Derbyshire Dales ( ) is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. The district was created in 1974 as West Derbyshire; the name was changed to Derbyshire Dales in 1987. The council is based in the town of Matlock, and the district also includes the towns of Ashbourne, Bakewell, Darley Dale and Wirksworth, as well as numerous villages and extensive rural areas. Much of the district is within the Peak District National Park.
The neighbouring districts are High Peak, Sheffield, North East Derbyshire, Amber Valley, South Derbyshire, East Staffordshire and Staffordshire Moorlands.
History The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as one of nine districts within Derbyshire. The new district covered the area of six former rural and urban districts, which were all abolished at the same time: Ashbourne Rural District Ashbourne Urban District Bakewell Rural District Bakewell Urban District Matlock Urban District Wirksworth Urban District The new district was initially named "West Derbyshire", reflecting its position within the wider county. The council changed the name to "Derbyshire Dales" with effect from 1 January 1987.
Under current local government restructuring plans it is planned that the district will be abolished in 2028, with its area forming part of a new Derbyshire North unitary authority.
Governance
Derbyshire Dales District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Derbyshire County Council. The district is also entirely covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government. In the parts of the district within the Peak District National Park town planning is the responsibility of the Peak District National Park Authority. The district council appoints two of its councillors to serve on the 30-person National Park Authority.
Since 2014 the district has been a non-constituent member of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (formerly known as the Sheffield City Region); the council sends representatives to meetings of the combined authority, but the electorate of Derbyshire Dales do not vote in elections for the Mayor of South Yorkshire.
Political control The council has been under no overall control since 2023. Following the 2023 election an alliance of the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Greens formed to lead the council as a joint administration.
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows: (Put "Derbyshire Dales" in search box to see specific results.)
Party in control Years 1974–1976 1976–1995 1995–1999 1999–2023 2023–present
Leadership The leaders of the council since 1974 have been:
Councillor Party From To Terence Wray 1 Apr 1974 17 Jan 1975 Lewis Rose 20 Feb 1975 25 May 1978 Arthur Clemson 25 May 1978 May 1979 George Ward 22 May 1979 1989 Lewis Rose Jul 1989 May 1995 David Fearn 25 May 1995 May 1998 Steve Flitter May 1998 May 1999 Lewis Rose May 1999 30 May 2019 Garry Purdy 30 May 2019 8 Mar 2023 Steve Flitter 25 May 2023
Composition Following the 2023 election, and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:
Two of the independent councillors form the "Derbyshire First" group. The next election is due in 2027.
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 34 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.
The district is entirely within the Derbyshire Dales parliamentary constituency, created in 2010. The constituency is slightly larger than the district, also including parts of Amber Valley.
Premises The council is based at Matlock Town Hall on Bank Road in Matlock. The oldest part of the building was built as a house called Bridge House. It was bought by the local council in 1894 and a large Italianate extension facing Bank Road was completed in 1898. The building served as the headquarters of Matlock Urban District Council between 1894 and 1974. Following local government reorganisation further large extensions were added in 1979.
Places and parishes
The district is entirely divided into civil parishes. The parish councils for Ashbourne, Bakewell, Darley Dale, Matlock and Wirksworth take the style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council.
Places in the district include: Alsop-en-le-Dale, Ashford-in-the-Water, Ashbourne Bakewell, Baslow, Beeley, Biggin, Birchover, Bonsall, Bradbourne, Bradwell, Brailsford, Brassington, Bretton Calver, Carsington, Chatsworth, Chelmorton, Cromford, Curbar Darley Dale, Doveridge Earl Sterndale, Edensor, Elton, Eyam Fenny Bentley, Foolow, Froggatt Great Hucklow, Great Longstone, Grindleford Hassop, Hathersage, Hognaston, Hartington Kirk Ireton, Kniveton Little Hucklow, Litton, Longford Matlock, Matlock Bath, Middleton-by-Wirksworth, Middleton-by-Youlgreave, Monyash Over Haddon Parwich Rowsley South Darley, Stanton-in-Peak, Stoney Middleton, Sudbury Taddington, Tansley, Thorpe, Tideswell, Tissington Wardlow, Wensley, Winster, Wirksworth Youlgreave
Media In terms of television, the district is served by BBC East Midlands and ITV Central.
Radio stations for the area are BBC Radio Derby, Capital Midlands, Peak FM, and High Peak Radio.
Matlock Mercury is the local newspaper that covers the area.
References