Forthcoming byelections

Forthcoming byelections in principal local authorities, and seats vacant, appear to be as follows:

15 October

• Barnsley borough council: St Helens ward, after the death of Labour councillor David Bostwick who was cabinet member for adult social services and health. Term ends May 2010.
• Basingstoke and Deane borough council: Chineham ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor John Downes. Term ends May 2010.
• Bedford borough council: There will be a byelection for the post of Mayor of Bedford, following the death of Frank Branston who had held the post since it was established. Branston was elected under the banner of his own party, the Better Bedford Independent Party. In the interim, deputy Mayor Nicky Attenborough (Conservative) will be in charge. Term ends 2011.
• Bracknell Forest council: Hanworth ward, after the death of Conservative councillor and former Mayor Alan Browne. Term ends 2011.
• Cannock Chase district council: Heath Hayes East and Wimblebury ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Ian Carr who has moved to Italy. Term ends 2011.
• Crawley borough council: Northgate ward, after the resignation of Gordon Seekings who was the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group which formerly consisted of himself and his wife Linda. Local press reports indicate that they are divorcing. Term ends 2011.
• Hammersmith and Fulham borough council: Town ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Anthony Lillis who was cabinet member for community and children’s services. Term ends May 2010.
• Lincolnshire county council: Boston North West division, after Conservative councillor Andrea Jenkyns discovered she was disqualified from election due to work as a part-time music tutor in county schools. Having resigned, she intends to seek re-election. Term ends 2013.
• North Norfolk district council: The Runtons ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Victor Saunders. Term ends 2011.
• Richmondshire district council: Hipswell ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Alicia Tye who is now working abroad. Term ends 2011.
• Richmondshire district council: Middleham ward, after the resignation of Roger Harrison-Topham (Conservative) who is concentrating on his role as county councillor for Middle Dales division. Term ends 2011.
• South Ribble borough council: Leyland St Mary’s ward, after the resignation of Geoff Demack (Conservative) due to ill health. Term ends 2011.
• Taunton Deane borough council: Lyngford ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Andy Woolley. Term ends 2011.

22 October

• Birmingham city council: Sutton New Hall ward, after the death of Conservative councillor John Beadman. Term ends 2011.
• Forest Heath district council: 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: Borehamwood North, after the death of Conservative councillor Martin Heywood. Term ends 2013.
• Hertsmere borough council: Potters Bar Oakmere ward, also after the death of Conservative councillor Martin Heywood. Term ends 2012.
• High Peak district council: Tintwistle ward, after the death of Conservative councillor and Deputy Mayor Cynthia Mitchell. Term ends 2011.
• Rushcliffe borough council: Nevile ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Ken Keyworth. Term ends 2011.
• Vale of White Horse district council: Abingdon Dunmore ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Timothy Smith. Term ends 2011.
• Wyre borough council: Jubilee ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Alan Heppenstall. Term ends 2011.

29 October

• Huntingdonshire district council: Huntingdon North ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Kemp who has moved out of the ward. Term ends 2011.

5 November

• Epping Forest district council: Lower Sheering ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor and former cabinet member Heather Harding. Term ends 2011.

12 November

• South Hams district council: Totnes Bridgetown ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Geoff Date. Term ends 2011.

Undated

• Cheshire East council: Cholmondeley ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Allan Richardson. Term ends 2013.
• Cornwall council: St Austell Bay ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Richard Stewart due to ill health. Term ends 2013.
• Doncaster borough council: Rossington ward, after the death of Independent councillor Jackie Clark. Term ends 2012.
• Durham council: Easington ward, after the death of Labour councillor Richard Burnip. Term ends 2013.
• Falkirk council: Bo’ness and Blackness ward, after the death of Harry Constable of the Scottish National Party. Term ends 2012.
• Flintshire county council: Northop ward, after the death of Mel Higham who was an Independent councillor and executive member for regeneration and tourism. Term ends 2012.
• Fylde borough council: Clifton ward, after the death of Conservative councillor William Thompson. Term ends 2011.
• Gosport borough council: Leesland ward, after Liberal Democrat group leader Peter Chegwyn was disqualified for two years by the Adjudication Panel. No byelection can take place until the High Court has ruled on Chegwyn’s appeal. Term ends May 2010.
• Hampshire county council: Hardway division, after Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Chegwyn was disqualified for two years by the Adjudication Panel. No byelection can take place until the High Court has ruled on Chegwyn’s appeal. Term ends 2013.
• High Peak district council: Blackbrook ward, after the death of the Mayor of High Peak Tony Bingham who was a Conservative councillor. Term ends 2011.
• Knowsley borough council: Halewood South ward, after the resignation of Susan Smith of the Liberal Democrats, due to work commitments. Term ends 2011.
• Pembrokeshire county council: St Dogmaels ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Ian Gollop due to ill health. Term ends 2012.
• Peterborough borough council: West ward, after the death of former Mayor and Conservative councillor Michael Burton. Term ends May 2010.
• Scarborough borough council: Mayfield ward, after the death of Conservative councillor and former deputy Mayor Peter Booth. Term ends 2011.
• Shepway district council: 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.
• South Holland district council: Spalding St John’s ward, due to the impending (but 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.
• Stratford-on-Avon district council: Stratford Alveston ward, after the death of former chairman Conservative councillor Vince Seaman. Term ends 2011.
• Telford and Wrekin council: College ward, due to the impending resignation of Gary Davies (an Independent) who is retiring and moving to Surrey. Term ends 2011.
• Wirral borough council: Moreton West and Saughall Massie, after the sudden death of Conservative councillor Suzanne Moseley. Term ends 2011.
• Worthing borough council: Marine ward, due to the impending resignation of outgoing council leader Keith Mercer (Conservative) who is moving to Cyprus. Term ends 2011.
• Worthing borough council: Salvington ward, due to the impending resignation of Conservative councillor Dr Heather Mercer who is taking up a university post in Cyprus. Term ends in May 2010.

Unlikely to take place

• Southwark borough council: 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 the latest date for byelections (no byelection may take place within six months of an ordinary council election, which is due in May 2010).

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