Note there will be no update in the next two weeks. The author of this blog wishes everyone a happy new year.
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.
- Broxtowe borough council: Vacancy in Eastwood South ward after the death of Labour councillor Jim Kenny. 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.
- Erewash borough council: Byelection on 21 January 2010 in West Hallam and Dale Abbey ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor John Fildes due to ill health. Term ends 2011.
- Harborough district council: Byelection on 28 January 2010 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
- Dacorum borough council: Vacancy in Adeyfield West ward after the sad death of Conservative councillor Keith Reid, who had been involved in local politics for many years and was a former work colleague of the author of this blog. Term ends 2011.
- Fenland district council: Vacancy in The Mills ward after the death of veteran Conservative councillor Ray German. Term ends 2011.
- Huntingdonshire district council: Vacancy in Fenstanton ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Paul Dakers whose resignation letter indicates frustration with the local democratic process. Term ends 2011.
- 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.
- Durham council: Vacancy in Easington ward, after the death of Labour councillor Richard Burnip. Term ends 2013.
- South Tyneside borough council: Vacancy in Primrose ward after the death of former Mayor and Labour councillor Barrie Scorer. Term ends 2011.
- Halton borough council: Vacancy in Mersey ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Sue Blackmore. Term ends 2012.
- Liverpool city council: Vacancy in Fazakerley ward after the death of Labour councillor and former Lord Mayor Jack Spriggs. 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.
- Preston city council: Vacancy in Riversway ward after the resignation of Labour councillor Jack Davenport. Term ends 2012.
- Salford city council: Joe O’Neill, who was elected as a Liberal Democrat in Swinton South ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor and announced his decision to stand as an Independent candidate in the general election.
- 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.
- Reigate and Banstead district council: Gill Emerton was elected as Conservative councillor for Earlswood and Whitebushes ward in the byelection on 17 December, holding the seat for her party. There is a vacancy in Redhill East ward due to the death of Conservative councillor Frank Moore. The term ends 2012.
- Tandridge district council: Byelection on 2 February in Whyteleafe ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Jeffrey Gray. Term ends 2012.
- 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.
- Cheltenham borough council: Klara Sudbury, elected as Conservative councillor for Charlton Park ward, has joined the Liberal Democrats, complaining about the nature of internal politics in her old party.
- 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.
- Gloucestershire county council: Klara Sudbury, elected for the Conservatives in All Saints division, has joined the Liberal Democrats, complaining about the nature of internal politics in her old party.
- Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council: Vacancy in Newchapel ward after the death of long-standing Conservative councillor Nora Salt. Term ends 2011.
- 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: There are two vacancies. That in College ward follows the resignation of Gary Davies (an Independent) who has retiring and moved to Surrey. That in The Nedge ward follows the death of veteran Labour councillor Ute Sambrook from cancer. In both cases the terms ends 2011.
- Wychavon district council: Vacancy in Evesham South ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Ron Cartwright. Term ends 2011.
- 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.
- Neath Port Talbot county borough council: A belated note that Dennis Keogh, elected for Neath Port Talbot Independent Party in Port Talbot ward, joined the Labour group over the summer.
- No updates this week.
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