# South Derbyshire

South Derbyshire is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. The district covers the towns of Melbourne and Swadlincote as well as numerous villages and hamlets such as Hilton, Hatton, Etwall, Aston-on-Trent, Repton, Weston-on-Trent and Willington. About a third of the National Forest lies within the district.
The neighbouring districts are Derbyshire Dales, Amber Valley, Derby, Erewash, North West Leicestershire, Lichfield and East Staffordshire.

## History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of two former districts and part of a third, which were all abolished at the same time:
* Repton Rural District
* South East Derbyshire Rural District (part south of the River Derwent, rest went to Erewash)
* Swadlincote Urban District
The new district was named South Derbyshire, reflecting its position within the wider county.

## Governance

South Derbyshire District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Derbyshire County Council. Much of the borough is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.

### Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since the 2023 election.
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:
| Party in control | Years |
| Labour | 1974–1976 |
| No overall control | 1976–1983 |
| Labour | 1983–2007 |
| Conservative | 2007–2020 |
| No overall control | 2020–2023 |
| Labour | 2023–present |

### Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To |
| Bill Dunn | Labour | | 1 Jul 2001 |
| Barry Whyman | Labour | 2 Jul 2001 | 6 May 2007 |
| Heather Wheeler | Conservative | 24 May 2007 | 20 May 2010 |
| Bob Wheeler | Conservative | 20 May 2010 | 8 Jan 2018 |
| Hilary Coyle | Conservative | 18 Jan 2018 | 17 May 2018 |
| Martyn Ford | Conservative | 17 May 2018 | 3 Jan 2021 |
| Kevin Richards | Labour | 14 Jan 2021 | 7 May 2023 |
| Robert Pearson | Labour | 18 May 2023 | |

### Composition

Following the 2023 election and a subsequent by-election in July 2024, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Party | Councillors |
| | Labour | 22 |
| | Conservative | 11 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2 |
| | Independent | 1 |
| Total | Total | 36 |
The next election is due in 2027.

### Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2011 the council has comprised 36 councillors, representing 15 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.

### Premises

The council is based at the Civic Offices on Civic Way in Swadlincote. The building was purpose-built for the council and was completed in 1977, being formally opened on 18 February 1977 by Jack Longland. The council's annual meeting each May, when new the new chair is appointed, is held at Swadlincote Town Hall on The Delph, which had been built as a market hall in 1861.

## Parishes and settlements

The former Swadlincote Urban District is an unparished area. The rest of the district is covered by civil parishes. None of the parishes is styled as a "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting instead of a parish council.
Settlements in the district include:
* Aston-on-Trent
* Barrow upon Trent, Boulton Moor, Bretby
* Calke, Castle Gresley, Cauldwell, Church Gresley, Church Broughton, Coton in the Elms
* Chellaston Fields (excludes rest of Chellaston which falls under Derby.)
* Egginton, Elvaston, Etwall
* Hartshorne, Hatton, Hilton, Hollington
* Ingleby
* Kings Newton
* Linton, Lullington
* Melbourne (Town), Milton
* Netherseal, Newton Solney, Newhall
* Overseal
* Repton, Rosliston
* Shardlow, Smisby, Stanton by Bridge, Stenson Fields, Swadlincote (Town), Swarkestone
* Ticknall
* Walton-on-Trent, Weston-on-Trent, Willington, Woodville

## Media

South Derbyshire is served by BBC East Midlands and ITV Central (East) with television signals received from the Waltham transmitter. Southern parts of the district such as Swadlincote receives better television signals from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter which broadcast BBC West Midlands and ITV Central (West).
Radio stations for the area are BBC Radio Derby, Capital Mid-Counties, Smooth East Midlands, Hits Radio East Midlands and Greatest Hits Radio Midlands.
The area is served by the local newspaper, Burton Mail.

## Arms

Coat of arms of South Derbyshire :
* CrestOn a wreath of the colours upon a mount Sable inflamed a tower Argent rising therefrom clouds of steam Proper.
* EscutcheonVert on a chevron Or masoned Sable between three garbs Or a like number of annulets also Sable a chief vairy Ermine and Gules.
* SupportersOn the dexter side a lion Ermine gorged with a collar vairy Ermine and Gules and on the sinister side a wolf Erminois gorged with a collar quarterly Ermine and Gules each charged on the shoulder with a Rose Gules barbed Proper thereon another Argent barbed and seeded also Proper.
* MottoThe Earth Our Wealth