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 whole area of two former districts and part of a third, which were all abolished at the same time:[2][3]
The new district was named after the River Erewash, which forms the district's eastern boundary.[4] On 28 June 1974 the district was awarded borough status, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[5]
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:[9][10]
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Erewash. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council and executive. The leaders since 1974 have been:[11]
Since the last boundary changes in 2015, the council has comprised 47 councillors, elected from 19 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[14]
Premises
When the council was created, it inherited three sets of offices from the predecessor district councils. The South East Derbyshire council offices on St Mary's Gate in Derby were sold shortly after the new council's creation. There was some discussion about building a central headquarters for the council, with possibilities examined at Ilkeston, Long Eaton and Sandiacre, but it was decided in 1976 that the cost of a single new building or a large enough extension to existing buildings was prohibitive.[15] Instead the council built more modest extensions to the buildings it had inherited from the old Ilkeston and Long Eaton councils, notably in 1981 to Ilkeston Town Hall,[16] and in 1991 to The Hall in Long Eaton, renaming the enlarged building Long Eaton Town Hall.[17] The council continues to use both town halls for its offices and meetings.[18]
The towns of Ilkeston and Long Eaton are both unparished areas.[19] The rest of the borough is divided into 13 civil parishes. None of the parish councils are styled as town councils.[20]
The borough has fourteen state secondary schools and 41 primary schools. It is also home to the public (fee-paying) school of Trent College, with its junior/preparatory school, The Elms School.[21]
Derby Japanese School (ダービー日本人補習校 Dābī Nihonjin Hoshūkō), a Japanese weekend school, holds its classes in Broomfield Hall.[22]
Arms
Coat of arms of Borough of Erewash
Notes
Granted in 1983
Crest
On a wreath Or Gules and Azure out of a mural crown Or masoned Gules charged with four annulets Sable and between two torches issuing Azure enflamed Proper a stag rampant Gules and gorged with lace Proper attired and unguled Gold.
Escutcheon
Argent three bends wavy Azure overall between three astronomical signs of Mars Or a chevron Gules thereon a fleur de lys also Or on a chief dovetailed Gules a garb of wheat between two hanks of cotton Gold.
Motto
Per Sapientiam Constantiamque Victoria (Triumph Through Wisdom And Endeavour)[23]
Badge
A stag's head caboshed Gules attired Or in the mouth an astronomical sign of Mars Or and between the attires a rose Gules barbed Proper thereon another Argent barbed and seeded also Proper.
^"Erewash gets its status as borough". Long Eaton Advertiser. 5 July 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2023. ...the new status... effective from June 28...
^"Chief is moving". Long Eaton Advertiser. 29 October 1981. p. 32. Retrieved 24 July 2023. Extensions and modifications have been completed at Ilkeston town hall...
.JPG)
