East Suffolk | |
|---|---|
 Beach and harbour atLowestoft, the district's largest town. | |
 East Suffolk district within the county of Suffolk | |
| Coordinates:52°12′N1°30′E / 52.2°N 1.5°E /52.2; 1.5 | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | East of England |
| Non-metropolitan county | Suffolk |
| Status | Non-metropolitan district |
| Admin HQ | Melton |
| Incorporated | 1 April 2019 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Non-metropolitan district council |
| • Body | East Suffolk Council |
| Area | |
• Total | 487 sq mi (1,261 km2) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 246,058 |
| • Density | 1,210/sq mi (469/km2) |
| Ethnicity(2021) | |
| • Ethnic groups | |
| Religion(2021) | |
| • Religion | List
|
| Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
East Suffolk is alocal government district inSuffolk, England. The largest town isLowestoft, which containsNess Point, the easternmost point of the United Kingdom. The second largest town isFelixstowe, which has the country's largestcontainer port. On the district's south-western edge it includes parts of theIpswich built-up area. The rest of the district is largely rural, containing many towns and villages, including several seaside resorts. Its council is based in the village ofMelton. The district was formed in 2019 as a merger of the two previous districts ofSuffolk Coastal andWaveney. In 2021 it had a population of 246,058. It is the most populous district in the country not to be aunitary authority.
The district is on the coast, facing theNorth Sea. Much of the coast and adjoining areas lies within theSuffolk Coast and Heaths, a designatedArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Some northern parts of the district lie withinThe Broads.
The neighbouring districts areBabergh,Ipswich,Mid Suffolk,South Norfolk andGreat Yarmouth.
The district was formed on 1 April 2019 as a merger of the two previous districts of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney.[2] The two councils had previously been working in partnership since 2008.[3]
Although it has the same name, the modern district covers a smaller area than the formeradministrative county ofEast Suffolk, which was abolished in 1974 under theLocal Government Act 1972.
East Suffolk Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Chris Bally since 2022[6] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 55 councillors |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 4 May 2023 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
| East Suffolk House, Station Road, Melton, Woodbridge, IP12 1RT | |
| Website | |
| www | |
East Suffolk Council providesdistrict-level services.County-level services are provided bySuffolk County Council. The whole district is also covered bycivil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[7][8]
In the parts of the district within The Broads,town planning is the responsibility of theBroads Authority. The district council appoints one of its councillors to sit on that authority.[9]
The council has been underno overall control since the2023 election, being run by a coalition of theGreens,Liberal Democrats and anindependent councillor, led by Green councillor Caroline Topping.[10]
Political control of the council since 2019 has been as follows:
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 2019–2023 | |
| No overall control | 2023–present | |
Theleaders of the council from the council's first formal meeting in 2019 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Gallant[11][12] | Conservative | 22 May 2019 | May 2023 | |
| Caroline Topping[13] | Green | 24 May 2023 | ||
Following the2023 election,[14] and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2025,[15] the composition of the council was:
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 16 | |
| Conservative | 15 | |
| Labour | 12 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 9 | |
| Independent | 3 | |
| Total | 55 | |
The next election is due in 2027.[16]
East Suffolk comprises 55councillors representing 26wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[17]
The council is based at East Suffolk House, oppositeMelton railway station.[18] The building was purpose-built for the former Suffolk Coastal District Council and opened in 2016, becoming headquarters of the new East Suffolk Council following the formal merger in 2019.[19]
The whole district is divided into civil parishes. Thirteen of the parish councils have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council", being:[20]
