Nats take over the Wee County

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
13 years ago / January 6, 2012

The latest information about local council electoral matters is as follows:

East Midlands

East of England

  • Harlow borough council: 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.
  • Hertsmere borough council: Vacancy in Potters Bar Furzefield ward after the death of Conservative councillor Ron Morris. Term ends 2015.
  • St Albans city and district council: Byelection on 19 January in Batchwood ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Amanda Archer who has taken a politically restricted post. Term ends 2014. Her resignation gives the Conservatives an overall majority of the council. The date of this byelection was erroneously reported last week as 12 January.
  • Suffolk county council: Byelection on 9 February in Kesgrave and Rushmere St Andrew division after the death of Conservative councillor John Klaschka. Term ends 2013.
  • Suffolk Coastal district council: Byelection on 9 February in Kesgrave East ward after the death of Conservative councillor John Klaschka. Term ends 2015.
  • 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

North West

  • 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.
  • Cumbria county council: Vacancy in Castle division after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Jim Tootle. Term ends 2013.
  • Salford city council: Following a valid petition, the council will hold a referendum on 26 January on whether to introduce a directly-elected Mayor.
  • South Lakeland district council: Byelection on 9 February in Windermere Town ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Sandra Britton. The term ends in 2015. There is also a vacancy in Ulverston North ward after the death of Conservative councillor and former council leader Colin Hodgson. Term ends May.

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.
  • Hampshire county council: Byelection on 9 February in Winchester Southern Parishes division after the death of Conservative councillor and Vice-Chairman of the council Frederick Allgood who was also a former Mayor of Winchester. Term ends 2013.
  • Horsham district council: Vacancy in Itchingfield, Slinfold and Warnham ward after the resignation of council leader Robert Nye, who was a Conservative councillor. Term ends 2015.
  • Oxfordshire county council: Vacancy 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: Vacancy in Crockenhill and Well Hill ward after the death of Independent councillor Colin Dibsdall. Term ends 2015.
  • Swale borough council: Vacancy in Kemsley ward after the death of veteran Conservative councillor and former Mayor Brenda Simpson. Term ends 2015.

South West

West Midlands

Yorkshire and the Humber

Wales

  • Blaenau Gwent county borough council: A new group called the Blaenau Gwent Real Independents has been formed by former council leader Des Hillman (Blaina division). It has four other members: Steve Bard (Abertillery division), Keith Barnes (Cwm division), Mark Edwards (Cwmtillery division) and Shirley Ford (Nantyglo division). There are 20 councillors remaining in the Independent group and two councillors who are unaffiliated to any group.
  • 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: Vacancy in Castle division after the death of Labour councillor Barbara Hynes. Although a byelection could be called, the term will end in May and so it is expected that the seat will be left vacant.

Scotland

  • Argyll and Bute council: Vacancy in Oban South and The Isles ward after the death of Scottish National Party councillor Donald McIntosh. As it is less than six months until the end of his term, no byelection can be called.
  • Clackmannanshire council: An emergency meeting of the council on the morning of Friday 6 January passed a motion of no confidence in the Labour administration, and installed a Scottish National Party administration in its place.
  • East Ayrshire council: Vacancy in Doon Valley ward after the resignation of Scottish National Party councillor Drew Filson. As the term ends in May there will be no byelection.
  • 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.