This blog is changing format slightly. In place of the two separate postings, one announcing forthcoming byelections and one reporting results and other news, there will be a single weekly posting which will contain both. News will be sorted by nation or region, and then alphabetically by council.
Latest information about local council electoral matters is as follows:
- High Peak district council: Byelection on 22 October in Tintwistle ward, after the death of Conservative councillor and Deputy Mayor Cynthia Mitchell. Term ends 2011.
There is also a byelection on 26 November in Blackbrook ward, after the death of the Mayor of High Peak, Tony Bingham who was a Conservative councillor. Term ends 2011. - Lincolnshire county council: Andrea Jenkyns, a Conservative who was elected in the Boston North West division in the full council election in June but turned out to be disqualified on a technicality, was re-elected at a byelection on 15 October. She won with a majority of only 16 votes over a British National Party candidate.
- Mansfield district council: Nick Bennett, elected as a Conservative in Berry Hill ward, has joined the UK Independence Party.
- Rushcliffe borough council: Byelection on 22 October in Nevile ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Ken Keyworth. Term ends 2011.
- South Holland district council: Impending vacancy in Spalding St John’s ward, due to the twice postponed resignation of Wayne Seaborn who was elected as a Conservative but had left the group; he had been criticized for lack of attendance. Term ends 2011.
East of England
- Bedford borough council: Dave Hodgson, the candidate of the Liberal Democrats, was elected Mayor of Bedford at the byelection on 15 October caused by the death of Frank Branston. He becomes only the second directly-elected Liberal Democrat Mayor. The runner up was Parvez Akhtar (Conservative).
- Epping Forest district council: Byelection on 5 November in Lower Sheering ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor and former cabinet member Heather Harding. Term ends 2011.
- Forest Heath district council: Byelection on 22 October in Eriswell and The Rows ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Terry Waters who was the subject of an Adjudication Panel hearing which was imminent and went ahead in September 2009 after his resignation. Waters believed he has not been supported by council officers and that the hearing will not be fair. Term ends 2011.
- Hertfordshire county council: Byelection on 22 October in Borehamwood North ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Martin Heywood. Term ends 2013.
- Hertsmere borough council: Byelection on 22 October in Potters Bar Oakmere ward, also after the death of Conservative councillor Martin Heywood. Term ends 2012.
- Huntingdonshire district council: Byelection on 29 October in Huntingdon North ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Kemp who has moved out of the ward. Term ends 2011.
- North Norfolk district council: Helen Eales kept The Runtons ward in Conservative hands at a byelection on 15 October.
- Peterborough borough council: Vacancy in West ward, after the death of former Mayor and Conservative councillor Michael Burton. Term ends May 2010.
Two members of the council elected as Conservatives, Stephen Goldspink (East ward) and Graham Murphy (Orton Longueville ward), have announced that they have left their party and joined the English Democrats.
- Hammersmith and Fulham borough council: Oliver Craig was elected in Town ward at the byelection on 15 October, holding the seat for the Conservatives.
- Southwark borough council: Impending vacancy in The Lane ward, after the impending resignation of Labour councillor Susan Elan Jones who has been selected as Parliamentary candidate for Clwyd South. We understand that her resignation will not be submitted until after 9 November which is the latest date for byelections (no byelection may take place within six months of an ordinary council election, which is due in May 2010).
- Durham council: Vacancy in Easington ward, after the death of Labour councillor Richard Burnip. Term ends 2013.
- Cheshire East council: Byelection on 19 November in Cholmondeley ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Allan Richardson. Term ends 2013.
- Fylde borough council: Byelection on 19 November in Clifton ward, after the death of Conservative councillor William Thompson. Term ends 2011.
- Knowsley borough council: Vacancy in Halewood South ward, after the resignation of Susan Smith of the Liberal Democrats, due to work commitments. Term ends 2011.
- South Ribble borough council: Phillip Hamman was elected in Leyland St Mary’s ward at a byelection on 15 October; he held the seat for the Conservatives.
- Wirral borough council: Byelection on 26 November in Moreton West and Saughall Massie ward, after the sudden death of Conservative councillor Suzanne Moseley. Term ends 2011.
- Wyre borough council: Byelection on 22 October in Jubilee ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Alan Heppenstall. Term ends 2011.
- Basingstoke and Deane borough council: Paul Miller was elected in Chineham ward at a byelection on 15 October. He held the seat for the Conservatives.
- Bracknell Forest council: Mark Phillips was elected to the council from Hanworth ward on 15 October, holding the seat for the Conservatives.
- Crawley borough council: Geraint Thomas won the Northgate ward in a byelection on 15 October, gaining for the Labour Party in a seat previously held by the Liberal Democrats.
- Gosport borough council: Liberal Democrat group leader Peter Chegwyn has been disqualified for two years by the Adjudication Panel which would create a vacancy in his Leesland ward. He is reinstated for the moment until the High Court has ruled on his appeal. Term ends May 2010.
- Hampshire county council: Peter Chegwyn has been disqualified for two years by the Adjudication Panel which would create a vacancy in his Hardway division. He is reinstated for the moment until the High Court has ruled on his appeal. Term ends 2013.
- Isle of Wight council: David Whittaker, elected as a Conservative councillor for Newport West ward, has left the group after his arrest.
- Shepway district council: Byelection on 12 November in New Romney Coast ward, after the resignation of Sue Ashworth due to ill health. Originally elected as a Liberal Democrat, she had since joined the Conservative Party. Term ends 2011.
- Vale of White Horse district council: Byelection on 22 October in Abingdon Dunmore ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Timothy Smith. Term ends 2011.
- Worthing borough council: Impending vacancies in Marine ward and Salvington ward, due to the resignations of outgoing council leader Keith Mercer and his wife Dr Heather Mercer (both Conservatives) who are emigrating to Cyprus where Heather Mercer is to take up a university post. Terms ends in May 2010 (Salvington) and 2011 (Marine).
- Cornwall council: Vacancy in St Austell Bay ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Richard Stewart due to ill health. Term ends 2013.
- East Devon district council: Vacancy in Trinity ward, after the resignation of Ken George of the Liberal Democrats. Term ends 2011.
- South Hams district council: Byelection on 12 November in Totnes Bridgetown ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Geoff Date. Term ends 2011.
- Taunton Deane borough council: Nicci Court was elected in Lyngford ward in the byelection on 15 October, holding the seat for the Liberal Democrats and helping to keep the council in minority Liberal Democrat control.
- Birmingham city council: Byelection on 22 October in Sutton New Hall ward after the death of Conservative councillor John Beadman. Term ends 2011.
- Cannock Chase district council: Chris Collis was elected to the council from Heath Hayes East and Wimblebury ward on 15 October, gaining a previously Labour seat on behalf of the Liberal Democrats.
- Stratford-on-Avon district council: Vacancy in Stratford Alveston ward, after the death of former chairman Conservative councillor Vince Seaman. Term ends 2011.
- Telford and Wrekin council: Impending vacancy in College ward, due to the resignation of Gary Davies (an Independent) who is retiring and moving to Surrey. Term ends 2011.
- Barnsley borough council: Roy Butterwood, the Labour candidate, won the byelection in St Helens ward on 15 October. By holding the seat for Labour, he preserves the party’s one seat majority on the council.
- Doncaster borough council: Vacancy in Rossington ward, after the death of Independent councillor Jackie Clark. Term ends 2012.
- Richmondshire district council: Two byelections held on 15 October both resulted in the Conservatives holding the seat. Stephanie Todd was elected in Hipswell ward, while Rachel Allen took Middleham ward.
- Scarborough borough council: Vacancy in Mayfield ward, after the death of Conservative councillor and former deputy Mayor Peter Booth. Term ends 2011.
- Flintshire county council: Vacancy in Northop ward, after the death of Mel Higham who was an Independent councillor and executive member for regeneration and tourism. Term ends 2012.
- Pembrokeshire county council: Byelection on 26 November in St Dogmaels ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Ian Gollop due to ill health. Term ends 2012.
- Aberdeenshire council: Debra Storr, who was originally elected as a Liberal Democrat in Ellon and District ward, but left the party in March over her opposition to Donald Trump’s golf resort plans, has now joined the Scottish Green Party.
- Falkirk council: Byelection on 19 November in Bo’ness and Blackness ward, after the death of Harry Constable of the Scottish National Party. Term ends 2012.
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