Braintree District is a local government district in Essex, England. The district is named after the town of Braintree, where the council is based. The district also includes the towns of Halstead and Witham and surrounding rural areas.

The neighbouring districts are Colchester, Maldon, Chelmsford, Uttlesford, South Cambridgeshire, West Suffolk, and Babergh.

History

The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as one of 14 districts within Essex. The new district covered the area of five former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:

• Braintree and Bocking Urban District
• Braintree Rural District
• Halstead Rural District
• Halstead Urban District
• Witham Urban District

The new district was named Braintree, after the area's largest town.

Governance

Braintree District Council
Type
Type	Non-metropolitan district
History
Founded	1 April 1974
Leadership
Chair	Lyn Walters, Conservative since 22 April 2024
Leader	Graham Butland, Conservative since 28 April 2004
Chief Executive	Dan Gascoyne since September 2022
Structure
Seats	49 councillors
Political groups	Administration (26)   Conservative (26) Opposition (23)   Labour (9)   Independent (7)   Green (4)   Halstead RA (3)
Length of term	Whole council elected every four years
Elections
Last election	4 May 2023
Next election	6 May 2027
Meeting place
Causeway House, Bocking End, Braintree, CM7 9HB
Website
www.braintree.gov.uk

Braintree District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Essex County Council. Much of the district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.

Political control

The council has been under Conservative control since 2007.

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:

Party in control		Years
	No overall control	1974–1976
	Conservative	1976–1979
	No overall control	1979–1995
	Labour	1995–2003
	No overall control	2003–2007
	Conservative	2007–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1995 have been:

Councillor	Party		From	To
John Gyford		Labour	1995	9 Oct 2000
Ian Pointon		Labour	9 Oct 2000	4 May 2003
David Finch		Conservative	2003	2004
Graham Butland		Conservative	28 Apr 2004

Composition

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:

Party		Councillors
	Conservative	26
	Labour	9
	Independent	7
	Green	4
	Halstead Residents	3
Total		49

The Greens and independent councillors sit together as the "Independent and Green Group". The next election is due in 2027.

Premises

The council has its headquarters at Causeway House on Bocking End in Braintree. The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 1981.

Elections

Since the last full review of boundaries in 2015, the council has comprised 49 councillors representing 26 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.

Wards

The wards are:

Towns and parishes

There are 63 civil parishes in the district. The former Braintree and Bocking Urban District, covering the town of Braintree itself, is an unparished area. The parish councils for Halstead and Witham are styled "town councils".

Arms

Coat of arms of Braintree District

Notes Granted 15th October 1974. Crest On a wreath of the colours on a mount Vert in front of a garb Or a boar passant Azure crined and unguled Or supporting with the dexter fore-hoof a Maltese cross Gules. Escutcheon Gules a pale Or between two seaxes in pale points upward Argent hilts pommels and quillons Or over all a fess wavy Argent charged with a bar wavy Sable in chief a lion rampant Azure a like lion in base. Supporters On either side a lion Sable gorged with a riband Argent pendent therefrom by a ring a mullet Argent surmounted of a pentagon Or fimbriated and charged with a fleur-de-Lys Vert and holding in the month a shuttle erect threaded Proper. Motto By Wisdom And Foresight. Badge A mullet Argent surmounted of a pentagon Or fimbriated and charged with a fleur-de-Lys Vert.