The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.
Changes of allegiance
- Allerdale: Tony Annison, who was elected for the Conservatives in Warnell ward, has left the party to sit as an Allerdale Rural Independent councillor. His move follows his removal from the leadership of the group following the election.
- Calderdale: Colin Peel, who was elected for the Conservative Party in Brighouse ward, has joined Change UK.
- Dundee: Gregor Murray, who was elected for the Scottish National Party in North East ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. Their move means the SNP no longer has the overall majority it gained at the start of the month.
- Haringey: Barbara Blake, who was elected for the Labour Party in Seven Sisters ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
- Havering: Sally Miller, who was elected for Hornchurch Residents’ Association in Elm Park ward, has joined the Conservative Party.
- Maidstone: Chris Garland, who was elected as a Conservative in Shepway North ward but left the party in January, has now rejoined the Conservatives.
- Mole Valley: Simon Edge, who was elected for the Conservatives in Bookham South ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
- Runnymede: Michael Kusneraitis, who was elected for the Conservatives in Englefield Green West ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
- South Oxfordshire: Following coalition negotiations, two Independent councillors are to join political party groups. Peter Dragonetti (Kidmore End and Whitchurch ward) is aligning to the Green Party while Leigh Rawlins (Sonning Common ward), who is cabinet member for planning, will join the Liberal Democrats.
New vacancies
- East Riding of Yorkshire: Bridlington North ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Richard Harrap. Term ends 2023.
- Herefordshire: Whitecross ward, after the resignation of It’s Our County councillor Sue Boulter who has been discovered to have been disqualified due to occasional employment by the council. Term ends 2023.
- Merton: Cannon Hill ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Mark Kenny due to health concerns. Term ends 2022.
Dates for byelections
- Isle of Wight: The byelection due in Whippingham and Osborne division will be held on 20 June.
- Merton: The byelection due in Cannon Hill ward will be held on 20 June.
- Neath Port Talbot: The byelection due in Pelenna division will be held on 20 June.
- Wandsworth: The byelection due in Furzedown ward will be held on 20 June.
Other updates
- The Secretary of State has announced that he intends to implement the proposed unitary reorganisation of local government in Northamptonshire. The county council and districts will be abolished and replaced by two unitary councils: North Northamptonshire (consisting of Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Wellingborough), and West Northamptonshire (consisting of Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire).
- Allerdale: The Independent and Conservative groups are closing on a coalition deal. Labour has rejected being part of an all-party administration.
- Arun: A minority Liberal Democrat administration is likely to take control at next week’s AGM.
- Basildon: The council will be run by a minority Conservative administration as the sole UK Independence Party councillor has agreed to support it into office.
- Brighton and Hove: A minority Labour administration is likely to be formed; the council has used the committee system since 2015.
- Broxtowe: A Labour/Liberal Democrat/Independent coalition has taken control, but may be deposed dependent on the result of the postponed election in Stapleford South East.
- Burnley: At the annual meeting of the council, a motion to elect a Labour council leader was defeated, but no other leader was elected. The council is therefore in limbo before an extraordinary meeting on 29 May which will be a new chance to elect a leader.
- Cheshire East: Agreement has been reached between Labour, the Independent group, Residents of Wilmslow and Bollington First councillors for a coalition to take control of the council. It is intended that the agreement will last for one year and the council will adopt the committee system from 2020.
- Darlington: An agreement has been reached for the Conservatives to run the council, with Independent and Liberal Democrat councillors consulted in advance of key meetings.
- Derby: It is likely that the Conservatives will retain agreement of UKIP and the Liberal Democrats to run the council.
- Dudley: As expected the Conservatives have taken control of the council on the Mayor’s casting vote.
- Eden: A multi-party agreement has been reached under which the council will be run by Liberal Democrat leader and Independent deputy leader. Labour also has a representative on the Executive and the Green Party is supporting it.
- Elmbridge: The coalition between Residents’ groups and the Liberal Democrats which controlled the council before 2018 has retaken control. It is noted that the Hinchley Wood Residents’ Association have formed a separate group from the other residents’ councillors.
- Folkestone and Hythe: The Conservatives have agreed a deal with the UK Independence Party group and Independent councillor David Wimble. It is not yet certain whether they will be given executive posts.
- Guildford: A Liberal Democrat leader has been elected, with the support of Labour and most of the Conservative group, and against a candidate from the Residents for Guildford and Villages group. The executive has not yet been appointed but the leader has said she wants it to be inclusive.
- Hart: The coalition between the Liberal Democrats and Community Campaign Hart will continue to run the council.
- Hartlepool: The Independent Union and Conservatives have agreed to work together, and been joined by the Veterans’ and People’s Party councillor, but they do not yet have a majority.
- Malvern Hills: The Democratic Group of Independent and Green Party councillors, and the Liberal Democrats, have taken control of the council.
- North Kesteven: At the annual meeting of the council the Conservative leader was re-elected, but has decided to dissolve the Conservative group to form a ‘NK Administration Group’ which will also include Independent councillors.
- Pendle: The Labour and Liberal Democrats have agreed a coalition deal to run the council.
- Portsmouth: A minority Liberal Democrat administration will continue. The Liberal Democrat group leader was elected council leader by one vote as Labour abstained and the Independent councillors split their votes.
- Redcar and Cleveland: The Independent and Liberal Democrat groups have agreed a coalition to run the council.
- Rother: The “Rother Alliance” has been formed between the Association of Independent councillors, Liberal Democrats and Labour, and will control the council.
- Ryedale: The Conservatives have agreed a deal with the Ryedale First Independent group to run the council.
- Scarborough: The Labour council leader has formed a coalition with the Independent group.
- South Oxfordshire: The council will be run by a Liberal Democrat and Green Party coalition, with support from Labour and Henley Residents’ councillors.
- Staffordshire Moorlands: The Conservatives will continue to run the council with support from some of the Independent councillors.
- Stockport: The parties have agreed that a Labour minority administration will continue on the council.
- Stockton-on-Tees: The Labour group has proposed that it continue as a minority administration, but has promised to consult other groups (and in particular the three Independent groups) before votes.
- Stoke-on-Trent: The Conservatives and City Independents have agreed to continue their previous coalition, now with a Conservative council leader.
- Swale: A coalition deal has been agreed between Labour, the Swale Independents, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party.
- Thanet: The Conservatives will continue to run the council as a minority administration.
- Thurrock: The Thurrock Independents have ruled out any form of coalition, but called for a return to the committee system which would probably mean an all-party administration.
- Torbay: A deal has been agreed between the Liberal Democrats and Independents.
- Torridge: The Independent group will form the executive.
- Warwick: The Conservatives have agreed a form a coalition with the Whitnash Residents Association to retain control of the council.
- Welwyn Hatfield: After coalition talks between Labour and the Liberal Democrats broke down, the Conservatives are set to continue as a minority administration.
- Wirral: A Labour minority administration will control the council for the next year.
- Woking: The Conservatives are to continue as a minority administration, but the opposition groups have agreed to work together to hold them to account.
- York: A Liberal Democrat and Green Party coalition has taken control of the council.
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