Latest information about local council electoral matters is as follows:
- High Peak district council: Bill Clarke was elected on 22 October as councillor for Tintwistle ward, holding the seat in a byelection.
There is also a byelection on 26 November in Blackbrook ward, after the death of the Mayor of High Peak, Tony Bingham who was a Conservative councillor. Term ends 2011. - Mansfield district council: Vacancy in Portland ward, after the death of Tom Appleby who represented Mansfield Independent Forum. Term ends 2011.
- Nottinghamshire county council: Vacancy in Mansfield South division, after the death of Tom Appleby who represented Mansfield Independent Forum. Term ends 2013.
- Rushcliffe borough council: The byelection on 22 October in Nevile ward was won by Christine Combellack, the Conservative candidate, who had a majority of just 13 votes.
- South Holland district council: Impending vacancy in Spalding St John’s ward, due to the 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.
East of England
- Bedford borough council: In consequence of his election as Mayor last week, Liberal Democrat councillor Dave Hodgson has vacated his council seat in Kingsbrook ward where there will shortly be a byelection to replace him.
Also in Bedford the former leader of the Conservative group on the council, Nicky Attenborough (Kempston East ward), has been suspended from membership of the party for two years after declining to support the party’s candidate for Mayor. - Epping Forest district council: Byelection on 5 November in Lower Sheering ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor and former cabinet member Heather Harding. Term ends 2011.
- Forest Heath district council: James Waters held Eriswell and The Rows ward in the byelection on 22 October caused by the resignation of his father Terry Waters. Waters’ 54 vote majority keeps the seat Conservative.
- Hertfordshire county council: Rabbi Alan Plancey was elected in Borehamwood North ward at the byelection on 22 October, holding the seat for the Conservatives.
- Hertsmere borough council: Tugay Sevincli held the Potters Bar Oakmere ward for the Conservatives in the byelection on 22 October.
There is another byelection on 26 November, this one in Bushey Heath ward, due to the resignation of Conservative councillor Anne Swerling. Term ends 2011. - Huntingdonshire district council: Byelection on 29 October in Huntingdon North ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Kemp who has moved out of the ward. Term ends 2011.
- Peterborough borough council: Vacancy in West ward, after the death of former Mayor and Conservative councillor Michael Burton. Term ends May 2010.
- Southwark borough council: Impending vacancy in 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 9 November which is the latest date for byelections (no byelection may take place within six months of an ordinary council election, which is due in May 2010).
- Durham council: Vacancy in Easington ward, after the death of Labour councillor Richard Burnip. Term ends 2013.
- Cheshire East council: Byelection on 19 November in Cholmondeley ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Allan Richardson. Term ends 2013.
- Fylde borough council: Byelection on 26 November in Clifton ward, after the death of Conservative councillor William Thompson. Term ends 2011.
- Knowsley borough council: Vacancy in Halewood South ward, after the resignation of Susan Smith of the Liberal Democrats, due to work commitments. Term ends 2011.
- Wirral borough council: Byelection on 26 November in Moreton West and Saughall Massie ward, after the sudden death of Conservative councillor Suzanne Moseley. Term ends 2011.
- Wyre borough council: David Walmsley was elected on 22 October in Jubilee ward, keeping it in Conservative hands.
- Gosport borough council: 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. Term ends May 2010.
- 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.
- Shepway district council: Byelection on 12 November in 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.
- Swale borough council: Lesley Ingham, elected for local group Sheppey First! in Sheppey Central ward, has joined the Conservative Party.
- Thanet district council: Byelection on 3 December in Dane Valley ward, after a valid resignation was received from Stephen Broadhurst. Broadhurst has been spending much of his time in Panama and was about to be disqualified for failing to attend any council meeting in six months; a previous resignation letter purporting to be from him was found to be invalid because someone else had signed the letter on his behalf. Broadhurst had originally been elected as a Conservative. Term ends 2011.
- Vale of White Horse district council: Julia Bricknell won the Abingdon Dunmore ward byelection on 22 October, holding the seat for the Liberal Democrats.
- 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 are emigrating to Cyprus where Heather Mercer is to take up a university post. Terms ends in May 2010 (Salvington) and 2011 (Marine).
- Cornwall council: Byelection on 26 November in St Austell Bay ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Richard Stewart due to ill health. Term ends 2013.
- East Devon district council: Ian Thomas (Conservative) has been elected unopposed for Trinity ward. This is a gain of a seat for the party as the incumbent councillor was an Independent.
- Forest of Dean district council: Byelection on 19 November in Coleford East ward following the resignation of Jon Kay. Originally elected as a Conservative, he joined a breakaway unofficial ‘Forest Blue’ group in the summer. Term ends 2011.
- South Hams district council: Byelection on 12 November in Totnes Bridgetown ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Geoff Date. Term ends 2011.
- Weymouth and Portland borough council: Vacancy in Wyke Regis ward after the resignation of veteran Conservative councillor Doug Hollings, who died a few days later. Term ends 2012.
- Birmingham city council: David Barrie, the Conservative candidate, held the party’s seat at Sutton New Hall ward in the byelection on 22 October.
- Nuneaton and Bedworth borough council: Byelection on 10 December in Camp Hill ward after the resignation (due to work commitments) of Darren Haywood who is a member of the British National Party. Term ends 2012.
- Stoke-on-Trent city council: The neverending game of musical chairs on the council continued this week when Joan Bell (Longton South), who had previously resigned from the Labour group to sit as a non-aligned councillor, returned to the fold. It is believed that dissatisfaction with former group leader Mike Barnes was a major factor in her original split so her decision to return after his resignation is not a surprise.
- Stratford-on-Avon district council: Byelection on 26 November in Stratford Alveston ward, after the death of former chairman Conservative councillor Vince Seaman. Term ends 2011.
- Telford and Wrekin council: Vacancy in College ward, after the resignation of Gary Davies (an Independent) who is retiring and moving to Surrey. Term ends 2011.
- Wyre Forest district council: Vacancy in Areley Kings ward after the death of Conservative councillor Mike Partridge. Term ends 2011.
- Doncaster borough council: Byelection on 19 November in Rossington ward, after the death of Independent councillor Jackie Clark. Term ends 2012.
- Scarborough borough council: Vacancy in Mayfield ward, after the death of Conservative councillor and former deputy Mayor Peter Booth. Term ends 2011.
- Flintshire county council: Byelection on 26 November in Northop ward, after the death of Mel Higham who was an Independent councillor and executive member for regeneration and tourism. Term ends 2012.
- Pembrokeshire county council: Byelection on 26 November in St Dogmaels ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Ian Gollop due to ill health. Term ends 2012.
- Falkirk council: Byelection on 19 November in Bo’ness and Blackness ward, after the death of Harry Constable of the Scottish National Party. Term ends 2012.
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