Rural Kent gain for Labour

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
13 years ago / March 30, 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.
  • Epping Forest district council: Byelection in Epping Lindsey and Thornwood Common ward on 3 May, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Sarah Packford. The district council appears to be organising the byelection separately from the ordinary election of councillors on this day, including in the same ward; it is not clear whether it will be a double vacancy election. Term ends 2015.
  • 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: Byelection on 26 April in Waterside ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Simon Partridge. Term ends 2015.
  • 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.
  • 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

  • Darlington borough council: There are two byelections on 12 April. That in Harrowgate Hill ward follows the disqualification of Mark Burton, who was sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment for sexual offences. He was originally elected as Labour but was removed from the group when he was charged. That in Hurworth ward follows the disqualification of Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Swainston, who did not attend any meetings of the council in six months. Both terms end in 2015.
  • 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.
  • South Tyneside borough council: Joe Abbott, who was elected as a Liberal Democrat in Hebburn North ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. 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: Vacancy in Castle ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Jim Tootle. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
  • 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. Term ends 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..
  • 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.
  • Sefton borough council: Sir Ron Watson, who was elected as a Conservative in Dukes ward but was suspended from group membership in January, has now left the party. His move follows a report of extensive lobbying for honours within the group.
  • 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; 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.
  • 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.
  • Chichester district council: Byelection in Plaistow ward on 19 April, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Linda Westmore. 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.
  • 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.
  • Oxfordshire county council: Byelection on 19 April in Watlington division after the death of Conservative councillor Roger Belson. Term ends 2013.
  • Portsmouth city council: 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.
  • Sevenoaks district council: Jenny Dibsdall was elected councillor for Crockenhill and Well Hill ward on 29 March; she wins for the Labour Party a seat previously held by her late husband, who was elected as an Independent. Chris Neal was elected councillor for Cowden and Hever ward; he retains the seat for the Conservative Party.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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

  • 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: John Short, who was elected as a Conservative in Highworth ward but left the party in November, has now joined the UK Independence Party. There is a 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.
  • 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.
  • 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: Two former Conservative councillors, both of whom left the party to sit as Independents, have formed a new ‘The Independents’ group. They are Chris Greaves (Wharfedale ward) and Adrian Naylor (Craven ward). There is a 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.
  • Doncaster borough council: Alongside the council election on 3 May, the council will hold a referendum on whether to end the system of a directly-elected Mayor and return to a leader and cabinet.
  • 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.
  • Scarborough borough council: Bill Chatt, who was elected in Woodlands ward as an Independent and serves in the cabinet, has been excluded from the Independent group after voting in favour of a cabinet policy with which the group was in disagreement. He will now sit as a non-aligned Independent councillor.
  • 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

  • Caerphilly county borough council: Vacancy in Argoed division after the death of Labour councillor Allen Williams. The term ends in May so there will be no byelection for a replacement.
  • Carmarthenshire county council: Vacancy in Tycroes division after the death of Labour councillor and former chairman Dewi Enoch. As his term was due to end in May there will be no byelection.
  • Gwynedd county council: Guto Tomos, who was elected in Cricieth division as an Independent, has joined Plaid Cymru. Gethin Williams, elected for Llais Gwynedd in Brithdir division, has left the party to sit as an Independent.
  • Newport city council: There are two seats vacant. Alway division has a vacancy after the death of veteran Labour councillor Ken Powell. Allt-yr-yn division has a vacancy after the death of veteran Conservative councillor Les Knight. Both terms were due to end in May; no byelection can be called in Allt-yr-yn and although a byelection could be called in Alway, it is expected that the seat will be left vacant.
  • Pembrokeshire county council: Vacancy in Pembroke Dock Central division after the resignation of Labour group deputy leader Kate Becton, following a conviction for drink driving. As her term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection for a replacement.
  • Swansea city and county council: Three seats are vacant. Castle division has a seat vacant after the death of Labour councillor Barbara Hynes. Penyrheol division has a seat vacant after the resignation of Independent councillor Alan Jopling, who has moved to the north of England. Townhill division has a seat vacant after the death of Labour councillor Billy Jones. Penyrheol and Townhill divisions cannot have byelections because the vacancies have occurred within six months of the term ending in May; a byelection could be called for Castle division, but it is expected that the seat will be left vacant.

Scotland

  • Argyll and Bute council: There are two vacancies caused by the deaths of councillors. 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.
  • Glasgow city council: The group of councillors who recently left the Labour Party have formed a Glasgow First group on the council. It currently has six members: Ruth Black (Craigton ward), Shaukat Butt (Govan ward), Stephen Dornan (Govan ward), Tommy Morrison (Greater Pollok ward), Andy Muir (Baillieston ward) and William O’Rourke (Greater Pollok ward).
  • 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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