Wyre Forest District Explained

Wyre Forest is a local government district in Worcestershire, England. It is named after the ancient woodland of Wyre Forest. The largest town is Kidderminster, where the council is based. The district also includes the towns of Stourport-on-Severn and Bewdley, along with several villages and surrounding rural areas.

The district borders Bromsgrove District to the east, Wychavon to the south-east, Malvern Hills District to the south-west, Shropshire to the north-west, and South Staffordshire to the north.

History

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

The new district was named after the ancient woodland of Wyre Forest, much of which lies within the area.[2]

Since 2011, Wyre Forest has formed part of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership. Wyre Forest District Council made headlines in June 2024 when it announced that it had banned bouncy castles on council-owned land because of insurance problems.[3]

Governance

Wyre Forest District Council
House Type:Non-metropolitan district
Logo Pic:Wyre Forest District Council logo.svg
Logo Res:200px
Leader1 Type:Chair
Leader1:Paul Harrison
Party1:
Conservative
Election1:14 May 2025[4]
Leader2 Type:Leader
Leader2:Marcus Hart
Party2:
Conservative
Election2:17 May 2023
Leader3 Type:Chief Executive
Leader3:Ian Miller
Election3:December 2009[5]
Structure1 Res:250
Seats:33 Councillors
Political Groups1:
Administration (20)
  • Other parties (13)
    • Last Election1:4 May 2023
    Next Election1:6 May 2027
    Session Room:New council offices at Wyre Forest House, Finepoint Way, Kidderminster - geograph.org.uk - 3188289.jpg
    Meeting Place:Wyre Forest House, Finepoint Way, Kidderminster, DY117WF

    Wyre Forest District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Worcestershire County Council. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[6]

    Political control

    The council has been under Conservative majority control since the 2023 election.

    The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

    Party in control Years
    1974–1976
    1976–1979
    1979–1996
    1996–1999
    1999–2002
    2002–2002
    2002–2008
    2008–2009
    2009–2010
    2010–2012
    2012–2015
    2015–2019
    2019–2023
    2023–present

    Leadership

    The leaders of the council since 1974 have been:[12] [13]

    Councillor Party From To
    Graham Smith[14] 1974 1975
    Malcolm Cooper[15] 1975 1979
    Anthony Batchelor[16] 1979 May 1983
    Graham Ballinger[17] 1983 1984
    Anthony Batchelor 1984 1985
    Mike Oborski 1985 1986
    Gilbert Edwards 1986 1989
    Jamie Shaw[18] 1989 1994
    Jane Bonnick[19] 1994 1996
    Jamie Shaw[20] 1996 1999
    (no leader) 1999 2000
    Mike Oborski[21] 2000 15 May 2002
    Liz Davies[22] 15 May 2002 14 May 2003
    Howard Martin[23] 14 May 2003 2004
    Stephen Clee[24] 2004 May 2007
    John Campion[25] [26] 16 May 2007 Mar 2014
    Marcus Hart[27] [28] 2 Apr 2014 22 May 2019
    Graham Ballinger[29] [30] 22 May 2019 12 May 2021
    Helen Dyke[31] [32] 12 May 2021 May 2023
    Marcus Hart[33] 17 May 2023

    Composition

    Following the 2023 election,[34] and subsequent changes of allegiance up to April 2025, the composition of the council was:[35] [36]

    PartyCouncillors
    20
    7
    3
    2
    1
    Total33
    The Green councillor sits in a group with the independents.[37] The next election is due in 2027.[36]

    Premises

    The council is based at Wyre Forest House, which was purpose-built for the council and completed in 2012.[38] The building is in the parish of Stourport-on-Severn, but lies on the outskirts of Kidderminster and has a Kidderminster postal address. Prior to 2012 the council was based at the Stourport Civic Centre on New Street, which had been completed in 1966 for the old Stourport-on-Severn Urban District Council.[39]

    Elections

    Since the last boundary changes in 2015 the council has comprised 33 councillors representing 12 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[40]

    Wards

    The wards are:[40]

    Wider politics

    The Wyre Forest parliamentary constituency, which covers most of the district, is represented by the Conservative MP Mark Garnier. He has held the seat since the 2010 general election, when he gained it from Richard Taylor of Health Concern, who had held the seat from 2001 to 2010.[41]

    Demography

    In Wyre Forest, the population size has increased by 3.7%, from around 98,000 in 2011 to 101,600 in 2021.[42]

    Parishes

    The whole district is divided into civil parishes. The parish councils for Bewdley, Kidderminster and Stourport-on-Severn take the style "town council".[43]

    Schools

    There are five secondary schools within the district.

    Media

    Television

    The area is served by the regional television programmes:

    Radio

    Radio stations for the area are:

    Newspapers

    Local newspaper that served the area is The Shuttle.

    See also

    External links

    52.389°N -2.255°W

    Notes and References

    1. si. The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972. 1972. 2039. 31 May 2023.
    2. si. The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973. 1973. 551. 31 May 2023.
    3. Web site: Council bans bouncy castles due to insurance issue . BBC News . 19 June 2024. 19 June 2024.
    4. Web site: New Chairman at Wyre Forest District Council . Wyre Forest District Council . 5 July 2025.
    5. News: New chief exec for district council . 7 July 2023 . Kidderminster Shuttle . 23 October 2009.
    6. act. Local Government Act 1972. 1972. 70. 31 May 2023.
    7. Web site: Compositions Calculator . 21 May 2025 . The Elections Centre . University of Exeter. (Put "Wyre Forest" in search box to see specific results.)
    8. News: Wyre Forest . 2014-05-24 . . 23 May 2014.
    9. News: Huge boost for Labour in latest council by-elections. Land. Jon. 11 December 2009. 24dash.com. 16 April 2015.
    10. News: local elections 2010. 7 May 2010. theguardian.com. 16 April 2015.
    11. News: Tories take total control of Wyre Forest Council. 8 May 2015. The Shuttle. 9 May 2015.
    12. Web site: Past Leaders of Wyre Forest District Council . Wyre Forest District Council . 19 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210304221828/https://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/the-council/councillors-committees-and-meetings/leader-of-the-council/past-leaders.aspx . 4 March 2021.
    13. Book: Rallings . Colin . Thrasher . Michael . Wyre Forest District Election Results 1973–2012 . 2015 . Elections Centre, Plymouth University . 5 July 2025.
    14. News: Alston . Trevor . Groups ready for a battle to stop the West Orbital route . 5 July 2025 . Birmingham Post . 12 December 1974 . 21.
    15. News: Parties' musical chairs . 5 July 2025 . Birmingham Post . 21 April 1976 . 24.
    16. News: Jobs are the big issue in carpet country . 5 July 2025 . Evening Mail . 30 May 1983 . Birmingham . 7.
    17. News: Warning of 6p rate rise next year . 5 July 2025 . Sandwell Evening Mail . 20 September 1983 . West Bromwich . 19.
    18. News: Who controls your council . 5 July 2025 . Sunday Mercury . 22 April 1990 . Birmingham . 12.
    19. News: Lib Dem advance in Wyre Forest . 5 July 2025 . Wolverhampton Express and Star . 6 May 1994 . 12.
    20. News: History Makers! . 5 July 2025 . Black Country Evening Mail . 3 May 1996 . 8.
    21. News: Meadowcroft . Michael . Mike Oborski . 19 September 2022 . The Guardian . 5 April 2007.
    22. News: Health party takes control . 19 September 2022 . Worcester News . 9 May 2002.
    23. News: New man at the helm . 5 July 2025 . Worcester News . 15 May 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172742/https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/7636952.new-man-at-the-helm/ . 20 September 2022.
    24. News: Council's leader steps down . 5 July 2025 . Express and Star . 7 May 2007.
    25. Web site: Council minutes, 16 May 2007 . Wyre Forest District Council . 5 July 2025.
    26. News: Wyre Forest District Council leader steps down . 5 July 2025 . Kidderminster Shuttle . 20 March 2014.
    27. Web site: Council minutes, 2 April 2014 . Wyre Forest District Council . 5 July 2025.
    28. News: Madeley . Peter . New 'progressive alliance' to run Wyre Forest Council . 5 July 2025 . Express and Star . 8 May 2019.
    29. Web site: Council minutes, 22 May 2019 . Wyre Forest District Council . 5 July 2025.
    30. News: Farrington . Dayna . Leader of Wyre Forest District Council to step down from role in May . 5 July 2025 . Express and Star . 25 February 2021.
    31. News: Rawlins . Jack . Helen Dyke appointed as Wyre Forest District Council leader . 19 September 2022 . The Shuttle . 13 May 2021.
    32. News: Madeley . Peter . Leader vows to 'get the basics right' as Tories take over Wyre Forest in rare council gain . 5 July 2025 . Express and Star . 7 May 2023.
    33. Web site: Council minutes, 17 May 2023 . Wyre Forest District Council . 5 July 2025.
    34. Web site: Local elections 2023: live council results for England. The Guardian. 9 May 2023 . Voce . Antonio . Leach . Anna . Hoog . Niels de . Torpey . Paul . Clarke . Seán .
    35. News: Rawlins . Jack . Wyre Forest Labour leader Leigh Whitehouse quits party . 11 February 2024 . The Shuttle . 2 February 2024.
    36. Web site: Wyre Forest . Local Councils . Thorncliffe . 5 July 2025.
    37. Web site: Independent and Green group . Wyre Forest District Council . 11 February 2024.
    38. News: New £10.5m Wyre Forest District Council HQ to open its doors. 28 September 2012. The Shuttle. 23 May 2015.
    39. Web site: History of the Civic . The Civic Stourport . 7 July 2023.
    40. si. The Wyre Forest (Electoral Changes) Order 2015. 2015. 70. 7 July 2023.
    41. News: General election 2010: Tories gain Wyre Forest from independent Taylor. Klensch. Sabine. 7 May 2010. politics.co.uk. 23 April 2015.
    42. Web site: How the population changed in Wyre Forest, Census 2021 - ONS . 2022-11-13 . www.ons.gov.uk . en.
    43. Web site: Town and parish councils . Wyre Forest District Council . 7 July 2023.

    This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Wyre Forest District".

    Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2026, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.