King's Lynn and West Norfolk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk
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Borough and non-metropolitan district
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King's Lynn, known for both King's Lynn Minster and a statue to George Vancouver. The town is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the borough.
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Shown within Norfolk
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| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | East of England |
| Administrative county | Norfolk |
| Admin. HQ | King's Lynn |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 552 sq mi (1,429 km2) |
| Area rank | 12th |
| Population
(2005 est.)
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| • Total | 151,383 |
| • Rank | Ranked 132nd |
| • Density | 274.37/sq mi (105.94/km2) |
| Ethnicity (2021) | |
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List
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| Religion (2021) | |
| • Religion |
List
52.4% Christianity
39.5% no religion 7.6% other 0.5% Islam |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (British Summer Time) |
| ONS code | 33UE (ONS) E07000146 (GSS) |
King's Lynn and West Norfolk is a special area in Norfolk, England. It has a local government called a borough. The main office for this area is in the town of King's Lynn.
This district also includes the towns of Downham Market and Hunstanton. Many villages and countryside areas are part of it too. In 2021, about 154,325 people lived here.
Part of the borough is a beautiful place called the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The borough is right on the coast. It faces The Wash to the west and the North Sea to the north. It shares borders with several other districts.
Contents
How King's Lynn and West Norfolk Started
This district was created on April 1, 1974. It brought together seven smaller areas that used to be separate. These areas were:
- Docking Rural District
- Downham Market Urban District
- Downham Rural District
- Freebridge Lynn Rural District
- Hunstanton Urban District
- King's Lynn Municipal Borough
- Marshland Rural District
At first, the new district was just called "West Norfolk." This name showed its location in the wider county. On January 30, 1981, it became a "borough." This meant the head of the council could be called a "mayor." The name changed again on May 14, 1981, to "King's Lynn and West Norfolk."
How the Area is Governed
| Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk | |
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| Type | |
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Non-metropolitan district
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| Leadership | |
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Mayor
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Leader
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Lorraine Gore
Since 1 September 2019 |
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| Structure | |
| Seats | 55 councillors |
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Political groups
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| Elections | |
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Last election
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4 May 2023 |
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Next election
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6 May 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn, PE30 5DQ | |
The Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk handles local services for the district. Things like roads and schools are managed by Norfolk County Council. Many parts of the borough also have smaller local groups called civil parishes. These are the third level of local government.
Who Leads the Council?
In King's Lynn and West Norfolk, the mayor's job is mostly about ceremonies. The real political decisions are made by the leader of the council. Here are the leaders since 2007:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
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| Nick Daubney | Conservative | 2007 | 12 May 2016 | |
| Brian Long | Conservative | 12 May 2016 | 20 May 2021 | |
| Stuart Dark | Conservative | 20 May 2021 | 18 May 2023 | |
| Terry Parish | Independent | 18 May 2023 | 16 May 2024 | |
| Alistair Beale | Independent | 16 May 2024 | ||
How the Council is Made Up
After the election in 2023, the council members changed. Here's how the council looks as of May 2024:
| Party | Councillors | |
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| Conservative | 21 | |
| Independent | 19 | |
| Labour | 10 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 3 | |
| Green | 2 | |
| Total | 55 | |
Out of the 19 independent councillors, 16 work together as the 'Independent Partnership'. This group works with the Liberal Democrats and Greens to run the council. Two other independent councillors form the 'Progressive Group'. The last independent councillor does not belong to a group. The next election for the council will be in 2027.
Council Elections and Youth Parliament
The council has 55 councillors. They represent 35 different areas called wards. Each ward elects one, two, or three councillors. Elections happen every four years.
UK Youth Parliament
The UK Youth Parliament is a group for young people. It's not about politics, but its elections are like local elections. Young people aged 11 to 18 vote for their next Member of Youth Parliament. These elections happen every two years at different times across the country. In King's Lynn and West Norfolk, they usually take place in early spring.
Where the Council Meets
The council usually meets at the Town Hall in King's Lynn. Parts of this building are very old, dating back to the 1420s. The main offices for the council are at King's Court on Chapel Street. This building was built in 1975 and the council bought it in 1981.
Geography of the Area
The district includes the town of King's Lynn and 102 villages around it. In 2001, the district covered about 1,473 square kilometers. King's Lynn itself was about 28 square kilometers. The rest, 1,445 square kilometers, was made up of the surrounding villages and countryside.
Towns and Parishes
The main part of King's Lynn is an area without a separate parish council. The rest of the district has civil parishes. The parish councils for Downham Market and Hunstanton have chosen to call their parishes "towns." This means they have "town councils." There are many other parishes in the area.
Coat of Arms
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See also
In Spanish: King's Lynn and West Norfolk para niños
