Rother District

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Rother District
Non-metropolitan district
Rother UK locator map.svg
Rother shown within East Sussex
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
Region South East England
Non-metropolitan county East Sussex
Status Non-metropolitan district
Admin HQ Bexhill-on-Sea
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyRother District Council
 • Leadership Leader and Cabinet
 •  MPs Kieran Mullan
Helena Dollimore
Area
 • Total197.6 sq mi (511.8 km2)
 • Rank77th (of 296)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total94,162
 • Rank256th (of 296)
 • Density480/sq mi (180/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 •  Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 •  Religion
List
Time zone UTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code 21UG (ONS)
E07000064 (GSS)
OS grid reference TQ7388508555

Rother is a local government district in East Sussex, England. Its council is based in Bexhill-on-Sea. The district is named after the River Rother which flows within its boundaries.

Contents

The neighbouring districts are Wealden, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe, and Hastings. Aside from its coast, Hastings is surrounded by Rother.

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It covered the area of three former districts, which were all abolished at the same time: [2]

The new district was named Rother after the River Rother which flows through the district. [3]

Governance

Rother District Council
Rother District Council Logo.png
Type
Type
Leadership
Richard Thomas,
Liberal Democrat
since 20 May 2024 [4]
Doug Oliver,
RAOIC
since 22 May 2019 [5]
Lorna Ford
since May 2023 [6]
Structure
Seats38 councillors
Political groups
Rother Alliance (24)
  RAOIC (8)
  Labour (8)
  Liberal Democrat (7)
  Green (3)
Other parties (12)
  Conservative (10)
  Independents (2)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
 4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Town Hall, London Road, Bexhill (2).jpg
Town Hall, London Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN39 3JX
Website
www.rother.gov.uk

Rother District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by East Sussex County Council. [7] The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government. [8]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since the 2019 election, being led by a coalition called the 'Rother Alliance' comprising Labour, Liberal Democrats, Greens and some of the independent councillors. [9] The independents in the Rother Alliance formed a local political party in January 2023 called the 'Rother Association of Independent Councillors' (RAOIC). [10]

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: [11] [12]

Party in controlYears
Independent 1974–1979
No overall control 1979–1983
Conservative 1983–1991
No overall control 1991–1999
Conservative 1999–2019
No overall control 2019–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been: [13]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Ivor Brampton [14] Conservative 17 Jan 2001
Graham Gubby [15] Conservative 20016 May 2007
Carl Maynard [16] Conservative 23 May 200722 May 2019
Doug Oliver Independent 22 May 201931 Jan 2023
RAOIC31 Jan 2023

Composition

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was: [17]

PartyCouncillors
Conservative 10
Rother Association of Independent Councillors8
Labour 8
Liberal Democrats 7
Green 3
Independent 2
Total38

The next election is due in 2027.

Premises

The council is based at Bexhill Town Hall on London Road in Bexhill, which was built in 1895 for the Bexhill Urban District Council, which became Bexhill Borough Council in 1902. The building continued to serve as the seat of local government following the reorganisation in 1974 which created Rother District.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 38 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing one or two councillors. Elections are held every four years. [18]

Parishes

The lowest level of local government is the civil parish; there are 34 within Rother. The parish councils for the three parishes of Battle, Bexhill-on-Sea and Rye take the style "town council". The two parishes of Ashburnham and Penhurst share a grouped parish council. The parish of East Guldeford has a parish meeting rather than a parish council due to its small population. [19] [20]

Geography

Rother District covers two areas of relief: to the south, a section of the High Weald; and to the north the lower land, named the Rother Levels, across which flow the River Rother, which rises on the Weald and flows easterly towards Rye Bay, and its tributaries. For much of the course of the main river it constitutes the boundary between East Sussex and Kent, and is given the alternative title of the ’’Kent Ditch’’. Tributaries of the river include the Rivers Dudwell, Tillingham and Brede.

The district reaches the coast in the vicinity of Bexhill, and on the shores of Rye Bay.

Climate

Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year round. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfb" (Marine West Coast Climate/Oceanic climate). [21]

Climate data for Rother, UK
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)8
(46)		8
(46)		11
(52)		13
(55)		17
(63)		19
(66)		23
(73)		22
(72)		18
(64)		14
(57)		10
(50)		7
(45)		14
(57)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)1
(34)		1
(34)		3
(37)		4
(39)		6
(43)		9
(48)		12
(54)		11
(52)		9
(48)		6
(43)		3
(37)		1
(34)		6
(43)
Average precipitation mm (inches)43
(1.7)		30
(1.2)		28
(1.1)		43
(1.7)		28
(1.1)		41
(1.6)		89
(3.5)		38
(1.5)		61
(2.4)		48
(1.9)		43
(1.7)		66
(2.6)		550
(21.8)
Average precipitation days211922201619161619222121232
Source: Weatherbase [22]

Demographics

Rother has one of the oldest populations (with a median age of 52 years) [23] and the lowest per capita income [24] in the UK.

Transport

There are several main roads crossing the district. The major trunk road is the A21, London to Hastings road; it is joined by the A28 road from Ashford road near Hastings; which in turn is crossed by the A268 Hawkhurst to Rye road. There is also the A259 coastal route

The Hastings Line, East Coastway Line and the Marshlink Line are the three railway lines in the District; The Kent and East Sussex Railway tourist line terminates at Bodiam.

Long-distance footpaths include the Sussex Border Path; and the Saxon Shore Way, which links with the 1066 Country Walk.

Landmarks

Major landmarks include Bodiam and Camber Castles; and Battle Abbey.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sussex</span> County of England

East Sussex is a ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Kent to the north-east, West Sussex to the west, Surrey to the north-west, and the English Channel to the south. The largest settlement is the city of Brighton and Hove, and the county town is Lewes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bexhill-on-Sea</span> Seaside town in East Sussex, England

Bexhill-on-Sea is a seaside town and civil parish in the Rother District in the county of East Sussex in South East England. It is located along the Sussex Coast and between the towns of Hastings and Eastbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wealden District</span> District in East Sussex, England

Wealden is a local government district in East Sussex, England. Its council is based in Hailsham, the district's second largest town. The district also includes the towns of Crowborough, Polegate and Uckfield, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The district's name comes from the Weald, the landscape and ancient woodland which occupies much of the centre and north of the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chichester District</span> Local government district in West Sussex, England

Chichester is a local government district in West Sussex, England. It is named after the city of Chichester, which is its largest settlement and where the council is based. The district includes the towns of Midhurst, Petworth and Selsey and surrounding rural areas, including many villages. The district includes part of the South Downs National Park, and Chichester Harbour is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. At the 2021 census the district had a population of 124,531.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burwash</span> Village in East Sussex, England

Burwash, archaically known as Burghersh, is a rural village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. Situated in the High Weald of Sussex some 15 miles (24 km) inland from the port of Hastings, it is located five miles (8 km) south-west of Hurst Green, on the A265 road, and on the River Dudwell, a tributary of the River Rother. In an area steeped in history, some nine miles (14 km) to the south-east lies Battle Abbey and eight miles (13 km) to the east is Bodiam Castle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bodiam</span> Village in East Sussex, England

Bodiam is a small village and civil parish in the Rother District of East Sussex, England. It lies in the valley of the River Rother, near to the villages of Sandhurst and Ewhurst Green.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hastings and Rye (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards

Hastings and Rye is a constituency in East Sussex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Helena Dollimore of the Labour and Co-operative Party. From 2010 until 2019, it was represented by Amber Rudd, who served as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Minister for Women and Equalities, Secretary of State for the Home Department and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under the governments of David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peasmarsh</span> Village in East Sussex, England

Peasmarsh is a village and civil parish in the Rother district, in the county of East Sussex in England. It is located on the A268 road between Rye and Beckley, some 3 miles (4.8 km) north-west of Rye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowhurst, East Sussex</span> Village in East Sussex, England

Crowhurst is an isolated village situated five miles (8 km) north-west of Hastings in East Sussex. It has a parish council and is located within the Rother District Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashburnham, East Sussex</span> Parish in East Sussex, England

Ashburnham is a civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England, situated to the west of Battle. It includes the settlements of Brownbread Street and Ponts Green; Ashburnham Forge is also within the parish. Ashburnham shares a parish council with the neighbouring small parish of Penhurst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beckley, East Sussex</span> Village in East Sussex, England

Beckley is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. It is located on the B2088 minor road above the Rother Levels five miles (8 km) northwest of Rye and ten miles (16 km) from Hastings. The northern border follows the river Rother.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northiam</span> Village in East Sussex, England

Northiam is a village and civil parish in the Rother district, in East Sussex, England, 13 miles (21 km) north of Hastings in the valley of the River Rother. The A28 road to Canterbury and Hastings passes through it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penhurst</span> Village in East Sussex, England

Penhurst is a village and civil parish, sharing a parish council with neighbouring Ashburnham, in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. It is located on the Weald, 4 miles (7km) west of Battle. The parish touches Ashburnham, Battle, Brightling and Catsfield. Penhurst shares a parish council with Ashburnham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whatlington</span> Village in East Sussex, England

Whatlington is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex, England. The village is seven miles (11 km) north of Hastings, just off the A21 road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sussex County Council</span>

East Sussex County Council is the upper tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of East Sussex in England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county; the latter additionally includes Brighton and Hove.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Rother District Council election</span> 2011 UK local government election

The 2011 Rother District Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Rother District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Rother District Council election</span> 2015 UK local government election

The 2015 Rother District Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of Rother District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cripps Corner</span> Village in East Sussex, England

Cripps Corner is a village in the civil parish of Ewhurst and the Rother district of East Sussex, England. It is in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and on a southern ridge of the valley of the River Rother which flows through Bodiam, 2.5 miles (4 km) to the north of Cripps Corner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Rother District Council election</span> 2023 UK local government election

The 2023 Rother District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Rother District Council in East Sussex, England. This would be on the same day as other local elections in England.

References

  1. 1 2 UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Rother Local Authority (E07000064)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  3. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  4. ↑ "Chairman 2024/25". Rother District Council. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "Council minutes, 22 May 2019" (PDF). Rother District Council. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  6. ↑ "Rother appoints new Chief Executive". Rother District Council. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  8. ↑ "Election maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "Rother District Council's new leader confirmed as parties form alliance". www.bexhillobserver.net. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  10. ↑ "Rother Association of Independent Councillors". The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "England council elections". BBC News Online . 10 May 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "Council minutes". Rother District Council. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  14. ↑ "Death of leader - statement from Rother DC". Local Government Chronicle . 22 January 2001. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  15. ↑ "Gubby to stand down". Sussex World. 1 February 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "New leaders of Rother are crowned". Sussex World. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  18. ↑ "The Rother (Electoral Changes) Order 2016", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2016/1236, retrieved 25 June 2023
  19. ↑ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  20. ↑ "Parish council contact details". Rother District Council. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  21. ↑ Climate Summary for Rother, UK
  22. ↑ "Weatherbase.com". Weatherbase. 2013. Retrieved on July 9, 2013.
  23. ↑ ONS - Median age for local authorities, mid 2015
  24. ↑ ONS https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/annualsurveyofhoursandearnings/2018 and data tables

50°50′59.24″N0°28′13.81″E / 50.8497889°N 0.4705028°E / 50.8497889; 0.4705028

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