Chalk it up as a win

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Result

• Southend-on-Sea: The byelection in Shoeburyness ward on 25 May was won by Anne Chalk. Independent hold (the new councillor will sit in the Independent Group).

Changes of allegiance

• Barrow-in-Furness: Gordon Murray, who was elected for the Labour Party in Dalton South ward, has joined the Conservative Party.
• Basingstoke and Deane: Onnalee Cubitt, who was elected as an Independent in Basing ward, has returned to the Conservative Party which she left in 2012.
• Bassetlaw: Alan Chambers, who was elected for the Labour Party in East Retford West ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Boston: Peter Bedford, the council leader up to this month who was elected as a Conservative in Coastal ward, has left the party to sit as an unaligned councillor.
• East Devon: Jim Knight, who was elected for the Conservatives in Seaton ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. He has not joined the Independent Group.
• East Hampshire: The only two Liberal Democrats on the council, Sally Pond (Whitehill Chase ward) and Alan Waterhouse (Whitehill Pinewood ward), have both joined the Conservative Party. The move means that every single councillor is now a Conservative.
• Mansfield: Stephen Harvey, who was elected for the Mansfield Independent Forum in Kingswalk ward, has joined the Conservative Party.
• Mid Devon: Jonathan Smith, who was elected for the UK Independence Party in Westexe ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Reigate and Banstead: David Jackson, who was elected for the Conservative Party in Horley West ward but left it in March to sit as an Independent councillor, has now returned.
• Spelthorne: Steven Burkmar, who was elected for the Conservatives in Staines South ward but left the party in February last year, has now returned.
• Stroud: Nigel Studdert-Kennedy, who was elected for the Conservative Party in The Stanleys ward, is no longer sitting in the Conservative group.
• Winchester: James Byrnes, who was elected for the Conservatives in Wonston and Micheldever ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent after accepting a community resolution order.

New vacancies

• North Warwickshire: Coleshill South ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Mark Jones. Term ends 2019.
• Peterborough: Eye and Thorney ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor David Sanders (who has also left the Conservative Party). His move means that the Conservatives no longer have an overall majority. Term ends May next year.
• Rutland: Whissendine ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Kevin Thomas due to work commitments. Term ends 2019.
• Salford: Claremont ward, after the death of veteran Labour councillor Joe Murphy. Term ends 2019.
• South Holland: Whaplode and Holbeach St John’s ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Mike Pullen. Term ends 2019.
• South Oxfordshire: Didcot West ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Margaret Turner. Term ends 2019.
• Wealden: Chiddingly and East Hoathly ward, after the disqualification of Conservative councillor Barby Dashwood-Morris who did not attend any council meetings for six months. Term ends 2019.

Dates for byelections

• Durham: The byelection due in Dawdon division will be held on 29 June.
• Waltham Forest: The byelection due in William Morris ward will be held on 29 June.
• West Lancashire: The byelection due in Derby ward will be held on 29 June.

Other updates

• Basildon: After a deal between the Labour and UK Independence Party groups, a vote was passed at the annual council meeting to remove the Conservative administration. The council has reverted to the committee system, with committee chairs held by Labour, UK Independence Party and Independent councillors.
• Carmarthenshire: In line with the coalition deal, Plaid Cymru and the Independent group have formed a coalition administration.
• Ceredigion: Agreement has been reached to continue the coalition of Plaid Cymru, Independent and Independent Voice councillors which has previously run the council.
• Cornwall: After attempts by the Conservative group to form a coalition failed, the council has elected the Liberal Democrat group leader as council leader. The administration will be a Liberal Democrat/Independent coalition, as in the previous term.
• Denbighshire: Independent councillor Hugh Evans has been re-elected as council leader, while talks continue over the rest of the administration.
• Dumfries and Galloway: A coalition administration has been formed between the Labour and Scottish National Party groups.
• Dundee: After agreeing to make an Independent councillor the new Lord Provost, the Scottish National Party group has formed a minority administration.
• East Dunbartonshire: There will be a minority Scottish National Party administration.
• East Lothian: A Labour minority administration has been formed.
• East Renfrewshire: A coalition between the Scottish National Party and Labour has taken control of the council.
• Falkirk: The council is to be run by a minority Scottish National Party administration.
• Inverclyde: After rejecting a possible coalition deal with the Scottish National Party, Labour is to run the council as a minority administration.
• Midlothian: The new council administration will be a Labour minority.
• Moray: A Conservative/Independent coalition administration has been formed.
• Northumberland: The Conservatives have formed a minority administration.
• Nottinghamshire: After reaching a coalition deal, the council will be run by the Conservatives together with the Mansfield Independent Forum.
• Stirling: The Scottish National Party and Labour have agreed a deal to run the council.
• Vale of Glamorgan: The Conservatives have formed an administration, having agreed a deal with Bob Penroe (Independent councillor for Sully division). Penrose has formally joined the Conservative group but not the Conservative Party.
• Wrexham: A coalition administration has been formed; as in the previous term it includes the Independents, Conservatives and Wrexham Independent Group.

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