Breckland District
Non-metropolitan district
Dereham, the administrative centre of the district and the second-largest settlement in the district
Dereham, the administrative centre of the district and the second-largest settlement in the district
Breckland shown within Norfolk
Breckland shown within Norfolk
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
RegionEast of England
Non-metropolitan countyNorfolk
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQDereham
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyBreckland District Council
 • MPsGeorge Freeman
Liz Truss
Area
 • Total1,035.1 km2 (399.7 sq mi)
 • Rank17th (of 296)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total142,164
 • Rank158th (of 296)
 • Density140/km2 (360/sq mi)
 • Ethnicity
98.5% White
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code33UB (ONS)
E07000143 (GSS)
OS grid referenceTG018081
Thetford is the largest settlement in the district

Breckland is a local government district in Norfolk, England. Its council is based in Dereham, although the largest town is Thetford. The district also includes the towns of Attleborough, Swaffham and Watton, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.

The district derives its name from the Breckland landscape region, a gorse-covered sandy heath of south Norfolk and north Suffolk. The term "Breckland" dates back to at least the 13th century.

The neighbouring districts are King's Lynn and West Norfolk, North Norfolk, Broadland, South Norfolk, Mid Suffolk and West Suffolk.

History

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering six former districts which were all abolished at the same time:[1]

The new district was named Breckland after the distinctive landscape which covers parts of the area.[2] The name was chosen following a competition organised by the outgoing authorities which invited local schools, organisations and individuals to put forward suggested names.[3]

Attleborough, the third-largest settlement in the district
Swaffham, the fourth-largest settlement in the district

Politics

The Council consists of 49 Councillors elected every four years, the last election being May 2019.

It is currently controlled by the Conservative Party who won 37 of the 49 seats on the council at the last election.

Leader of the Council

The Leader since May 2019 is Sam Chapman-Allen (Conservative) (Forest Ward).

The Deputy Leader since May 2023 is Sarah Suggitt (Conservative) (All Saints and Wayland Ward)

Chairman of the Council

The Chairman is Peter Wilkinson (Nar Valley Ward)

The Vice-Chairman is Terry Jermey

Past Chairmen of the Council

  • 2019-2021 Lynda Turner (Shipdham Ward)
  • 2018-2019 Richard Duffield (Lincoln Ward)
  • 2017-2018 Kate Millbank (Dereham Tofwood Ward)
  • 2016-2017 Bill Borrett (Upper Wensum Ward)
  • 2015-2016 Gordon Bambridge (Upper Wensum Ward)
  • 2014-2015 Robert Kybird (Thetford Guildhall Ward)
  • 2013-2014 Paul Claussen (Two Rivers Ward)
  • 2012-2013 Robin Goreham (Dereham Central Ward)
  • 2011-2012 Nigel Wilkin (Necton Ward)

Election Results

For the results of the last election to the council click on this link, Breckland District Council election 2019.

For further information on previous elections click on link, Breckland District Council - Elections

UK Youth Parliament

Although the UK Youth Parliament is an apolitical organisation, the elections are run in a way similar to that of the Local Elections. The votes come from 11 to 18 year olds and are combined to make the decision of the next, 2 year Member of Youth Parliament. The elections are run at different times across the country with Breckland's typically being in early Spring and bi-annually.

The current Member of Youth Parliament for Breckland is Jake Dorman MYP.[4][5][6]

Watton, the fifth-largest settlement in the district

Council parishes

The council is entirely parished, and is made up of 113 civil parishes. At the time of the 2001 census, the district had an area of 1,305 km2 (504 sq mi), with a population of 121,418 in 50,715 households.[7]

The council contains the following civil parishes:

References

  1. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan District (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 17 November 2023
  2. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  3. ↑ "Breckland may be name of new council". Lynn Advertiser. 8 December 1972. p. 8. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Members of Youth Parliament - Norfolk County Council". www.norfolk.gov.uk.
  5. ↑ "Your Norfolk -". yournorfolk.norfolkpublications.org.uk.
  6. ↑ Cope, Lauren (30 March 2018). "Norfolk's four new Members of Youth Parliament are announced". Eastern Daily Press.
  7. ↑ Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes. Retrieved 2 December 2005.
  8. ↑ Imossi, R. (1987-06-01). "Bnldag Vax Gmail". doi:10.2172/1157450. OSTI 1157450. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Breckland District.
  • Diss Express - website of local newspaper covering part of district

52°38′N 0°59′E / 52.633°N 0.983°E / 52.633; 0.983

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