Latest information about local council electoral matters is as follows:
- Derby city council: Vacancy in Abbey ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Deirdre Mitchell due to ill health. As her term was due to end in May 2010 and she has resigned with less than six months left, there can be no byelection to replace her.
- Harborough district council: Vacancy in Great Bowden and Arden ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor and (until his resignation) Council Leader Alistair Swatridge, due to ill health. Term ends 2011.
- Mansfield district council: Victor Bobo, elected for Mansfield Independent Forum in Eakring ward, was expelled from the group this week and has joined the Conservative Party. There are two vacancies: in Portland ward, after the death of Tom Appleby, and in Sherwood ward, after the death of Norman Cook. Both councillors were members of Mansfield Independent Forum and both seats have terms ending in 2011.
- Nottinghamshire county council: Victor Bobo, elected for Mansfield Independent Forum in Mansfield West division, was expelled from the group this week and has joined the Conservative Party. There is a vacancy in Mansfield South division, after the death of Tom Appleby who represented Mansfield Independent Forum. Term ends 2013.
- 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.
- West Lindsey district council: After claims (which he denies) that he met a suspended planning officer, and a call for his resignation by deputy leader Adam Duguid, council leader Bernard Theobald (Wold View ward) has resigned. His membership of Gainsborough Conservative Association has been suspended and so he now sits as an Independent councillor.
East of England
- Bedford borough council: Byelection on 10 December in Kingsbrook ward, vacated by Liberal Democrat councillor Dave Hodgson who was elected as Mayor of Bedford. Term ends 2011.
- Peterborough city council: Byelection on 10 December in West ward, after the death of former Mayor and Conservative councillor Michael Burton. Term ends May 2010.
- Southwark borough council: Ola Oyewunmi, who was elected as a Labour councillor in Peckham ward, has joined the Liberal Democrats. Although she has recently been deselected for the 2010 elections, Cllr Oyewunmi says her defection was prompted instead by the military invasion of Iraq which took place in March 2003. There is a vacancy in The Lane ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Susan Elan Jones who has been selected as Parliamentary candidate for Clwyd South. No byelection can be held as her term was due to expire in May 2010.
- Tower Hamlets borough council: Following the receipt of a valid petition (organised by Respect), there will be a referendum on 6 May 2010 on whether the council should be run by a directly elected Mayor. The referendum will be held simultaneously with borough elections.
- Westminster city council: Byelection on 10 December in Queen’s Park ward after the death of Labour councillor Mushtaq Qureshi, a tireless champion and highly respected councillor for his ward over the last 15 years. Term ends May 2010.
- Durham council: Vacancy in Easington ward, after the death of Labour councillor Richard Burnip. Term ends 2013.
- Redcar and Cleveland council: The Liberal Democrat candidate Ann Wilson easily held the party’s seat in Ormesby ward at the byelection on 3 December.
- Pendle borough council: Vacancy in Brierfield ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Naseem Shabnam who had been criticized for poor attendance. As her term was due to expire in May 2010, there can be no byelection.
- Adur district council: Following last month’s defection of Gavin Ayling, a second Conservative councillor on Adur has left the group and joined the Liberal Democrats. He is Carl English (Southlands ward).
- 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 and has won permission to appeal to the High Court against the finding. 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 and has won permission to appeal to the High Court against the finding. Term ends 2013.
- Hastings borough council: Byelection on 10 December in St Helens ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Keith Bing due to ill health. Term ends May 2010.
- Reigate and Banstead district council: Byelection on 17 December in Earlswood and Whitebushes ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Robert Webb. Term ends 2012.
- Rushmoor district council: Byelection on 10 December in Heron Wood ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Bowers. Term ends 2012.
- Thanet district council: Labour candidate Sandra Hart won the byelection in Dane Valley ward on 3 December, gaining the seat from the Conservatives (although the previous councillor had been sitting as an Independent prior to resigning). She is no stranger to council life as her husband is the Leader of the Labour group Clive Hart.
- West Oxfordshire district council: Vacancy in Carterton North West ward after the death of Conservative councillor Dave King. As his term was due to end in May next year, there will be no byelection to fill the vacancy.
- Worthing borough council: Impending vacancies in Marine ward and Salvington ward, due to the resignations (respectively) 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). The Salvington vacancy cannot now be filled by a byelection as it is within six months of the end of the term.
- West Devon district council: Byelection on 10 December in Tavistock South ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Chris Jenkins. Term ends 2011.
- Weymouth and Portland borough council: Byelection on 10 December in Wyke Regis ward after the resignation of veteran Conservative councillor Doug Hollings, who died a few days later. Term ends 2012.
- Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council: Vacancy in Newchapel ward after the death of long-standing Conservative councillor Nora Salt. Term ends 2011.
- Nuneaton and Bedworth borough council: Byelection on 10 December in Camp Hill ward after the resignation (due to work commitments) of Darren Haywood who is a member of the British National Party. Term ends 2012.
- Sandwell borough council: Vacancy in Rowley ward after the resignation of former council leader Bill Thomas (Labour), who has been convicted of theft. As his term was due to end in May 2010, there will be no byelection.
- Telford and Wrekin council: Vacancy in College ward, after the resignation of Gary Davies (an Independent) who is retiring and moving to Surrey. Term ends 2011.
- Wyre Forest district council: Byelection on 10 December in Areley Kings ward after the death of Conservative councillor Mike Partridge. Term ends 2011.
- Harrogate borough council: Vacancy in Woodfield ward, after the death of John Wren. Originally elected as a Liberal Democrat, his decision to switch to the Conservatives in October 2008 gave his new party an overall majority. Term ends 2011.
- Scarborough borough council: Vacancy in Mayfield ward, after the death of Conservative councillor and former deputy Mayor Peter Booth. Term ends 2011.
- Wakefield borough council: Byelection on 21 January 2010 in Airedale and Ferry Fryston ward, after the death of Labour councillor Graham Phelps. Term ends 2012.
- No updates this week.
- East Dunbartonshire council: Byelection on 10 December in ward no. 3 (Bearsden South) after the resignation of Conservative councillor Simon Hutchison. There is an unusual Labour/Conservative coalition running the council, whose survival is potentially endangered if neither wins the seat. Term ends 2012.
- South Ayrshire council: There have been several councillors who have left the Labour group to sit as Independents. Elaine Little (Ward 5 – Ayr West) and Douglas Campbell (Ward 3 – Ayr North), a former group leader, left some time ago. More recently Eddie Bulik (Ward 4 – Ayr East) has left.
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