504 and was a women's hospital.
  •  Hospital of St John Baptist without the Barrs – A distinctive Tudor building with a row of eight brick chimneys. This was built outside the city walls (barrs) to provide accommodation for travellers arriving after the city gates were closed. It now provides a home for elderly people and has an adjacent Chapel.
  •  Church of St Chad – A 12th-century church though extensively restored, on its site is a Holy Well by which St Chad is said to have prayed and used the waters healing properties.
  •  St Michael on Greenhill – Overlooking the city the ancient churchyard is unique as one of the largest in the country at 9 acres (4 ha).
  •  Christ Church – An outstanding example of Victorian ecclesiastical architecture and a grade II* listed building.
  • The Franciscan Friary – The ruins of the former Friary in Lichfield, now classed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
  • Lichfield Clock Tower – A Grade II listed 19th century clock tower, located south of Festival Gardens.
  •    Letocetum – The remains of a Roman Staging Post and Bath House, in the village of Wall, 1-mile (1.6 km) south of the city.
  •  Staffordshire Regiment Museum – 2.5 miles (4 km) east of the city in Whittington, the museum covers the regiment's history, activities and members, and include photographs, uniforms, weapons, medals, artifacts, memorabilia and regimental regalia. Outdoors is a replica trench from World War I, and several armoured fighting vehicles.
  • The Market Square – In the centre of the city of Lichfield, the square contains two statues, one of Samuel Johnson overlooking the house in which he was born, and one of his great friends and biographer, James Boswell.

Parks and the great outdoors

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Shopping and retail

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Plans have been approved for Friarsgate, a new £100 million shopping and leisure complex opposite Lichfield City Station. The police station, bus station, Ford garage and multi-storey car park will be demolished to make way for new retail space and leisure facilities consisting of a flagship department store, six-screen cinema, hotel, 37 individual shops, 56 apartments and over 700 car parking spaces.

Staffordshire Hoard Discovery

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A selection of 'star items' from the Staffordshire Hoard

Discovered in a field near the village of Hammerwich, near Lichfield City, in Staffordshire, on 5 July 2009, the Staffordshire Hoard is the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork ever found. It consists of nearly 4,000 items that are nearly all martial in character.[37] The artefacts have tentatively been dated to the 7th or 8th centuries, placing the origin of the items in the time of the Kingdom of Mercia.

The hoard was valued at £3.285 million, and was purchased by the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery where items from the hoard are displayed.

Media

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Television

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Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC West Midlands and ITV Central. Television signals are received from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. [38]

Radio

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Radio stations for the area are:

BBC Local Radio

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Commercial

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Community

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Newspapers

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Local newspapers are:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Lichfield Local Authority (E07000194)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Lichfield". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  3. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  4. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  5. ^ "Council History". Lichfield City Council. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  6. ^ "The Lichfield (Parishes) Order 1980" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The National Archives. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  7. ^ "No. 48364". The London Gazette. 7 November 1980. p. 15451.
  8. ^ Live, Lichfield (15 April 2023). "Lichfield District Council to exit local enterprise partnership after changes are confirmed". Lichfield Live. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Council minutes, 12 December 2023" (PDF). Lichfield District Council. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Chair of Lichfield District Council to remain in post for the coming year". Lichfield Live. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  11. ^ Ross (9 May 2019). "All change at Lichfield District Council after Conservatives vote for new leader". Lichfield Live. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  12. ^ Ashdown, Kerry (27 May 2021). "New boss to take helm at Lichfield District Council". Staffordshire Live. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  14. ^ Live, Lichfield (5 May 2023). "No party wins overall control of Lichfield District Council after dramatic count". Lichfield Live®. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  15. ^ Parkin, Isabelle (20 May 2023). "Tories vow to 'work together' with opposition after losing majority in Lichfield". Express and Star. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Lichfield". BBC News Online. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  18. ^ "Council minutes". Lichfield District Council. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  19. ^ Kirkhope, Timothy (14 December 1995). "Obituary: Sir David Lightbown". The Independent. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  20. ^ "And it's the same story in Lichfield". Rugeley Mercury. 11 May 1995. p. 2. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  21. ^ "District's top jobs". Lichfield Mercury. 18 May 1995. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  22. ^ "It's business as usual, says new Labour leader". Lichfield Mercury. 10 December 1998. p. 3. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  23. ^ Elkes, Neil (13 May 1999). "Tories in triumph after tense finish". Lichfield Mercury. p. 4. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  25. ^ "Your Councillors by Party". Lichfield District Council. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  26. ^ "Second Conservative member of Lichfield District Council switches to become independent". Lichfield Live. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  27. ^ Historic England. "Lichfield District Council Offices (part) and attached wall and gates (Grade II) (1218214)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  28. ^ "Minister's city visit hit by gales". Lichfield Mercury. 23 October 1987. p. 7. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  29. ^ "History of Lichfield District Council House". Lichfield District Council. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  30. ^ a b "The Lichfield (Electoral Changes) Order 2015", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2015/111, retrieved 5 July 2023
  31. ^ "Your Councillors". Lichfield District Council. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  32. ^ "Your MPs". Lichfield District Council. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  33. ^ "Parish council contact details". Lichfield District Council. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  34. ^ "MYE1: Population estimates: Summary for the UK, mid-2020". Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  35. ^ a b c "UK Census Data: Lichfield". Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  36. ^ "Heart of the Country Village". Visit Lichfield. Lichfield District Council. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  37. ^ "The Find". Staffordshire Hoard. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  38. ^ "Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  39. ^ "Cannock Chase Radio". Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  40. ^ "Lichfield Live". Retrieved 15 June 2024.

52°40′51″N 1°49′39″W / 52.6809°N 1.8276°W / 52.6809; -1.8276

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