Norfolk Broads stay Liberal

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
13 years ago / April 27, 2012

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

East Midlands

East of England

  • Basildon borough council: There will be a double vacancy election in Billericay West ward in May. The vacant seat was left after the death of the deputy Leader of the council, Stephen Horgan, who was a Conservative councillor. The two terms end in 2015 and 2016.
  • Brentwood borough council: Byelection on 3 May (simultaneous with the election of a third of the council) in Herongate, Ingrave and West Horndon ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Gordon MacLellan. Term ends 2015.
  • Chelmsford borough council: Vacancy in Patching Hall ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Tom Smith-Hughes. Term ends 2015.
  • Epping Forest district council: Double vacancy election in Epping Lindsey and Thornwood Common ward on 3 May, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Sarah Packford. Terms end 2015 and 2016.
  • Essex county council: Vacancy in Chelmsford North division after the death of the leader of the opposition, Liberal Democrat councillor Tom Smith-Hughes. Term ends 2013.
  • Harlow borough council: There is a double vacancy election in May in Bush Fair ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Helen Hart. The terms end in 2014 and 2016. Vacancy in Mark Hall ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Nick Macy who was the sole member of his party remaining on the council. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection for a replacement.
  • Hertfordshire county council: Byelection on 3 May in Meriden Tudor division after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Audrey Oaten. Term ends 2013.
  • Hertsmere borough council: There will be a double vacancy election in May in Potters Bar Furzefield ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Ron Morris. The terms end in 2016 and 2015.
  • Ipswich borough council: There will be a double vacancy election in Bixley ward in May, following the death of leading Conservative councillor Russell Harsant. The terms end in 2014 and 2016.
  • North Norfolk district council: Paul Williams was elected councillor for Waterside ward on 26 April, holding the seat for the Liberal Democrats.
  • Norwich city council: There are two wards with double vacancy elections in May. Catton Grove has a second vacancy following the resignation of Labour councillor Julie Westmacott. Wensum ward has a second vacancy following the resignation of Green Party councillor Steven Altman, who was gaoled for arson in tragic circumstances earlier this year. Both wards will fill terms ending in 2014 and 2016.
  • St Albans city and district council: There will be a double-vacancy election in May in London Colney ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Irene Willcocks. The terms end in 2014 and 2016.
  • Suffolk county council: Byelection on 3 May in Bixley division after the death of leading Conservative councillor Russell Harsant. Term ends 2013.
  • Thurrock council: Vacancy in Corringham and Fobbing ward after the resignation of Independent Conservative councillor and former Mayor Ian Harrison. As his term was due to end in May, he will not be replaced in a byelection. His resignation means that the Labour group now has exactly half of the members of the council.

London

North East

  • Durham county council: Vacancy in Peterlee West division after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Barbara Sloan. Term ends in 2013.
  • Newcastle-upon-Tyne city council: There will be a double vacancy election on 3 May in Dene ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Sharon Bailey. The terms end in 2014 and 2016.
  • Northumberland county council: Milburn Douglas, who was elected as an Independent in Lynemouth division, has joined the Labour group.
  • South Tyneside borough council: There will be a double vacancy election in May in Simonside and Rekendyke ward, after the death of Labour councillor Joan Meeks. The terms end in 2014 and 2016. Harton ward has a seat vacant after the death of the council’s longest serving member, Progressive councillor Jim Capstick As his term was due to expire in May, there will be no byelection.
  • Sunderland city council: There will be a double vacancy election in Sandhill ward on 3 May, after the death of Labour councillor John Gallagher. The terms end in 2016 and 2015.

North West

  • Blackpool council: There are two byelections on 3 May. Bloomfield ward will elect a councillor after the death of Labour councillor and former Mayor Mary Smith. Marton ward will elect a councillor following the death of Conservative councillor Jim Houldsworth. Both terms end in 2015.
  • Bolton borough council: On 3 May there will be an election for three councillors in Bradshaw ward. Diana Brierley and Paul Brierley, a married couple who were Conservative councillors, have both resigned from the council due to work commitments and seeking to move out of the borough; their terms were due to end in 2015 and 2014 respectively.
  • Bury borough council: Vacancy in East ward after the death of Labour councillor and former Mayor John Byrne. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection for his replacement. His death removes the Labour group overall majority.
  • Carlisle city council: There are two vacancies. Castle ward has a seat vacant after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Jim Tootle; there will be no byelection as his replacement will be elected in May. Harraby ward has a seat vacant after the death of Labour councillor Dave Weedall who was the longest serving councillor in the City. The term ends in 2014.
  • Chorley borough council: There is a double vacancy election in May in Adlington and Anderton ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Catherine Hoyle. The terms end in 2014 and 2016.
  • Cumbria county council: Byelection on 3 May in Kendal Strickland and Fell division after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Brendan Jameson. There is another byelection on 24 May in Aspatria and Wharrels division after the resignation of Conservative councillor Mike Johnson who has become an employee of the council and would have been disqualified. Both terms end in 2013.
  • Halton borough council: There are two vacancies, both caused by the deaths of Labour councillors. Grange ward has a vacant seat after the death of former Mayor John Swain. Riverside ward has a vacant seat after the death of Dave Leadbetter. Both terms were due to end in May so there will be no byelections for replacements.
  • Liverpool city council: Vacancy in Allerton and Hunts Cross ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Vera Best. Term ends 2014.
  • Manchester city council: Vacancy in Baguley ward after the death of former Lord Mayor and Labour councillor Tony Burns. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
  • Oldham borough council: Vacancy in Failsworth East ward after the death of Labour councillor Barbara Dawson. Term ends 2014.
  • Pendle borough council: There will be a double vacancy election on 3 May in Boulsworth ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor George Askew. The terms end 2016 and 2014.
  • Preston city council: There are two wards which have double vacancy elections on 3 May. Preston Rural North ward has an additional vacancy following the resignation of Conservative councillor Kate Calder; the terms end in 2015 and 2016. St George’s has an additional vacancy following the resignation of Labour councillor Taalib Shamsuddin; the terms end in 2014 and 2016.
  • South Lakeland district council: Byelection in Kendal Fell ward on 3 May, simultaneous with the election of one third of the council, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Brendan Jameson, who was leader of the council until his death; the term ends in 2014. There is also a vacancy in Ulverston North ward after the death of Conservative councillor Colin Hodgson; as the term ends in May the seat will be filled in the ordinary election.

South East

  • Adur district council: Vacancy in Eastbrook ward following the disqualification of Liberal Democrat councillor Gavin Ayling, who failed to attend any meetings of the council in six months. The term ends in May, so no byelection can be held.
  • Basingstoke and Deane borough council: There will be a double vacancy election in Popley East ward in May, after the resignation of Labour councillor Andrew McCormick. The terms end in 2014 and 2016.
  • Eastbourne borough council: Byelection in Meads ward on 31 May after the resignation of Conservative councillor Nigel Goodyear, who is to stand (as an Independent candidate) for Police and Crime Commissioner. Term ends 2015.
  • Havant borough council: Vacancy in Purbrook ward after the death of Conservative councillor David Farrow. As his term was due to end in May, he will not be replaced in a byelection.
  • Kent county council: Vacancy in Tunbridge Wells East division after the death of Conservative councillor Kevin Lynes. Term ends 2013.
  • Maidstone borough council: There will be a double vacancy election in Heath ward in May, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Jenni Sharp. The terms end in 2014 and 2016.
  • Portsmouth city council: Sarah Dinenage, who was elected as a Conservative in Milton ward, has joined the Liberal Democrats, citing infighting within the Conservative group as the reason. Her term comes to an end at the May elections and she is not seeking re-election. There is a vacancy in Paulsgrove ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Mike Blake. As he resigned within six months of his term ending in May, no byelection will be held.
  • South Oxfordshire district council: Byelection on 10 May in Chinnor ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Geoff Andrews. Term ends 2015.
  • Southampton city council: There will be two double vacancy elections in May, both caused by councillors resigning their seats. Bitterne Park ward has been vacated by Conservative councillor Phil Williams, while Peatree has been vacated by Liberal Democrat councillor Gerry Drake. In both cases the terms will end in 2014 and 2016.
  • Surrey county council: Byelection in Worplesdon division on 3 May after the resignation of Conservative councillor Nigel Sutcliffe. Term ends 2013.
  • Tonbridge and Malling borough council: Vacancy in West Malling and Leybourne ward after the death of Council Leader Mark Worrall, who was a Conservative. Term ends 2015.
  • Tunbridge Wells borough council: There are two double vacancy elections on 3 May. Broadwater ward will elect two councillors after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Crawford. Pembury ward will elect two councillors after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Claire Brown, who had gained the seat from the Conservatives in a byelection in 2011. In both wards the two terms end in 2016 and 2014.
  • Wealden district council: Vacancy in Frant and Withyham ward after the death of Conservative councillor John Padfield. Term ends 2015.
  • Worthing borough council: There will be a double vacancy election on 3 May in Offington ward after the death of Conservative councillor Reg Green. The terms end in 2016 and 2014.

South West

  • Bournemouth borough council: Byelection on 31 May in Redhill and Northbourne ward after the resignation of former council leader Peter Charon, a Conservative councillor. Term ends 2015.
  • Cotswold district council: Byelection on 31 May in Fosseridge ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Michele Jeffrey for work reasons. Term ends 2015.
  • Plymouth city council: Vacancy in Plympton Erle ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor John Lock. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
  • Stroud district council: At the time of the local elections on 3 May there will also be a byelection in Coaley and Uley ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Graham Trave. Term ends 2014. There is also a vacancy in Severn ward after the death of Conservative councillor Norman Smith. As his term was due to end in May he will not be replaced until then.
  • Swindon council: Vacancy in Moredon ward after the death of Labour councillor Jenny Millin. As her term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection for a replacement.

West Midlands

  • Cannock Chase district council: There is a double vacancy election on 3 May in Hagley ward after the resignation of Labour councillor Gordon Brown. The terms end in 2015 and 2016.
  • Dudley borough council: There are two double vacancy elections on 3 May. Kingswinford North and Wall Heath ward will fill a seat left vacant after the resignation of Paul Woodall who was elected as a Conservative but sitting as an Independent; he has pleaded guilty to assault. The two terms end in 2014 and 2016. Woolaston and Stourbridge Town ward will fill a vacancy after the death of Conservative councillor Margaret Cowell. The two terms end in 2015 and 2016. There is also a vacancy in Norton ward after the death of Conservative councillor Angus Adams; the term ends in 2014.
  • Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council: Byelection on 10 May in Kidsgrove ward, after the disqualification of Kyle-Noel Taylor whose appeal against a six month jail sentence for assault was turned down. Originally elected for Labour, he left the party when convicted and sat as an Independent councillor. Term ends 2014.
  • Redditch borough council: There will be a double vacancy election in Church Hill ward in March, after the death of Labour councillor Robin King. The terms will end in 2015 and 2016.
  • Stoke-on-Trent city council: Vacancy in Springfields and Trent Vale after the resignation of Labour councillor Sarah Hill, whose leadership challenge was defeated. Term ends 2015.
  • Tamworth borough council: Vacancy in Mercian ward after the death of Conservative councillor and former Mayor Sam Munn. Term ends in May.

Yorkshire and the Humber

  • Bradford city council: Vacancy in Keighley West ward after the resignation of Robert Payne. Originally elected as a Conservative, he was sitting as an Independent after being convicted of fraud, and was recently imprisoned for cruelty to cats. His term was due to end in May so there will be no byelection for his replacement.
  • Craven district council: Byelection in Hellifield and Long Preston ward on 3 May (simultaneous with the election of one third of the council) after the resignation of Conservative councillor Helen Firth. Term ends 2014.
  • East Riding of Yorkshire council: Byelection on 3 May in Holderness South East ward after the death of Conservative councillor Richard Stead. Term ends 2015.
  • North Yorkshire county council: Byelection on 3 May in Central Richmondshire division after the resignation of Conservative councillor Melva Steckles. Term ends 2013.
  • Richmondshire district council: Byelection on 3 May in Hornby Castle ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Melva Steckles. Term ends 2015.
  • Rotherham borough council: Vacancy in Brinsworth and Catcliffe ward after the disqualification of John Gamble, who had originally been elected for the British National Party but left the party and later joined the England First Party and then the National Front. Former councillor Gamble did not attend any meetings of the council in six months, but as his term was due to end in May there will be no byelection for his replacement.
  • City of Wakefield council: Vacancy in Hemsworth ward after the resignation of Independent councillor Ian Womersley. His term was due to end in May so there will be no byelection.

Wales

Scotland

  • Argyll and Bute council: The election in Dunoon ward has been postponed until 10 May after the death of sitting Scottish National Party councillor Alister MacAlister, who was a candidate for re-election. There are two other vacancies in the outgoing council. Helensburgh Central ward has a seat vacant after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Al Reay and Oban South and The Isles ward has a seat vacant after the death of Scottish National Party councillor Donald McIntosh. As it is less than six months until the full council elections, no byelections can be called.
  • East Ayrshire council: There are two vacancies. A seat in Ballochmyle ward is vacant after the death of Labour councillor Jimmy Kelly, and a seat in Doon Valley ward is vacant after the disqualification of Scottish National Party councillor Drew Filson. As both vacancies occurred within six months of the full council elections, there will be no byelections.
  • Orkney Islands Council: Vacancy in Stomness and South Isles ward after the death of Independent councillor John Eccles. As his term was due to end in May there will be no byelection.
  • Renfrewshire council: Vacancy in Renfrew North ward after the resignation of Scottish National Party councillor Derek Mackay, now Member of the Scottish Parliament for Renfrewshire North and West, who has been named as Minister Designate for Local Government and Planning in the Scottish Government. As his term was due to end in May there will be no byelection for a replacement.
  • West Dunbartonshire council: Vacancy in Dumbarton ward after the resignation of Labour councillor Geoff Calvert. As the full council election will be held in May, no byelection will be held.

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