Market Harborough goes all Liberal

Latest information about local council electoral matters is as follows:

East Midlands

• Ashfield district council: Byelection on 11 February in Hucknall Central ward after the death of Conservative councillor Gordon Riley. Term ends 2011.
• Bassetlaw district council: Vacancy in Worksop North ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Steven Burton. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection for his replacement.
• Broxtowe borough council: Byelection on 25 February in Eastwood South ward after the death of Labour councillor Jim Kenny. Term ends 2011.
• Charnwood borough council: Byelection on 18 February in Birstall Watermead ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Rick Astill. Term ends 2011.
• Chesterfield borough council: Vacancy in Brimington South ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Helen Walsh who is moving to London and fighting a seat on Islington borough council. Term ends 2011.
• 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 and she has resigned with less than six months left, there can be no byelection to replace her.
• Harborough district council: Liberal Democrat candidate Phil Knowles won the byelection in Great Bowden and Arden ward on 28 January, gaining the seat from the Conservatives.
• Mansfield district council: There are two byelections on 25 February: 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.
• North East Derbyshire district council: Byelection on 4 February in Holmewood and Heath ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Jan Robinson. Term ends 2011.
• Nottinghamshire county council: Byelection on 25 February in Mansfield South division, after the death of Tom Appleby who represented Mansfield Independent Forum. Term ends 2013.
• South Derbyshire district council: Lisa Brown, who was elected as an Independent in Etwall ward, has joined the Conservative group.

East of England

• Dacorum borough council: Vacancy in Adeyfield West ward after the sad death of Conservative councillor Keith Reid, who had been involved in local politics for many years and was a former work colleague of the author of this blog. Term ends 2011.
• Fenland district council: Byelection on 4 March in The Mills ward after the death of veteran Conservative councillor Ray German. Term ends 2011.
• Harlow borough council: Linda Pailing, who was elected as a Liberal Democrat in Netteswell ward but had been sitting as an Independent since August last year, has now joined the Conservative group.
• Huntingdonshire district council: Byelection on 25 February in Fenstanton ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Paul Dakers whose resignation letter indicates frustration with the local democratic process. Term ends 2011.
• Southend borough council: Vacancy in Milton ward after the death of Conservative councillor Ann Robertson. As her term was due to end in May there will be no byelection to replace her.
• Watford borough council: Georgina Tara Mann, who was elected as a Green Party councillor in Callowlands ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent after criticism of her poor attendance record at council meetings.
• Welwyn Hatfield borough council: Vacancy in Northaw and Cuffley ward after the death of Conservative councillor and former deputy leader of the council, John Mansfield. Term ends 2011.

London

• Barnet borough council: Chris Harris, who was elected as a Conservative in Golders Green ward but was expelled from the party last October over persistent non-attendance, has resigned his seat on the eve of his disqualification. As his term would have been up in May, there will be no byelection.
• Bromley borough council: Vacancy in Bromley Town ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Stephen Maly. No byelection can be held as he resigned within six months of full council elections.
• Camden borough council: After the Mayor of Camden Omar Faruque Ansari (Kentish Town ward) was arrested by police investigating benefit fraud, he was suspended from membership of his Liberal Democrat group. He vigorously asserts his innocence but civic functions will be carried out by his deputy.
• Croydon borough council: A new Independent Conservative group has been formed by two councillors who have left the Conservative group for various reasons. It comprises Brian Cakebread (Coulsdon West ward) and Enley Taylor (Heathfield ward). They appear to be associated with Andrew Pelling MP (Croydon Central).
• Greenwich borough council: Elizabeth Truss, Conservative councillor for Eltham South ward, has resigned her seat to concentrate on her Parliamentary candidature in South West Norfolk.
• Lewisham borough council: Vacancy in Whitefoot ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Cathy Priddey. No byelection can be held to replace her.
• Southwark borough council: 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.

North East

• Durham council: Byelection on 11 February in Easington ward, after the death of Labour councillor Richard Burnip. Term ends 2013.
• South Tyneside borough council: Byelection on 25 February in Primrose ward after the death of former Mayor and Labour councillor Barrie Scorer. Term ends 2011.

North West

• Blackburn with Darwen council: Byelection on 4 February in Queen’s Park ward after the resignation of Independent councillor Yusuf Sidat, on the eve of his disqualification for failing to attend any meetings in six months. He had been elected as a Liberal Democrat. Term ends 2011.
• Halton borough council: Vacancy in Mersey ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Sue Blackmore. Term ends 2012.
• Liverpool city council: Byelection on 18 February in Fazakerley ward after the death of Labour councillor and former Lord Mayor Jack Spriggs. Term ends 2012.
• 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.
• Preston city council: Vacancy in Riversway ward after the resignation of Labour councillor Jack Davenport. Term ends 2012.
• Stockport borough council: Maureen Walsh, who was deputy leader of the Conservative group and is a councillor for Bramhall North ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.

South East

• Aylesbury Vale district council: There are two byelections on 11 February. That in Aylesbury Central ward is caused by the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Keith Turner; that in Luffield Abbey is caused by the resignation of Conservative councillor Stefan Balbuza. Both elections are for terms ending in 2011.
• Bracknell Forest council: Byelection on 25 February in Owlsmoor ward after the death of Conservative councillor Ray Simonds. Term ends 2011.
• Chichester district council: Byelection on 11 February in Plaistow ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Brian Hooton. Term ends 2011.
• Gosport borough council: Vacancy in Christchurch ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Jackie Carr. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection to replace him. 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. His term ends May so there is no possibility of a byelection if the disqualification is upheld.
• Gravesham borough council: Vacancy in Meopham South and Vigo ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Raymonde Collins. Term ends 2011.
• 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.
• Reigate and Banstead district council: Vacancy in Redhill East ward due to the death of Conservative councillor Frank Moore. Term ends 2012.
• South Oxfordshire district council: Byelection on 11 February in Henley South ward, after the death of Henley Residents Group councillor Terry Buckett. Term ends 2011.
• Tandridge district council: Byelection on Tuesday 2 February in Whyteleafe ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Jeffrey Gray. Term ends 2012.
• Test Valley borough council: Vacancy in Anna ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Arthur Peters. Term ends 2011.
• 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, there will be no byelection to fill the vacancy.
• Wokingham council: Vacancy in Shinfield South ward after the death of Conservative councillor Malcolm Bryant. Term ends 2012.
• 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 have emigrating to Cyprus where Heather Mercer is to take up a university post. Terms ends in May (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.

South West

• Gloucester city council: Vacancy in Barton and Tredworth ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Yakub Pandor who gained the second seat in the ward in a double vacancy election at the 2008 local elections. As his term was due to end next May, there can be no byelection to fill the vacancy.
• Mid Devon district council: Byelection on 25 February in Yeo ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor David Pullen. Term ends 2011.
• South Hams district council: Byelection on 18 February in Ivybridge Filham ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Terry Hewitt. Term ends 2011.
• Taunton Deane borough council: Liberal Democrat candidate Ben Swaine held his party’s seat in Lyngford ward at the byelection on 28 January.

West Midlands

• Cannock Chase district council: Following last week’s party shift by Keith and Diane Bennett, a further two councillors have changed parties this week. First Mark Green (Cannock South ward) left the Conservatives to join the Liberal Democrats. Then Lisa Pearce (Hednesford Green Heath ward), who was originally elected as a Conservative but had shifted to the Liberal Democrats in March 2008, announced that she was rejoining her original party in protest at the acceptance of the Bennetts by the Liberal Democrats. The week ended with the Conservative group leader Phil Freeman announcing his resignation.
• Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council: Byelection on 4 February in Newchapel ward after the death of long-standing Conservative councillor Nora Salt. Term ends 2011.
• Nuneaton and Bedworth borough council: Vacancy in St Nicholas division after the death of Conservative councillor David Bryden. As his term was due to end in May there will be no byelection.
• Rugby borough council: Vacancy in Dunchurch and Knightlow ward after the death of veteran Liberal Democrat councillor Ron Ravenhall. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
• 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, there will be no byelection.
• Stoke-on-Trent city council: Vacancy in Blurton ward after the death of Derek Hall, who represented the City Independent Group. As his term was due to expire in May, there will be no byelection to replace him.
• Telford and Wrekin council: There are two byelections on 11 February. That in College ward follows the resignation of Gary Davies (an Independent) who has retiring and moved to Surrey. That in The Nedge ward follows the death of veteran Labour councillor Ute Sambrook from cancer. In both cases the terms ends 2011.
• Warwickshire county council: Vacancy in Nuneaton St Nicholas division after the death of Conservative councillor David Bryden. Term ends 2013.
• Worcester city council: Vacancy in Bedwardine ward after the death of Conservative councillor Barry Mackenzie-Williams. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
• Wychavon district council: Byelection on 18 February in Evesham South ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Ron Cartwright. Term ends 2011.

Yorkshire and the Humber

• Leeds city council: Byelection on 18 February in Hyde Park and Woodhouse ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Kabeer Hussain. Term ends 2011.
• Scarborough borough council: Byelection on 11 February in Mayfield ward, after the death of Conservative councillor and former deputy Mayor Peter Booth. Term ends 2011.

Wales

• Bridgend county borough council: Byelection on 18 February in Pendre ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Simmonds. Term ends 2012.

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