Political control

The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election, being run by a partnership of Labour, the "Independents for Newark and District" group of independent councillors, and the Liberal Democrats.^[9]

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. Since 1974 political control of the council has been as follows:^[10][11]

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2003 have been:^[12]

Composition

Following the 2023 election the composition of the council was:^[14]

Of the eleven independent councillors, eight sit together as the "Independents for Newark and District" group, which forms part of the council's administration with Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Another two independents form the "Newark and Sherwood District Independents" group, and the other does not belong to any group.^[15] The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

Since the last full review of boundaries in 2015 the council has comprised 39 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.^[16]

The district is covered by two parliamentary constituencies: Newark, created in 1885, which has been represented by Robert Jenrick, a Conservative, since 2014;^[17] and has been held by the Conservative Party since 2001;^[18] and Sherwood, created in 1983, represented by Mark Spencer, also a Conservative, since 2010.^[19]

Premises

The council is based at Castle House, on Great North Road in Newark, adjacent to Newark Castle Railway station. The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 2017.^[20]

The council was previously based at Kelham Hall in the village of Kelham, which had been purchased early in 1974 as part of preparations for the local government reorganisation later that year.^[21][22][23]