Ashfield () is a local government district in Nottinghamshire, England. The council is based in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, but the largest town is neighbouring Sutton-in-Ashfield. The district also contains the town of Hucknall and a few villages. The district is mostly urban, with some of its settlements forming parts of both the Nottingham and Mansfield Urban Areas.

The neighbouring districts are Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, Gedling, Nottingham, Broxtowe, Amber Valley and Bolsover.

History The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole of two former districts, most of Hucknall Urban District and of parts of a fourth, which were all abolished at the same time: Basford Rural District (parishes of Annesley, Felley and Selston only) Hucknall Urban District Kirkby in Ashfield Urban District Sutton in Ashfield Urban District

The new district was named Ashfield, being the shared suffix of two of the towns' names.

Under current local government reorganisation plans, all district councils in Nottinghamshire, as well as the county council, will be abolished in 2028, with the district becoming part of a new Nottinghamshire unitary authority.

Governance

Ashfield District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Nottinghamshire County Council. Parts of the district are also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.

Political control A local party, the Ashfield Independents, has held a majority of the seats on the council since 2019.

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows: (Put "Ashfield" in search box to see specific results.)

Party in control Years 1974–2003 2003–2011 2011–2018 2018–2019 2019–present

Leadership The leaders of the council since 1974 have been:

Councillor Party From To Clarence Booler 1974 Aug 1986 Jack Barker 1986 1987 Ken Creed 1987 Aug 1995 David Ayres 1995 30 Mar 1999 Chris Bonam 1999 2001 Ken Creed 2001 2007 Jason Zadrozny May 2007 Mar 2009 John Knight Mar 2009 23 May 2013 Chris Baron 23 May 2013 May 2015 Cheryl Butler May 2015 26 Apr 2018 Jason Zadrozny 26 Apr 2018 22 Sep 2026 Samantha DeakinNew council leader named after predecessor convicted BBC News, 28 September 2026. Retrieved 28 September 2026 28 Sep 2026

Composition Following the 2023 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to September 2026, the composition of the council was:

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2015 the council has comprised 35 councillors representing 23 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.

Premises

The council is based at the Council Offices on Urban Road in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, completed in 1986 on a site behind the old headquarters (built 1933) of one of the council's predecessors, the Kirkby-in-Ashfield Urban District Council, with the old building now being known as Ada Lovelace House. The new building was officially opened in October 1986 by Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester.

Settlements and parishes

There are just three civil parishes in the district, being Annesley, Felley and Selston. Annesley and Felley share a grouped parish council. The rest of the district, corresponding to the pre-1974 urban districts of Hucknall, Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield, is an unparished area.

The largest settlement is Sutton-in-Ashfield. Towns and villages in the district include the following: Annesley Annesley Woodhouse Hucknall Huthwaite Jacksdale Kirkby-in-Ashfield Selston Skegby Sutton-in-Ashfield Stanton Hill Teversal Underwood

Media Television The Ashfield District is served by BBC East Midlands and ITV Central with television signals receives from the Waltham TV transmitter. Northern parts of the district around Sutton-in-Ashfield and Kirkby-in-Ashfield receives better signals from the Emley Moor TV transmitter that broadcast BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire (West) programmes and the Belmont transmitter broadcasting BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and ITV Yorkshire (East) programmes.

Radio Radio stations that broadcast the area are: BBC Radio Nottingham on 95.5 FM Capital East Midlands on 96.5 FM Takeover Radio on 106.9 FM Mansfield 103.2 FM, a locally-based station which broadcast to the district from its studios in nearby Mansfield. Millside Radio

Newspapers The Ashfield District is served by the local newspaper, Mansfield and Ashfield Chad.

References

External links Ashfield District Council