New Forest District

New Forest is a local government district in Hampshire, England. Its council is based in Lyndhurst. The district covers most of the New Forest, from which it takes its name.

New Forest

New Forest District
Non-metropolitan district
Motto(s): 
"Old yet ever new"
New Forest shown within Hampshire
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionSouth East England
Non-metropolitan countyHampshire
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQLyndhurst
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyNew Forest District Council
 • LeadershipLeader and Cabinet (Conservative)
 • MPsJulian Lewis
Desmond Swayne
Area
 • Total290.8 sq mi (753.2 km2)
Area rank49th (of 317)
Population
 (mid-2019 est.)
 • Total180,086
 • Rank105th (of 317)
 • Density620/sq mi (240/km2)
 • Ethnicity
94.9% White British
2.67% White Other
0.94% Asian
0.35% Black
1.14% Other
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code24UJ (ONS)
E07000091 (GSS)
OS grid referenceSU2581608959
Websitewww.newforest.gov.uk

The district was created on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by the merger of the municipal borough of Lymington with New Forest Rural District and part of Ringwood and Fordingbridge Rural District.

With its population estimated at 179,753 in mid-2018, New Forest is one of the most populated districts in England not to be a unitary authority. It was recommended by the Banham Commission to become one in 1995, but this was vetoed by the government of the day.

Politics
Main article: New Forest District Council elections

Elections to the council are held every four years, with all of the 60 seats on the council being elected at each election. From the 1999 election, the Conservatives have had a majority on the council, following a period of No overall control between 1991 and 1995, then Liberal Democrat control from 1995 to 1999.

Following the 2019 election, the make-up of the Council is as follows:

Party Councillors
Conservative Party 46
Liberal Democrats 13
Independent 1

Parishes and settlements
gollark: You obviously were and still are my alt.
gollark: Remember when I gave evidence you were my alt, and you kept denying it to keep up the masquerade?
gollark: You know, 13 was a prime number.
gollark: APIONET has nothing like a nickname registration system.
gollark: I mean, Kit was me a while back.
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