Pre-election update

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
10 years ago / May 18, 2014

The latest information about local electoral matters is as follows:

East of England

  • Babergh district council: Byelection on 22 May in South Cosford ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Dawn Kendall. Term ends 2015.
  • Basildon borough council: Double vacancy election on 22 May in Lee Chapel North ward after the resignation of Lynda Gordon, who was elected for the Labour Party but had left the party in January 2013. Terms end in 2016 and 2018.
  • Bedford council: Byelection on 22 May in Putnoe ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Sallyanne Smith. Term ends 2015.
  • Broxbourne borough council: Double vacancy election on 22 May in Wormley and Turnford ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Bob Bick. Terms end 2016 and 2018.
  • Cambridge city council: Double vacancy election in Petersfield ward on 22 May, after the resignation of Labour councillor Gail Marchant-Daisley. Terms end 2016 and 2018. As a result of her resignation the Liberal Democrats have an overall majority on the council.
  • Cambridgeshire county council: Byelection on 22 May in Willingham division after the resignation of Conservative county councillor Ray Manning. Term ends 2017.
  • Colchester borough council: Byelection on 3 July in Wivenhoe Quay ward after the death of Labour councillor Steve Ford. Term ends 2015.
  • East Cambridgeshire district council: Byelection on 19 June in Soham South ward after the death of Independent councillor John Palmer. Term ends 2015.
  • East Hertfordshire district council: Byelection on 22 May in Bishops Stortford Central ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Peter Gray. Term ends 2015.
  • Epping Forest district council: Vacancy in Loughton Forest ward after the death of Loughton Residents’ Association councillor Colin Finn. As the term ends in May it is now too late to call a byelection.
  • Harlow borough council: Double vacancy election in Mark Hall ward on 22 May after the resignation of Labour councillor Paul Schroder. Terms end 2015 and 2018.
  • Ipswich borough council: Double vacancy election on 22 May in Alexandra ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Harvey Crane. Terms end 2015 and 2018.
  • Mid Suffolk district council: Byelection on 22 May in Stowmarket North ward, after the resignation of Frank Whittle who was originally elected as a Conservative but had joined the UK Independence Party in January 2013. Term ends 2015.
  • North Hertfordshire district council: The election due on 22 May in Hitchwood, Offa and Hoo ward has been postponed to 10 July after the death of a candidate. The seat is currently held by Conservative councillor Faye Barnard.
  • Norwich city council: Double vacancy election in University ward on 22 May after the resignation of Labour councillor Sarah Grenville. Terms end 2015 and 2018.
  • Peterborough council: There are two double vacancy elections on 22 May, both due to resignations of Conservative councillors. Eye and Thorney ward was vacated by Dale McKean. Terms end 2016 and 2018. West ward was vacated by Matthew Dalton. Terms end 2015 and 2018.
  • St Albans city and district council: There are two double vacancy elections on 22 May. St Stephen ward will have two vacancies after the death of Conservative councillor Gordon Myland. Wheathampstead ward will have two vacancies after the resignation of Conservative councillor Nigel Huddleston, who is concentrating on his Parliamentary candidature in Mid Worcestershire. In both cases the top polling candidate will have a term ending in 2018 and the second place will be elected to a term ending in 2015.
  • South Cambridgeshire district council: Vacancy in Bourn ward after the resignation of Clayton Hudson who is opposed to a recent planning decision. He was elected as a Conservative in a February 2011 byelection but left the party in February 2013 to sit as an Independent. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection for a replacement.
  • Southend-on-Sea council: Double vacancy election in Westborough ward on 22 May, after the resignation of Independent councillor Martin Terry in order to stand in Thorpe ward. Terms end in 2015 and 2018.
  • Stevenage borough council: Double vacancy election on 22 May in Shephall ward after the resignation of the Mayor of Stevenage, Jack Pickersgill, who was a Labour councillor. The terms end in 2016 and 2018. There is also a vacancy in Longmeadow ward after the disqualification of Conservative councillor Christine Hurst, who has not attended any meetings for six months; her term was due to end in May, so she will not be replaced in a byelection.
  • Tendring district council: Vacancy in Manningtree, Mistley, Little Bentley and Tendring ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Sarah Candy. Term ends 2015.
  • Watford borough council: Double vacancy election on 22 May in Callowland ward after the resignation of Green Party councillor Steve Rackett. Terms end in 2015 and 2018.
  • Waveney district council: Byelection in Halesworth ward on 22 May after the resignation of Conservative councillor Patricia Flegg. Term ends 2015.
  • Welwyn Hatfield borough council: There are two double vacancy elections on 22 May. Howlands ward will elect an additional councillor following the resignation of Conservative councillor David Hughes; the terms end in 2015 and 2018. Northaw and Cuffley ward will elect an additional councillor following the resignation of Conservative councillor Colin Crouch; the terms end in 2016 and 2018.

East Midlands

  • Amber Valley borough council: Byelection on 22 May in Heage and Ambergate ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Maurice Gent. Term ends 2015. The election due on 22 May in Swanwick ward has been postponed to 26 June after the death of the sitting Conservative councillor Patricia Watson, who was a candidate for re-election.
  • Derby city council: Double vacancy election in Littleover ward on 22 May after the resignation of former Mayor and Liberal Democrat councillor Les Allen. Terms end 2016 and 2018.
  • North Kesteven district council: There are two byelections on 12 June. Sleaford Quarrington and Mareham ward follows the resignation of Independent councillor Ian Dolby. Sleaford Westholme ward follows the resignation (due to ill health) of Independent councillor Brian Watson. All terms end in 2015.
  • Northampton borough council: Vacancy in St James ward after the death of the Labour group leader, councillor Terry Wire. Term ends 2015.
  • Northamptonshire county council: Vacancy in Braunstone and Crick division after the resignation of Conservative county councillor Steven Slatter. Term ends 2017.

London

  • Barking and Dagenham borough council: Vacancy in Whalebone ward after the death of Labour councillor Tony Perry. As his term was due to end in May, he will not be replaced in a byelection.
  • Bexley borough council: Vacancy in Sidcup ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Jackie Evans, due to ill health; she has since died. No byelection will be held to replace her.
  • Brent borough council: Vacancy in Dudden Hill ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Rev David Clues, who has been living and working in Brighton since December 2011. As his resignation was within six months of the end of his term, he will not be replaced in a byelection.
  • Ealing borough council: Vacancy in Hobbayne ward after the resignation of Labour councillor Wendy Langham. With less than six months until the full council elections, there will be no byelection.
  • Hackney borough council: There are two vacancies. Dalston ward has a seat vacant after the resignation of Labour councillor Angus Mulready-Jones who has taken up a politically restricted post. Lordship ward has a seat vacant after the resignation of Labour councillor Daniel Stevens. As each term was due to end in May, there will be no byelections.
  • Havering borough council: Vacancy in Rainham and Wennington ward after the disqualification of Independent Resident councillor Mark Logan, who did not attend any meetings of the council in six months. As it is less than six months to the full council elections, there will be no byelection.
  • Lambeth borough council: There are two vacancies. Streatham South ward has a seat vacant after the sudden death of the Mayor of Lambeth, Mark Bennett, who was a Labour councillor. Vassall ward has a seat vacant after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Steve Bradley. As both terms were due to end in May, there will be no byelection for a replacement.
  • Lewisham borough council: Vacancy in Evelyn ward after the death of Labour councillor Sam Owalabi-Oluyole. As his term had less than six months to run, there will be no byelection.
  • Waltham Forest borough council: Vacancy in Higham Hill ward after the resignation of Labour councillor Geoff Hammond. As the vacancy occurred within six months of the end of the term, no byelection will be held.

North East

North West

  • Blackburn with Darwen council: Double vacancy election in Higher Croft ward after the death of Labour councillor Dorothy Walsh. Terms end 2016 and 2018.
  • Blackpool council: There are three byelections on 22 May, all in seats previously held by Labour councillors. Hawes Side ward follows the death of former Mayor Norman Hardy; Layton ward follows the resignation of John Boughton, and Talbot ward follows the resignation of Sarah Riding. All terms end in 2015.
  • Bolton council: There will be a double vacancy election in Horwich and Blackrod on 22 May after the resignation of Labour councillor Lindsey Kell. The terms end in 2015 and 2018.
  • Cheshire West and Chester council: Vacancy in Chester Boughton ward after the death of Labour councillor David Robinson. Term ends 2015.
  • Lancaster city council: There are two byelections on 22 May, both following resignations of Labour councillors. Scotforth West ward was vacated by Josh Bancroft, while University ward was vacated by Paul Aitchison. Terms end 2015.
  • Manchester city council: Double vacancy election in Sharston ward on 22 May after the resignation of Labour councillor Joyce Keller. Terms end 2015 and 2018.
  • Oldham borough council: Double vacancy election in St James ward on 22 May after the resignation of Labour councillor Nigel Newton. Terms end in 2015 and 2018.
  • Preston city council: Double vacancy election in Town Centre ward on 22 May after the resignation of Independent Socialist councillor Michael Lavalette for personal reasons. Terms end in 2016 and 2018. There is also a vacancy in Fishwick ward after the death of Labour councillor Tom Burns. As his term was due to end in May, he will not be replaced in a byelection.
  • Trafford borough council: Double vacancy election in Altrincham ward on 22 May after the resignation of Conservative councillor and former council leader Matt Colledge. Terms end 2015 and 2018.
  • West Lancashire borough council: Double vacancy election in Tarleton ward on 22 May after the resignation of Conservative councillor Andrew Cheetham. Terms end 2015 and 2018.
  • Wirral borough council: There will be a double vacancy election on 22 May in Greasby, Frankby and Irby ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Tony Cox. Terms end 2016 and 2018.
  • Wyre borough council: Byelection on 22 May in Hardhorn ward after the death of Conservative councillor Graeme Cocker. Term ends 2015.

South East

  • Adur district council: Double vacancy election in Mash Barn ward on 22 May after the resignation of Conservative councillor Andrew Barnes, who has left the district. Terms end 2016 and 2018.
  • Basingstoke and Deane district council: There are two extra elections on 22 May. Baughurst and Tadley North ward, which was not due to have an election, will elect a councillor after the resignation of Conservative councillor Graham Round; term ends 2015. Brighton Hill South ward will elect an additional councillor after the resignation of Labour councillor David Eyre, who is leaving the district; terms end 2016 and 2018.
  • Crawley borough council: Double vacancy election in Pound Hill South and Worth ward on 22 May after the resignation of Conservative councillor Claire Denman. Term ends 2015.
  • Gravesham borough council: Byelection on 22 May in Coldharbour ward after the resignation of Labour councillor Rosemary Leadley. Term ends 2015.
  • Maidstone borough council: There are two double vacancy elections on 22 May. Harrietsham and Lenham ward will elect an additional councillor after the resignation of Independent councillor Tom Sams. North ward will elect an additional councillor after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Mervyn Warner. In both wards the terms end in 2015 and 2018.
  • Mole Valley district council: Vacancy in Ashtead Park ward after the resignation of Ashtead Independents councillor Richard Brooke, who has moved to the Netherlands. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
  • Oxford city council: Double vacancy election on 22 May in Summertown ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Stuart McCready. Terms end 2016 and 2018.
  • Reading council: Byelection on 22 May in Park ward after the resignation of Green Party councillor Melanie Eastwood. Term ends 2015. There is also an ordinary election for a councillor for this ward (for which the term ends in 2018) at the same time, but Reading will run the two elections separately rather than as a double vacancy.
  • Rother district council: Byelection on 12 June in Bexhill Collington ward after the resignation of Independent councillor John Lee. Term ends 2015.
  • Southampton council: Double vacancy election in Millbrook ward on 22 May after the resignation of Labour councillor Georgina Laming. The terms will end in 2016 and 2018.
  • Tunbridge Wells borough council: Vacancy in Southborough and High Brooms ward after the death of Conservative councillor Colin Bothwell. As his term was due to end in May, he will not be replaced in a byelection.
  • West Oxfordshire district council: Byelection in Stonesfield and Tackley ward on 22 May, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Derrick Millard. Term ends 2016. There is a vacancy in Ducklington ward after the resignation of Independent councillor Steve Hayward, who has emigrated to Thailand. He was originally elected as a Conservative. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
  • Worthing borough council: Vacancy in Marine ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Tom Wye. He resigned in order to protest at an out of court settlement with a council contractor. As his term was due to end in May, he will not be replaced in a byelection.

South West

  • Bath and North East Somerset council: Byelection on 22 May in Bathavon North ward after the death of Conservative councillor Gabriel Batt. Term ends 2015.
  • Bristol city council: Byelection on 22 May in St George West ward after the resignation of Labour councillor Peter Hammond. There are elections to one third of the council seats on that day but St George West ward was not due to poll. Term ends 2015.
  • Cheltenham borough council: The election in Charlton Park ward has been postponed from 22 May to 3 July after the death of Mark Daniel, who had been one of the candidates.
  • Cornwall council: Vacancy in Illogan division after the resignation of Conservative councillor Terry Wilkins. Term ends 2017.
  • Devon county council: Byelection on 22 May in Yealmpton division after the resignation of Conservative county councillor Will Mumford. Term ends 2017.
  • East Dorset district council: Vacancy in Colehill East ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Don Wallace, who was 95 and possibly the oldest principal authority councillor in Britain. Term ends 2015.
  • North Somerset council: Tim Marter, who was elected for the Conservatives in Banwell and Winscombe ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor following his deselection.
  • South Hams district council: Byelection on 22 May in Salcombe and Malborough ward after the death of Conservative councillor John Carter. Term ends 2015.
  • Stroud district council: Byelection on 22 May in Central ward after the resignation of Independent councillor Andy Read. There are elections to one third of the council but Central ward was not due to be part of them. Term ends 2015.
  • Swindon council: Double vacancy election in St Andrews ward on 22 May, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Peter Heaton-Jones, who is concentrating on his Parliamentary candidacy in North Devon. Terms end in 2016 and 2018. As a result of his resignation the Conservatives have temporarily lost their overall majority on the council.
  • Tewkesbury borough council: Byelection on 22 May in Brockworth ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Maureen Rowcliffe-Quarry. Term ends 2015.

West Midlands

  • Birmingham city council: Double vacancy election in Sutton Trinity ward on 22 May after the resignation of Conservative councillor Philip Parkin, who wants to concentrate on his business. The terms end in 2016 and 2018.
  • Coventry city council: Double vacancy election in Cheylesmore ward on 22 May, after the resignation of Conservative councillor and former council leader Kevin Foster, in order to concentrate on his Parliamentary candidacy in Torbay. Terms end 2015 and 2018.
  • Herefordshire council: There are two vacancies. That in Ledbury ward follows the death of Conservative councillor Peter Watts. That in Leominster South ward follows the death of Conservative councillor Roger Hunt. Both terms end in 2015.
  • Malvern Hills district council: Byelection on 22 May in Lindridge ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor William Redman. Term ends 2015. If the Conservatives lose the seat, they will lose their majority and have to rely on the chairman’s casting vote.
  • Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council: Double vacancy election in Town ward on 22 May, after the resignation of Labour councillor Matt Taylor. Terms end 2016 and 2018.
  • Redditch borough council: Double vacancy election in Batchley and Brockhill ward on 22 May, after the resignation of Labour councillor Luke Stephens. Terms end 2015 and 2018. As a result of his resignation the Labour administration no longer has an overall majority.
  • Stratford-on-Avon district council: Vacancy in Southam ward after the resignation of Independent councillor David Wise, who was originally elected as a Conservative. Term ends 2015. It is also noted that there is a vacancy in Long Itchington ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Chris Spencer; the term there ends on 26 May so no byelection will be held.
  • Warwickshire county council: Byelection on 22 May in Hartshill division after the resignation of Labour county councillor Ann McLauchlan. Term ends 2017.
  • Wolverhampton city council: Vacancy in Wednesfield North ward after the death of Conservative councillor Neil Clarke. As his term was due to end in May it is now too late to call a byelection.
  • Worcestershire county council: Byelection on 22 May in Arrow Valley East division after the resignation of UK Independence Party councillor Martin Jenkins, who has also left the party in opposition to its stance on equal marriage. Term ends 2017.
  • Wychavon district council: Byelection on 22 May in Fladbury ward after the death of Conservative councillor Tom McDonald. Term ends 2015.

Yorkshire and the Humber

Wales

Scotland

  • Argyll and Bute council: Byelection on 22 May in Oban South and the Isles ward after the resignation of Fred Hall, who was originally elected for the Scottish National Party but left the party in April last year to sit as an Independent. He stated his intention to seek re-election but is not a candidate in the byelection. There is also a vacancy in Oban North and Lorn after the resignation of Scottish National Party councillor Louise Glen-Lee. Both terms end in 2017.
  • Fife council: There are two byelections on 22 May, both caused by Labour councillors who have become Members of the Scottish Parliament. Cowdenbeath ward follows the resignation of Jayne Baxter, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife. The Lochs ward follows the resignation of Alex Rowley, MSP for Cowdenbeath. Both terms end in 2017.
  • Scottish Borders council: Byelection on 22 May in Hawick and Denholm ward after the death of Conservative councillor Zandra Elliott. Term ends 2017.
  • South Lanarkshire council: Byelection on 5 June in Clydesdale South ward after the resignation of Scottish National Party councillor Archie Manson. Term ends 2017.

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