Bassetlaw is a local government district in north Nottinghamshire, England. Its council is based in the town of Worksop; the other towns in the district are Retford, Tuxford and Harworth Bircotes. The district also contains numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.

Bassetlaw District
Bassetlaw
Shown within Nottinghamshire
Shown within Nottinghamshire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionEast Midlands
Administrative countyNottinghamshire
Founded1 April 1974
Admin. HQWorksop
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district
 • Governing bodyBassetlaw District Council
 • MPs:Brendan Clarke-Smith,
Robert Jenrick
Area
 • Total
246 sq mi (638 km2)
 • Rank55th
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
120,012
 • RankRanked 198th
 • Density490/sq mi (190/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
Postcode Areas
DN, NG, S

Bassetlaw is bounded to the south by the Newark and Sherwood and Mansfield districts, to the south-west by the Bolsover district of Derbyshire, to the north-west by the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham and the City of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, to the north by North Lincolnshire, and to the east by West Lindsey.

The district council is a non-constituent member of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

History

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The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole of two former districts and most of another two, which were all abolished at the same time:[2]

The new district was named Bassetlaw after the medieval Bassetlaw Wapentake, which had covered a similar area.[3][4] The council's logo now says "Bassetlaw District Council – North Nottinghamshire".

Governance

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Bassetlaw District Council
 
Type
Type
Leadership
Sue Shaw,
Labour
since 15 May 2024[5]
Julie Leigh,
Labour
since 25 July 2024
David Armiger
since August 2021[6]
Structure
Seats48 councillors
 
Political groups
Administration (36)
  Labour (36)
Other parties (12)
  Conservative (8)
  Independent (4)
Elections
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
 
Queen's Buildings, Potter Street, Worksop, S80 2AH
Website
www.bassetlaw.gov.uk

Bassetlaw District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Nottinghamshire County Council. Much of the district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[7][8]

Political control

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The council has been under Labour majority control since 2011.

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[9][10]

Party in control Years
Labour 1974–1976
No overall control 1976–1979
Labour 1979–2004
No overall control 2004–2006
Conservative 2006–2010
No overall control 2010–2011
Labour 2011–present

Leadership

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The leaders of the council since 1991 have been:[11]

Leader Seat Party From To
Graham Oxby Retford North Labour 1991 May 2006
Mike Quigley Retford East Conservative May 2006 May 2011
Graham Oxby Retford North Labour May 2011 16 May 2012
Simon Greaves Worksop North East Labour 16 May 2012 22 Sep 2022
James Naish Sturton Labour 22 Sep 2022 25 July 2024
Julie Leigh Worksop South Labour 25 July 2024

Composition

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Following the 2023 election and changes of allegiance in May 2024, the composition of the council was:[12][13]

Party Councillors
Labour 36
Conservative 8
Independent 4
Total 48

The four independent councillors sit together as a group.[14] The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

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Since the last boundary changes in 2002 the council has comprised 48 councillors representing 25 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[15]

Most of the district is within the Bassetlaw constituency. The south-east of the district, including Tuxford, is in the Newark constituency.[8]

Premises

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Worksop Town Hall
 
Retford Town Hall

Council meetings are held at both Worksop Town Hall, built in 1851,[16] and Retford Town Hall, built in 1868,[17] both of which the council inherited from its predecessor authorities. The council's main offices are at Queen's Buildings, completed in 1981 on Potter Street in Worksop, adjoining the Town Hall.[18] The council also maintains an area office in Harworth.[19]

Settlements

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Harworth Bircotes, a civil parish with town status in Bassetlaw District
 
Tuxford, a historic market town in Bassetlaw District
 
Map of the district of Bassetlaw.

Bassetlaw is divided into 64 parishes, each governed by an elected parish council or parish meeting. The two main settlements of Retford and Worksop are the only areas of the district that are unparished, however, both towns are entitled to elect a town mayor via their respective charter trustees.

Name Status Image Population (2011)[20] Ward(s)
Retford Unparished
(Charter trustees)
22,023
  • Retford East
  • Retford North
  • Retford South
  • Retford West
Worksop Unparished
(Charter trustees)
43,252
  • Worksop East
  • Worksop North
  • Worksop North East
  • Worksop North West
  • Worksop South
  • Worksop South East
Askham Civil parish
 
St. Nicholas' Church, Askham
181 East Markham
Babworth Civil parish
 
Chesterfield Canal, Babworth
1,687 Sutton
Barnby Moor Civil parish
 
Ye Olde Bell, Barnby Moor
278 Sutton
Beckingham Civil parish
 
All Saints' Church, Beckingham
1,098 Beckingham
Bevercotes Civil parish
 
Farm buildings in Bevercotes
Unknown East Markham
Blyth Civil parish
 
St Mary and St Martin's Church, Blyth
1,233 Blyth
Bole Civil parish
 
St Martin's Church, Bole
247 Sturton
Bothamsall Civil parish
 
Lound Hall, Bothamsall
270 East Markham
Carburton Civil parish
 
Ollerton Road Bridge, Carburton
Unknown Welbeck
Carlton in Lindrick Civil parish
 
St. John's Church, Carlton in Lindrick
5,623 Carlton
Clarborough and Welham Civil parish
 
Public house in Clarborough
1,088 Clayworth
Clayworth Civil parish
 
St Peter's Church, Clayworth
419 Clayworth
Clumber and Hardwick Civil parish Unknown Welbeck
Cottam Civil parish
 
Cottages in Cottam
108 Rampton
Darlton Civil parish
 
St. Giles Church, Darlton
110 Tuxford and Trent
Dunham-on-Trent Civil parish
 
St. Oswald's Church, Dunham-on-Trent
343 Tuxford and Trent
East Drayton Civil parish
 
St. Peter's Church, East Drayton
252 Tuxford and Trent
East Markham Civil parish
 
St. John the Baptist Church
1,160 East Markham
Eaton Civil parish
 
Eaton
233 East Markham
Elkesley Civil parish
 
St. Giles Church, Elkesley
822 Welbeck
Everton Civil parish
 
Holy Trinity Church, Everton
839 Everton
Fledborough Civil parish
 
St Gregory's Church, Fledborough
Unknown Tuxford and Trent
Gamston Civil parish
 
St Peter's Church, Gamston
246 East Markham
Gringley on the Hill Civil parish
 
St Peter & St Paul's Church
699 Everton
Grove Civil parish
 
View towards Grove
105 Rampton
Harworth Bircotes Civil parish
 
All Saints Church, Harworth
7,948 Harworth
Haughton Civil parish
 
Haughton watermill
Unknown East Markham
Hayton Civil parish
 
St. Peter's Church, Hayton
385 Clayworth
Headon cum Upton Civil parish
 
St. Peter's Church, Headon
253 Rampton
Hodsock Civil parish
 
Hodsock Priory
2,472 Langold
Laneham Civil parish
 
Signpost in Laneham
312 Tuxford and Trent
Lound Civil parish
 
Lound
471 Sutton
Marnham Civil parish
 
St. Wilfrid's Church, Marnham
117 Tuxford and Trent
Mattersey Civil parish
 
All Saints' Church, Mattersey
792 Ranskill
Misson Civil parish
 
St. John the Baptist Church, Misson
745 Everton
Misterton Civil parish
 
All Saints' Church, Misterton
2,140 Misterton
Nether Langwith Civil parish
 
Public house in Nether Langwith
526 Welbeck
Normanton on Trent Civil parish
 
St. Matthew's Church
345 Tuxford and Trent
North and South Wheatley Civil parish
 
Church of St. Peter and St. Paul's
509 Sturton
North Leverton with Habblesthorpe Civil parish
 
North Leverton Windmill
1,047 Sturton
Norton, Cuckney, Holbeck and Welbeck Civil parish 550 Welbeck
Ragnall Civil parish
 
St.Leonard's Church, Ragnall
Unknown Tuxford and Trent
Rampton and Woodbeck Civil parish
 
All Saints' Church, Rampton
1,139 Rampton
Ranskill Civil parish
 
Church of St Barnabas, Ranskill
1,362 Rampton
Rhodesia Civil parish
 
Chesterfield Canal, Rhodesia
982 Worksop North West
Saundby Civil parish
 
Church of St Martin of Tours
165 Worksop North West
Scaftworth Civil parish
 
Public house in Scaftworth
Unknown Everton
Scrooby Civil parish
 
St. Wilfrid's Church, Scrooby
315 Blyth
Shireoaks Civil parish 1,432 Worksop North West
South Leverton Civil parish
 
All Saints’ Church, South Leverton
480 Rampton
Stokeham Civil parish
 
St. Peter's Church, Stokeham
Unknown Rampton
Sturton le Steeple Civil parish
 
Sturton le Steeple
486 Sturton
Styrrup with Oldcotes Civil parish
 
St. Helen's Church, Oldcotes
684 Blyth
Sutton Civil parish
 
St. Bartholomew's Church
673 Sutton
Torworth Civil parish
 
Great North Road, Torworth
263 Ranskill
Treswell Civil parish
 
St. John the Baptist Church, Treswell
211 Rampton
Tuxford Civil parish
 
Tuxford High Street
2,649 Tuxford and Trent
Walkeringham Civil parish
 
St. Mary Magdalene Church, Walkeringham
1,022 Beckingham
Wallingwells Civil parish
 
Wallingwells Hall
22 Carlton
West Burton Civil parish Unknown Sturton
West Drayton Civil parish
 
West Drayton
225 East Markham
West Markham Civil parish
 
All Saints' Church, West Markham
170 East Markham
West Stockwith Civil parish
 
West Stockwith lock
327 Misterton
Wiseton Civil parish
 
Cottages in Wiseton
Unknown Clayworth

Wards

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Bassetlaw is divided into 25 wards for electoral purposes. Each ward returns either one, two or three councillors at each election depending upon the number of electors within each ward.[21]

  1. Beckingham
  2. Blyth
  3. Carlton
  4. Clayworth
  5. East Markham
  6. East Retford East
  7. East Retford North
  8. East Retford South
  9. East Retford West
  10. Everton
  11. Harworth
  12. Langold
  13. Misterton
  1. Rampton
  2. Ranskill
  3. Sturton
  4. Sutton
  5. Tuxford and Trent
  6. Welbeck
  7. Worksop East
  8. Worksop North
  9. Worksop North East
  10. Worksop North West
  11. Worksop South
  12. Worksop South East

Demography

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Population

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Population of Bassetlaw (1811–2011)
Year Population Year Population Year Population
1811 25,813 1881 43,735 1951 101,590
1821 30,148 1891 45,203 1961 99,221
1831 32,950 1901 50,796 1971 96,918
1841 34,961 1911 57,084 1981 101,119
1851 37,180 1921 63,854 1991 105,354
1861 39,365 1931 71,427 2001 107,701
2011 112,863
Pre-1974 statistics were gathered from local government areas that now comprise Bassetlaw.
Source: Great Britain Historical GIS.[22]

Religion

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Religion Percent[23]
Christian 81.53%
Buddhist 0.09%
Hindu 0.13%
Jewish 0.05%
Muslim 0.33%
Sikh 0.07%
No religion 9.99%

Media

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Bassetlaw receives better TV signals from the Emley Moor transmitter rather than Waltham transmitter which means the area is served by BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire, both broadcast from Leeds.[24]

Radio stations that broadcast to the area are BBC Radio Sheffield, Greatest Hits Radio South Yorkshire, Hits Radio South Yorkshire, Doncaster Radio and Trust AM, an online hospital radio station serving the Bassetlaw District General Hospital in Worksop.[citation needed]

Bassetlaw's local newspapers are Worksop Guardian and Retford Times.[citation needed]

Town twinning

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References

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  1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Bassetlaw Local Authority (E07000171)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan District (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 17 November 2023
  3. ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  4. ^ "Bassetlaw | district, England, United Kingdom | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  5. ^ Masters, Tina (16 May 2024). "Council appoints new Chairman for 2024–25". Worksop Guardian. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Committee report, 28 April 2022" (PDF). Bassetlaw District Council. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  8. ^ a b "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Bassetlaw". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  11. ^ "Council minutes". Bassetlaw District Council. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  13. ^ Cox, Phoebe (16 May 2024). "Two Worksop councillors resign from Bassetlaw Labour to become independents". Worksop Guardian. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Your councillors by party". Bassetlaw District Council. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  15. ^ "The District of Bassetlaw (Electoral Changes) Order 2000", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2000/3285, retrieved 20 December 2023
  16. ^ Historic England. "Worksop Town Hall (1045762)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  17. ^ Historic England. "Town Hall (1370374)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  18. ^ "The Queen going on a walk about around Worksop 5 June 1981". Worksop Guardian. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Contact and find us". Bassetlaw District Council. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Local Area Reports". Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Bassetlaw". Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  22. ^ Bassetlaw District: Historical statistics: Population, A Vision of Britain through Time, retrieved 18 April 2011
  23. ^ Bassetlaw: Census Area Statistics, Office for National Statistics, retrieved 18 April 2011
  24. ^ "Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) Full Freeview transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 18 April 2024.

53°24′N 0°57′W / 53.40°N 0.95°W / 53.40; -0.95