Latest information about local council electoral matters is as follows:
- Ashfield district council: Vacancy in Hucknall Central ward after the death of Conservative councillor Gordon Riley. Term ends 2011.
- Derby city council: Vacancy in Abbey ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Deirdre Mitchell due to ill health. As her term was due to end in May 2010 and she has resigned with less than six months left, there can be no byelection to replace her.
- Harborough district council: Vacancy in Great Bowden and Arden ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor and (until his resignation) Council Leader Alistair Swatridge, due to ill health. Term ends 2011.
- Mansfield district council: There are two vacancies: in Portland ward, after the death of Tom Appleby, and in Sherwood ward, after the death of Norman Cook. Both councillors were members of Mansfield Independent Forum and both seats have terms ending in 2011.
- Nottinghamshire county council: Vacancy in Mansfield South division, after the death of Tom Appleby who represented Mansfield Independent Forum. Term ends 2013.
East of England
- Bedford borough council: Andrew Gerard was elected councillor for Kingsbrook ward at the byelection on 10 December, holding the seat for the Liberal Democrats.
- Peterborough city council: The Conservative Party held its seat in West ward at the byelection on 10 December, with Nick Arculus easily winning election.
- Tendring district council: A split in the ‘Community Representatives’ group, has seen Cllr John Brown (Ramsey and Parkeston ward) resign from the group. The Community Representatives support the Conservative minority administration on the council, but Cllr Brown has the balance of power: if he votes with the opposition, the council leadership will be defeated.
- Croydon borough council: Greta Sohoye, elected as a Labour councillor in Bensham Manor ward, has joined the Conservative group.
- Southwark borough council: Vacancy in The Lane ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Susan Elan Jones who has been selected as Parliamentary candidate for Clwyd South. No byelection can be held as her term was due to expire in May 2010.
- Westminster city council: Labour candidate Patricia McAllister was elected councillor for Queen’s Park ward in the byelection on 10 December, holding the seat for her party.
- Durham council: Vacancy in Easington ward, after the death of Labour councillor Richard Burnip. Term ends 2013.
- Halton borough council: Vacancy in Mersey ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Sue Blackmore. Term ends 2012.
- Pendle borough council: Vacancy in Brierfield ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Naseem Shabnam who had been criticized for poor attendance. As her term was due to expire in May 2010, there can be no byelection.
- 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.
- Gravesham borough council: Vacancy in Meopham South and Vigo ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Raymonde Collins. Term ends 2011.
- 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.
- Hastings borough council: The byelection in St Helens ward on 10 December was won by Simon Corello, who held the seat for the Conservatives with a small majority after a large swing to the Labour Party.
- Reigate and Banstead district council: Byelection on 17 December in Earlswood and Whitebushes ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Robert Webb. Term ends 2012.
- Rushmoor district council: The Labour Party candidate Alexander Crawford won the byelection in Heron Wood on 10 December, gaining the seat from the Liberal Democrats.
- West Oxfordshire district council: Vacancy in Carterton North West ward after the death of Conservative councillor Dave King. As his term was due to end in May next year, there will be no byelection to fill the vacancy.
- 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). The Salvington vacancy cannot now be filled by a byelection as it is within six months of the end of the term.
- Gloucester city council: Vacancy in Barton and Tredworth ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Yakub Pandor who gained the second seat in the ward in a double vacancy election at the 2008 local elections. As his term was due to end next May, there can be no byelection to fill the vacancy.
- West Devon district council: The byelection in Tavistock South ward on 10 December was won by Kirstie Clish-Green of the Liberal Democrats, who gained the seat from the Conservatives.
- Weymouth and Portland borough council: Labour candidate Kate Wheller was elected in Wyke Regis ward at a byelection on 10 December, gaining the seat from the Conservatives.
- Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council: Vacancy in Newchapel ward after the death of long-standing Conservative councillor Nora Salt. Term ends 2011.
- Nuneaton and Bedworth borough council: The Labour candidate Ian Lloyd was elected in Camp Hill ward at the byelection on 10 December, gaining the seat from the British National Party.
- Rugby borough council: Vacancy in Dunchurch and Knightlow ward after the death of veteran Liberal Democrat councillor Ron Ravenhall. As his term was due to end in May, there will be no byelection.
- Sandwell borough council: Vacancy in Rowley ward after the resignation of former council leader Bill Thomas (Labour), who has been convicted of theft. As his term was due to end in May 2010, there will be no byelection.
- 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.
- Wychavon district council: Vacancy in Evesham South ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Ron Cartwright. Term ends 2011.
- Wyre Forest district council: Labour candidate Jamie Shaw was elected in Areley Kings ward at a byelection on 10 December, gaining the seat from the Conservatives.
- Harrogate borough council: Byelection on 7 January 2010 in Woodfield ward, after the death of John Wren. Originally elected as a Liberal Democrat, his decision to switch to the Conservatives in October 2008 gave his new party an overall majority. Term ends 2011.
- Scarborough borough council: Vacancy in Mayfield ward, after the death of Conservative councillor and former deputy Mayor Peter Booth. Term ends 2011.
- Wakefield borough council: Byelection on 21 January 2010 in Airedale and Ferry Fryston ward, after the death of Labour councillor Graham Phelps. Term ends 2012.
- No updates this week.
- East Dunbartonshire council: Ashay Ghai of the Liberal Democrats was elected councillor for ward no. 3 (Bearsden South) at a byelection on 10 December, gaining a seat from the Conservatives and putting the Conservative/Labour coalition administration on the council into a minority.
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