What’s It To Me?

Your council

Newark and Sherwood: what’s happening where you live

What the council itself has published on the five things it most shapes for a household: homes, getting about, the bill, the local environment and schools. Each line is quoted from the council’s own document, with the link. This page says what was decided or proposed; it never says whether it was right.

Read on 25 September 2026. Councils publish at different rates and in different places, so “nothing found” means nothing found, not nothing happening.

Council plan · Budget · Meeting papers · Councillors · Register of interests · Consultations

Housing

Newark and Sherwood's Amended Core Strategy plans for at least 9,080 homes over the 2013-2033 plan period.

“In seeking to meet the District’s Objectively Assessed Housing Need (OAN), the District Council must plan for a minimum of 9,080 dwellings over the Plan period.”

Newark and Sherwood District Council, undated. Read 25 September 2026. Para 4.17. The same document states 'the plan period is now from 2013 to 2033'. The council page says 'It was adopted in March 2019.' A new Local Plan is in preparation (https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/planning-building-control/planning/planning-policy-guidance/new-local-plan).

Transport

A Nottinghamshire County Council-led feasibility study has started on ways to stop drivers illegally using Cartergate in Newark town centre as a shortcut.

“Newark and Sherwood District Council has welcomed the launch of a feasibility study to explore ways of stopping drivers from illegally using Cartergate as a shortcut through Newark town centre.”

Newark and Sherwood District Council, 14 September 2026. Read 25 September 2026. Same article: 'The feasibility study, led by Nottinghamshire County Council, will assess several options, including changing the direction of traffic flow and installing different bollards to help prevent unauthorised vehicle access.' The council's consultations page showed 'There are no open consultations at the moment.' on 2026-09-25.

Council tax

Band D set by Newark and Sherwood for 2026–27: £198.60 of a £2,682.10 total bill in the area. MHCLG, Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027 (Open Government Licence).

Newark and Sherwood District Council froze its share of council tax for 2026-27 (Band D £198.60).

“At Newark and Sherwood District Council we have frozen our charges”

Newark and Sherwood District Council, undated. Read 25 September 2026. Page refers to the 2026/27 financial year. Budget Book 2026-27 (https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-05/05.03.26%20-%20Budget%20Book%202026-27.pdf), Cabinet report of 24 Feb 2026, para 3.23: 'The proposal within this paper is a Council Tax freeze for the 2026/27 financial year. This would therefore mean a charge of £198.60 for a Band D property.' The Full Council minutes could not be accessed (democracy site unreachable from this environment).

Environment

Newark and Sherwood District Council has a target of becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2035.

“Newark and Sherwood District Council has set a target of becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2035.”

Newark and Sherwood District Council, undated. Read 25 September 2026. Climate Emergency Strategy 2020. A council news item of 16 Sep 2026 (https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/news/2026/another-major-milestone-road-net-zero-2035) refers to the council's target 'of becoming Net Zero by 2035' and reports a 12% fall in corporate emissions in 2025/26.

Education

Not applicable: district councils do not run schools; schools here are the responsibility of the county council. (Nottinghamshire County Council).

Who runs the council

39 seats in 2026. Run by: Labour, as a minority administration. Open Council Data (public domain).

Councillors by party: Conservative and Unionist 12, Labour Party 11, Independent / Other 10, Liberal Democrats 3, Reform UK 2, Green Party (E&W) 1.

Next scheduled council election: 6 May 2027.

Elections here now: Dover Beck ward (29 October 2026).

All 39 councillors, by ward
  • Johno Lee (Independent / Other) — Balderton North & Coddington
  • Kay Smith (Reform UK) — Balderton North & Coddington
  • Jean Hall (Independent / Other) — Balderton South
  • Simon Forde (Independent / Other) — Balderton South
  • David Moore (Independent / Other) — Beacon
  • Rowan Cozens (Labour Party) — Beacon
  • Susan Crosby (Independent / Other) — Beacon
  • Rhona Holloway (Independent / Other) — Bilsthorpe
  • Tim Wildgust (Conservative and Unionist) — Boughton
  • Debbie Darby (Independent / Other) — Bridge
  • Irene Brown (Independent / Other) — Bridge
  • Michelle Home (Reform UK) — Castle
  • Linda Dales (Conservative and Unionist) — Collingham
  • Phil Farmer (Conservative and Unionist) — Collingham
  • Matthew Spoors (Green Party (E&W)) — Devon
  • Neil Ross (Independent / Other) — Devon
  • Paul Taylor (Labour Party) — Devon
  • Roger Jackson (Conservative and Unionist) — Dover Beck
  • Andy Freeman (Labour Party) — Edwinstowe & Clipstone
  • Celia Brooks (Labour Party) — Edwinstowe & Clipstone
  • Paul Peacock (Labour Party) — Edwinstowe & Clipstone
  • Jack Kellas (Conservative and Unionist) — Farndon & Fernwood
  • Neil Allen (Conservative and Unionist) — Farndon & Fernwood
  • Simon Haynes (Conservative and Unionist) — Farndon & Fernwood
  • Maurice Shakeshaft (Labour Party) — Farnsfield
  • Tim Wendels (Conservative and Unionist) — Lowdham
  • Sue Saddington (Conservative and Unionist) — Muskham
  • Alice Brazier (Labour Party) — Ollerton
  • Lee Brazier (Labour Party) — Ollerton
  • Mike Pringle (Labour Party) — Ollerton
  • Claire Penny (Labour Party) — Rainworth North & Rufford
  • Linda Tift (Labour Party) — Rainworth North & Rufford
  • Tina Thompson (Independent / Other) — Rainworth South & Blidworth
  • Tom Smith (Conservative and Unionist) — Rainworth South & Blidworth
  • Karen Roberts (Liberal Democrats) — Southwell
  • Penny Rainbow (Conservative and Unionist) — Southwell
  • Peter Harris (Liberal Democrats) — Southwell
  • Sylvia Michael (Conservative and Unionist) — Sutton-on-Trent
  • Keith Melton (Liberal Democrats) — Trent

Each councillor’s register of interests is on the council’s own site, linked rather than summarised, because summarising means choosing. Councillors from Open Council Data as recorded after the May 2026 elections; a by-election since then may have changed one seat. Attendance and allowances are not shown.

This council’s meeting papers could not be read automatically (the site blocks or did not answer), so decisions and motions are not listed here; the meeting papers hold them.

Cite this page

Harvard style. Every figure on the page also names its original source, which is usually the better thing to cite.

Every council page has the same five headings in the same order. Sources are the council’s own publications and official statistics. Corrections: hello@whatsittome.org.