The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. 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]
The new district was named after the ancient Broxtowe Wapentake, which had covered a larger area. Despite the name, the district does not include the Broxtowe Estate, which is in Nottingham.[3] The district was granted borough status in 1977, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[4]
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[7][8]
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Broxtowe. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1995 have been:[9]
Following the 2023 election, changes of allegiance reported in August 2023 and January 2025 and a by-election in May 2024, the composition of the council was:[12][13][14]
The council is based at the Council Offices on Foster Avenue in Beeston. The building was completed in 1991 at a cost of £2.7 million and was formally opened on 17 April 1991 by Andrew Buchanan, Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire.[17]
Since the last full review of boundaries took effect in 2015, the council has comprised 44 councillors elected from 20 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors.[18]
Since 1983 Broxtowe has also been the name of a parliamentaryconstituency. The constituency boundaries do not exactly match the borough boundaries, with some parts in the north of Broxtowe borough, including Eastwood and Brinsley, being in the Ashfield constituency.[19] A Broxtowe constituency
Map of the Borough of Broxtowe.
also existed from 1918 to 1970. The area of the former constituency was very different, including Hucknall and Kirkby in Ashfield, but excluding Beeston.[20]
Settlements
Eastwood, the second largest settlement in the boroughStapleford, the third largest settlement in the boroughKimberley, the fourth-largest settlement in the borough
Broxtowe has nine civil parishes. The parish councils of Eastwood, Kimberley and Stapleford take the style "town council". An unparished area in the south of the borough covers the town of Beeston and the neighbouring places of Chilwell, Toton, Attenborough and Bramcote, being the area of the former Beeston and Stapleford Urban District minus Stapleford, which was parished in 1987.[19] Strelley was abolished in 2023 and is presently also unparished.[21] The parishes are:
Broxtowe's main visitor attraction is the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum in Eastwood. A small local attraction is the Hemlock Stone in Stapleford. Broxtowe is also the location of the Attenborough Nature Reserve rated as one of the most popular nature reserves in the UK. Its visitor centre was opened in March 2005 by David Attenborough, who can trace his family back to the village of Attenborough located to the east of the visitor centre.
Local nature reserves
Broxtowe has 13 designated local nature reserves, namely Alexandrina Plantation (Bramcote), Bramcote Park Woodland (Bramcote), Brinsley Headstocks (Brinsley), Hall Om Wong (Kimberley), King George's Park (Bramcote), Nottingham Canal, Sandy Lane Public Open Space (Bramcote), Smithurst Meadows (Giltbrook), Stapleford Hill Woodland (Stapleford), Toton Fields (Toton), Watnall Spinney and Watnall Green (Watnall), and Colliers Wood (Moorgreen).[22]
Arms
Coat of arms of Borough of Broxtowe
Crest
On a wreath of the colours within a circlet composed alternately of bezants fimbriated Sable and torteaux a brock passant Proper.[23]
Escutcheon
Argent three barrulets wavy Azure overall a lozenge lozengy Argent and Sable between in chief two bees volant in bend and in base three bears segant erect two and one Proper.
Freedom of the Borough
The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Broxtowe.
