Lib Dems get a Trym in Bristol

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Bristol: The byelection in Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze ward on 24 May was won by Steve Smith. Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat.
• Broadland: The byelection in Aylsham ward on 24 May was won by Sue Catchpole. Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.
• Horsham: The byelection in Cowfold, Shermanbury and West Grinstead ward on 24 May was won by Lynn Lambert. Conservative hold.
• North Kesteven: The byelection in Kirkby La Thorpe and South Kyme ward on 24 May was won by Mervyn Head. Lincolnshire Independents gain from Conservative.
• Stockport: The postponed election in Edgeley and Cheadle Heath ward held on 24 May was won by Philip Harding, the sitting Labour councillor.
• Waverley: The byelection in Farnham Castle ward on 24 May was won by David Beaman. Farnham Residents hold.

Changes of allegiance

• Babergh: A husband and wife pair of councillors have left the Conservative group to form the ‘Babergh Unionists’ group. They are Peter Burgoyne (Pinewood ward) and Sue Burgoyne (Hadleigh South ward).
• East Riding of Yorkshire: Dee Sharpe, who was elected for the Conservatives in Willerby and Kirk Ella ward, has left the party and is now not a member of any political group.
• Guildford: Tony Rooth, who was elected for the Conservatives in Pilgrims ward and was previously council leader, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Havering: Michael Deon Burton, who was elected as an Independent candidate in South Hornchurch ward, has taken his seat on the Conservative benches. Meanwhile the 23 disparate councillors elected from various Residents’ Associations have formed themselves into four separate groups: The ‘Residents’ Group’ (8), the ‘Independent Residents Group’ (6), the ‘Upminster and Cranham Residents Group’ (6) and the ‘North Havering Residents Group’ (3).
• North Lanarkshire: Stephen Goldsack, who was elected for the Conservative Party in Stepps, Chryston and Muirhead ward, has been expelled from the party and will sit as an Independent councillor.
• Swindon: Teresa Page, who was elected for the Labour Party in Penhill and Upper Stratton ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Tendring: Three councillors have left the UK Independence Party group to form the Tendring Independents group (together with Michael Bush, who had left the group some months ago). The defectors are Lis Bennison (Peter Bruff ward), Mark Stephenson (St Marys ward) and Ted Whitmore (Bockings Elm ward). Meanwhile

New vacancies

• City of London Corporation: Four Aldermen have surrendered office under the City’s system of rolling elections (two are seeking re-election). The positions of Aldermen for Aldgate, Bridge and Bridge Without, Candlewick and Cheap wards are therefore vacant.
• King’s Lynn and West Norfolk: Snettisham ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Avril Wright. Term ends 2019.
• Lichfield: Curborough ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Jeannette Allsopp. Term ends 2019.
• North Devon: Fremington ward, after the death of Independent councillor Tony Wood. Term ends 2019.
• Rutland: Oakham South West ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Richard Clifton. Term ends 2019.
• South Northamptonshire: Astwell ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Simon Marinker. Term ends 2019.
• South Northamptonshire: Whittlewood ward, after the disqualification of Conservative councillor Lizzy Bowen, who failed to attend any meeting for six months. Term ends 2019.

Dates for byelections

• Bath and North East Somerset: The byelection due in Kingsmead ward will be held on 5 July.
• City of London Corporation: The election of Aldermen has been arranged for the following days: Aldgate ward on 12 July, Bridge and Bridge Without ward on 12 July, Candlewick ward on 5 July, Cheap ward on 5 July.
• North Devon: The byelection due in Fremington ward will be held on 28 June.
• South Northamptonshire: The byelection due in Astwell ward will be held on 21 June.
• South Northamptonshire: The byelection due in Whittlewood ward will be held on 21 June.

Other updates

• Carlisle: A Labour minority administration will continue to run the council.
• Colchester: The previous coalition deal has held even with its majority now down to a single seat. The council will be run by a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Labour and Independents.
• Derby: A minority Conservative administration has taken over, being supported by the Liberal Democrats and UK Independence Party councillors. Meanwhile Ranjit Banwait, who was Labour council leader until losing his seat in Boulton ward, has lodged an election petition against the successful UK Independence Party candidate Paul Bettany, alleging campaigning irregularities.
• Havering: A Conservative minority administration has been voted in, with support from the North Havering Residents Group.
• Maidstone: Following the council election, the administration has been formed by the Liberal Democrat and Independent groups.
• Mole Valley: After the Conservatives lost their overall majority in the council elections, the executive has been expanded, renamed as the cabinet, and now includes Independent councillors.
• North East Lincolnshire: The Conservatives were unable to gather support for a motion to remove the Labour leadership, so the council will continue under minority Labour administration.
• Stockport: The minority Labour administration will continue for another year.
• Thurrock: No challenge was made at the AGM and so a minority Conservative administration will continue to run the council.
• Trafford: Following the local elections, a Labour minority administration has now taken over running the council. The Liberal Democrats voted for Labour; however attempts to get support from the Green Party were unsuccessful.
• Walsall: Although the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors had agreed to vote together to remove the Conservative administration, the outgoing Conservative Mayor used his casting vote to re-elect himself and give the Conservatives another year of minority control.

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