Instead charter trustees were established for the area of the former borough of Mansfield, with responsibility for looking after the civic regalia of the town.

Warsop is also a civil parish, which is a third tier of local government for that part of the district.

Only one person served as leader in that time: In 2002 the council changed to having a directly elected mayor.

The mayors since 2002 have been:[18] Following the 2023 election and a By-election in June 2024, the composition of the council (excluding the elected mayor's seat) was:[19][20] On 25 October 2024, three long standing members of Mansfield Independent Forum defected to Reform UK, marking a new political group on the council.

[23] The council is based at the Civic Centre on Chesterfield Road South in Mansfield.