Tories in Lavender at Windsor

The latest information about local council electoral matters is as follows:

East Midlands

• Bassetlaw district council: Byelection on 10 February in Worksop North East ward, after the disqualification of Conservative councillor Bill Graham, who has not attended any meetings of the council in six months. As a result of his removal from the council, the Conservatives have lost their overall majority. Term ends 2012.
• South Holland district council: Vacancy in Spalding St Paul’s ward, after the disqualification of Conservative councillor Jane Jones for failing to attend any meeting of the council for six months. As her term was due to end in May there will be no byelection.

East of England

• Bedford borough council: Vacancy in Harpur ward after the death of veteran Conservative councillor Brian Dillingham. As he was in a term due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
• Cambridgeshire county council: Vacancy in March North division after the death of former Mayor of March John West, who was a Conservative councillor. Term ends 2013.
• Fenland district council: Vacancy in March North ward after the death of former Mayor of March John West, who was a Conservative councillor. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
• Harlow borough council: There are two vacancies, in Staple Tye and in Sumners and Kingsmoor ward, due to the resignations of husband and wife Conservative councillors Lee and Sarah Dangerfield respectively. In both cases their resignation comes within six months of the end of their term and so no byelections will be held.
• Norfolk county council: Byelection on 13 January in Humbleyard division due to the resignation of Conservative councillor and council leader Daniel Cox who is moving to India. Term ends 2013.
• North Norfolk district council: Vacancy in The Raynhams ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Dawn Wakefield due to ill health. As her term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
• South Norfolk district council: Vacancy in Rustens ward due to the resignation of Conservative councillor Daniel Cox who is moving to India. As his term ends in May, no byelection can be held.
• Suffolk county council: Vacancy in Wilford division after the death of Conservative councillor and former portfolio holder for culture, Rosie Clarke. Term ends 2013.
• Waveney district council: Vacancy in Southwold and Reydon after the resignation of Conservative councillor Simon Tobin due to pressure of business. Term ends 2014.

London

• Brent borough council: Vacancy in Kenton ward after the death of Conservative councillor and former Mayor Arthur Steel. Term ends 2014.

North East

• Newcastle-upon-Tyne city council: Vacancy in Elswick ward due to the death of Labour councillor Doreen James. Term ends 2012.
• Stockton-on-Tees borough council: There are three vacancies. First, Billingham East ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Alex Cunningham, now MP for Stockton North. Second, Ingleby Barwick East ward, caused by the resignation of Ingleby Barwick Independent Society member Andrew Larkin. Third, Mandale and Victoria ward, after the death of councillor Allison Trainer, who was a member of the Thornaby Independent Association. All three terms end this May.

North West

• Blackpool council: Vacancy in Stanley ward after the death of Conservative councillor Jean Kenrick. Term ends in May.
• Halton council: Three councillors who left the Liberal Democrats last year to sit as Independents have formed the Halton Local Independent Party. They are Peter Blackmore (Halton Castle ward), Chris Carlin (Mersey ward) and Mike Shepherd (Windmill Hill ward).
• Knowsley borough council: Frank Walsh, who was elected as a Liberal Democrat in St Gabriels ward, has joined the Labour Party.
• Manchester city council: Byelection on 20 January in Baguley ward after the death of Labour councillor Eddie McCulley. Term ends 2014.
• Ribble Valley borough council: Vacancy in Salthill ward after the disqualification of Conservative councillor Simon Farnsworth, who has not attended any meeting of the council for six months. With less than six months to go before the next council elections, no byelection will be held.
• Salford city council: Vacancy in Walkden North ward after the death of Labour councillor Vincent Devine. Term ends 2012.
• Tameside borough council: Dorothy Cartwright, who was elected for the Conservatives in Dukinfield Stalybridge ward, has joined the Labour Party.
• West Lancashire borough council: Vacancy in Derby ward after the death of Conservative councillor David Swiffen. Term ends in May.
• Wigan borough council: Dr Christine Cottam, who was elected as a Labour councillor in Leigh East ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent.

South East

• Arun district council: Vacancy in Barnham ward after the resignation of Independent councillor Melissa Briggs who has moved out of the district. As her term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
• Ashford borough council: Vacancy in Kennington ward after the death of Conservative councillor Major John Kemp. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
• Brighton and Hove city council: Vacancy in Hangleton and Knoll ward after the death of Conservative councillor David Smart. As his term was due to end in May there will be no byelection.
• Kent county council: Byelection on 20 January 2011 in Tonbridge division following the death of Godfrey Horne MBE. There is also a vacancy in Romney Marsh division following the death of Willie Richardson. Both were Conservatives and both terms end in 2013.
• Mid Sussex district council: Vacancy in Haywards Heath Bentswood ward after the death of Labour councillor Paddy Henry. As his term was due to end in May, there can be no byelection to replace him.
• New Forest district council: Vacancy in Marchwood ward after the death of Conservative councillor Alan Shotter. Term ends May; as his death occurred more than six months before the end of the term, there may be a byelection.
• Shepway district council: Vacancy in Lydd ward after the death of Conservative councillor Willie Richardson. As the vacancy has occurred within six months of the day on which his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
• Slough council: Vacancy in Foxborough ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Sonja Jenkins. As her term was due to end in May there will be no byelection.
• Thanet district council: Vacancy in Bradstowe ward after the disqualification of Ewen Cameron who was elected as a Conservative but was last sitting as an Independent after resigning the whip. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
• Wealden district council: Vacancy in Hailsham South and West ward after the resignation of Independent councillor Nick Ellwood in advance of a Standards Board hearing. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
• Winchester city council: Byelection on 27 January in Oliver’s Battery and Badger Farm ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor David Spender. Term ends 2012. The Liberal Democrats will lose their overall majority if they fail to keep the seat.
• Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead: Natasha Lavender was elected councillor for Park ward on 6 January, holding the seat for the Conservatives.

South West

• Bath and North East Somerset council: Vacancy in Lambridge ward after the death of Conservative Councillor Richard Maybury, who was Deputy Mayor of Bath. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
• Cornwall council: Byelection on 13 January in Camborne North ward after the resignation of Bill Jenkin who was elected as a Conservative but was sitting as a non-aligned councillor after legal troubles. Term ends 2013.
• Gloucestershire county council: Byelection on 3 February in Rodborough division after the death of Conservative councillor Stephen Glanfield. Term ends 2013.
• Plymouth city council: Vacancy in Plymstock Dunstone ward after the death of Conservative councillor and former Lord Mayor David Viney. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
• Stroud district council: Byelection on 3 February in Amberley and Woodchester ward after the death of Conservative councillor Stephen Glanfield. Term ends 2012. There is a vacancy in Uplands ward after the death of Independent councillor Linda Townley; as she died within six months of the end of her term in May, there will be no byelection.

West Midlands

• Solihull borough council: Byelection on 20 January in Olton ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Honor Cox. Term ends 2012. The Liberal Democrat/Labour coalition which runs Solihull may be endangered if the Conservatives win. There is also a vacancy in Shirley West ward after the disqualification of Liberal Democrat councillor Brynn Tudor, who failed to attend any meetings of the council in six months. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection to replace him.
• South Staffordshire district council: Vacancy in Bilbrook ward after the death of Conservative councillor and former Chairman of the council Ken Mackie. As his term was due to end in May, he will not be replaced at a byelection.
• Stafford borough council: Vacancy in Barlaston and Oulton ward after the death of Conservative councillor Peter Proctor. As his term was due to end in May there will be no byelection.

Yorkshire and the Humber

• No updates this week.

Wales

• Conwy county borough council: Byelection on 20 January in Marl division after the resignation of Conservative councillor Linda Hurr. Term ends 2012.
• Neath Port Talbot county borough council: John Warman, who was elected as a Liberal Democrat in Cimla ward, has joined the Labour Party.

Scotland

• Angus council: Byelection on 3 February in Carnoustie and district ward after the resignation of Scottish National Party councillor Ralph Palmer. Term ends 2012.

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