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City of Colchester

Coordinates: 51°53′19″N 0°54′13″E / 51.88861°N 0.90361°E / 51.88861; 0.90361
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the local government district. For the urban settlement, see Colchester. For other places, see Colchester (disambiguation).
City of Colchester
Non-metropolitan district, borough, city
Colchester Castle in Colchester, the administrative centre and largest settlement
Colchester Castle in Colchester, the administrative centre and largest settlement
Coat of arms of City of Colchester
Coat of arms
Colchester shown within Essex
Colchester shown within Essex
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionEast of England
Non-metropolitan countyEssex
StatusNon-metropolitan district, City,
Admin HQColchester
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyColchester City Council
 • Leadership(No overall control)
 • MPsBernard Jenkin
Priti Patel
Pam Cox
Area
 • Total
128.64 sq mi (333.18 km2)
 • Rank115th (of 296)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
194,394
 • Rank103rd (of 296)
 • Density1,500/sq mi (580/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code22UG (ONS)
E07000071 (GSS)
OS grid referenceTL997254

The City of Colchester is a local government district with city status in Essex, England, named after its main settlement, Colchester. It is, with 194,394 people according to Office of National Statistics estimate for mid 2022, the most populous district in Essex and also includes the towns of West Mersea and Wivenhoe and the surrounding rural areas stretching from Dedham Vale on the Suffolk border in the north to Mersea Island in the Colne Estuary in the south.

The district borders Tendring District to the east, Maldon District to the south, Braintree District to the west, and Babergh District in Suffolk to the north.

History

[edit]

Colchester was an ancient borough with urban forms of local government from Saxon times. Burgesses were already established by the time of the Domesday survey of 1086. The earliest known borough charter dates from 1189, but that charter appears to confirm pre-existing borough rights rather than being the foundation of a new borough.[2] The borough was reformed in 1836 to become a municipal borough.[3]

The current district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, covering four former districts which were abolished at the same time:[4]

The new district was named Colchester after its largest settlement.[5] The new district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Colchester's series of mayors.[6]

As part of the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II celebrations in 2022, the borough of Colchester was granted city status, confirmed by Letters Patent dated 5 September 2022, allowing the council to change its name to "Colchester City Council".[7]

Governance

[edit]
Colchester City Council
Logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Mike Lilley,
Labour
since 21 May 2025[8]
David King,
Liberal Democrat
since 22 May 2022
Pamela Donelly
since 1 April 2022[9]
Structure
Seats51
Political groups
Administration (28)
  Labour (14)
  Liberal Democrats (14)

Other parties (23)

  Conservatives (19)
  Green (3)
  Independent (1)
Elections
Last election
2 May 2024
Next election
7 May 2026
Meeting place
Town Hall, High Street, Colchester, CO1 1PJ
Website
www.colchester.gov.uk

Colchester City Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Essex County Council. Parts of the district are also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[10]

Political control

[edit]

The council has been under no overall control since 2008. A Liberal Democrat and Labour coalition formed in May 2025, with Liberal Democrat councillor David King serving as leader of the council and Labour councillor Julie Young serving as deputy leader.[11] Between the 2023 election and the new coalition forming in 2025, the council had been run by a Liberal Democrat minority administration with informal support from the Labour Party and the Green Party on a case-by-case basis.[12]

The first election to the borough council following the reforms of the Local Government Act 1972 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:[13][14][15]

Party in control Years
No overall control 1974–1976
Conservative 1976–1986
No overall control 1986–1994
Liberal Democrats 1994–1998
No overall control 1998–2007
Conservative 2007–2008
No overall control 2008–present

Leadership

[edit]
See also: List of mayors of Colchester

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Colchester. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2000 have been:

Councillor Party From To
Bill Frame[16] Liberal Democrats 2000 2002
Colin Sykes[17][18] Liberal Democrats 2002 2004
John Jowers[19] Conservative 2004 2006
Robert Davidson[20] Conservative 2006 2008
Anne Turrell[21][22] Liberal Democrats 2008 Jun 2014
Martin Hunt[23][24] Liberal Democrats 16 Jun 2014 May 2015
Paul Smith[25][26] Liberal Democrats 27 May 2015 May 2018
Mark Cory[27][28] Liberal Democrats 23 May 2018 May 2021
Paul Dundas[29][30] Conservative 26 May 2021 May 2022
David King[31] Liberal Democrats 22 May 2022

Composition

[edit]

Following the 2024 council elections and a subsequent change of allegiance later in May 2024,[32] the composition of the council was:

Party Councillors
Conservative 19
Labour 14
Liberal Democrats 14
Green 3
Independent 1
Total 51

The next election is due 7 May 2026.[33]

Premises

[edit]

The council meets at Colchester Town Hall on the High Street. The current building was completed in 1902 on a site which had been occupied by Colchester's main civic buildings since 1277.[34]

Most of the council's administrative offices are at a modern office building called Rowan House at 33 Sheepen Road, north-west of the city centre.[35]

Elections

[edit]
See also: Colchester City Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2016 the council has comprised 51 councillors representing 17 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, choosing one councillor for each ward at a time to serve a four year term. In the fourth year of the cycle when there are no elections to the city council, elections for Essex County Council are held instead.[36]

Demography

[edit]
Tiptree, one of the outlying settlements of the City of Colchester District
Great Horkesley, one of the many outlying villages of the City of Colchester District

According to the Office for National Statistics as of 2008, Colchester had a population of approximately 181,000.[37] Average life expectancy was 78.7 for males. and 83.3 for females.[38] By the time of the 2021 census, the population had risen to 192,700.[39]

At the previous census, in 2011, 92% of the population was White (87.5% British, 0.7% Irish and 3.8% Other White), Asians were the second largest group making up 3.6% (0.8% Indian, 0.2% Pakistani, 0.2% Bangladeshi and 1% Chinese, other 1.4%), Black people constituted 1.4% (0.3% Caribbean, 1% African, 0.1% other), those of mixed race made up 1.8%, 0.6% were Arab and there were 0.4% from other ethnic groups.[40] 57.7% identified themselves as Christian, while 31.4% had no affiliation to a religion. Of other religions, 1.6% identified as Muslim, 0.7% Hindu, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.2% Jewish, 0.1% Sikh, 0.5% others, and 7.3% did not answer.[41]

Parishes

[edit]

There are 35 civil parishes in the district. The former Colchester Municipal Borough is an unparished area (subject to some adjustments since 1974 to that area's boundaries with neighbouring parishes).[42] The parish councils of Wivenhoe and West Mersea take the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes are grouped together to share a parish council: Abberton and Langenhoe Parish Council covers those two parishes, and the Winstred Hundred Parish Council covers the four parishes of Great and Little Wigborough, Peldon, Salcott, and Virley. The two parishes of Layer Breton and Layer Marney have parish meetings rather than parish councils due to their small populations.[43]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Colchester Local Authority (E07000071)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ Cooper, Janet; Elrington, C. R., eds. (1994). "Medieval Colchester: Borough government". A History of the County of Essex: Volume 9, the Borough of Colchester. London: Victoria County History. pp. 48–57. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Colchester Municipal Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  4. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  5. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  6. ^ "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Crown Office - The Gazette". 29 September 2022. The Late QUEEN was pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 5 September 2022 to ordain that the Borough of Colchester shall have the status of a City.
  8. ^ Groves, Halle (21 May 2025). "Colchester council appoint 192nd Mayor, cllr Mike Lilley". Daily Gazette / Essex County Standard. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Colchester Borough Council appoints new Chief Executive". BBC News. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  11. ^ Hensel, Natalie (21 May 2025). "Colchester Labour and Lib Dems announce new coalition". Daily Gazette / Essex County Standard. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  12. ^ Dedman, Simon (24 May 2023). "Colchester: Power-sharing ends between Labour and Lib Dems". BBC News. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Colchester" in search box to see specific results.)
  14. ^ "Colchester". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  15. ^ Wilkin, Chris (11 July 2007). "Colchester: Lib Dems furious at pair's defection to the Tories". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  16. ^ "Colchester: Leader Bill's out of the frame". Daily Gazette / Essex County Standard. 3 May 2002. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  17. ^ "Colchester: Lib Dems' leader returns recharged". Daily Gazette / Essex County Standard. 6 May 2002. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Colchester: Council boss sorry to leave". Daily Gazette / Essex County Standard. 26 April 2004. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Colchester: Council names all-Tory cabinet". Daily Gazette / Essex County Standard. 16 June 2004. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  20. ^ Bryson, Robbie (7 May 2019). "Robert Davidson appointed Colchester Conservative leader". Daily Gazette / Essex County Standard. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  21. ^ Bryson, Robbie (22 May 2021). "Colchester councillor Anne Turrell retires after 20 years". Daily Gazette / Essex County Standard. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Martin Hunt set to take over from Anne Turrell as leader of Colchester Council". Daily Gazette / Essex County Standard. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  23. ^ "Council minutes, 16 June 2014". Colchester Borough Council. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  24. ^ "Fairwell to a giant in the council chamber". Daily Gazette / Essex County Standard. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  25. ^ "Council minutes, 27 May 2015". Colchester Borough Council. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Conservatives take Colchester Borough Council leader's seat". BBC News. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  27. ^ "Council minutes, 23 May 2018". Colchester Borough Council. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  28. ^ "Elections 2021: Conservatives form alliance for control at Colchester". BBC News. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  29. ^ "Council minutes, 26 May 2021". Colchester Borough Council. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  30. ^ King, Mel (6 May 2022). "Essex election results 2022: Colchester election results as no party has full control over council". Essex Live. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  31. ^ "Council minutes, 25 May 2022". Colchester Borough Council. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  32. ^ Deady, Elliot (30 May 2024). "Colchester councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell quits Lib Dems". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  33. ^ "Colchester". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  34. ^ Baggs, A. P.; Board, Beryl; Crummy, Philip; Dove, Claude; Durgan, Shirley; Goose, N. R.; Pugh, R. B.; Studd, Pamela; Thornton, C. C. (1994). "'Municipal buildings', in A History of the County of Essex: Volume 9, the Borough of Colchester, ed. Janet Cooper and C R Elrington". London: British History Online. pp. 274–277. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  35. ^ "Our buildings and fleet vehicles". Colchester City Council. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  36. ^ "The Colchester (Electoral Changes) Order 2015", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2015/1859, retrieved 4 June 2023
  37. ^ Colchester Resident Population ONS. Retrieved on 2010-03-07.
  38. ^ Colchester Life Expectancy ONS. Retrieved on 2010-03-07.
  39. ^ "Colchester City Council". www.colchester.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
  40. ^ "Neighbourhood Statistics". Office for National Statistics (ONS). Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  41. ^ "2011 Census: Religion, local authorities in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics (ONS). Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  42. ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  43. ^ "Parish and Town Councils". Colchester City Council. Retrieved 5 June 2023.

51°53′19″N 0°54′13″E / 51.88861°N 0.90361°E / 51.88861; 0.90361

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