By-elections - 29th November 2012

I wonder if the minor parties in London might be choosing to focus their attentions in Croydon on this date?

Here is some background to the by-election in the Lickhill ward of Calne Town Council in Wiltshire.

Calne Town Council comprises 19 members, elected from six wards as follows – Abberd (3), Chilvester (2), Lickhill (4), Marden (4), Priestley (3) and Quemerford (3).

The town council was elected on 3 May 2007 under the old North Wiltshire District Council. Following the reorganization of Wiltshire as a unitary authority in 2009, the town and parish council elections due in 2011 were cancelled and the term of office of the existing town and parish councilors was extended to 2013.

The council strength on 3 May 2007: Con 8, Lib Dem 6, UKIP 5
The council strength on 8 November 2012: Con 7, Lib Dem 6, Ind 4, UKIP 1 Vacant 1

The current town mayor and deputy mayor are both Independent.

It was reported that in October 2007 Roy Golding (Abberd) had left the Conservatives to serve as an Independent.

On 13 December 2007, it was reported that Mercy Baggs (Priestley) had resigned from UKIP to become an Independent, citing personal reasons. Her nephew, an unsuccessful BNP candidate, claimed that “she had resigned in disgust at being verbally abused by a member of her own party”. Mercy Baggs had switched from the Conservatives to UKIP in January 2007 and had previously been a member of the Liberal Democrats.

On 31 January 2008, Glenis Ansell (Lib Dem) gained the seat in Lickhill ward, following the resignation of Jill Martin (UKIP), because of other commitments.

On 12 March 2009, Chris Dobbie (Lib Dem) gained the seat in Lickhill ward, following the resignation of John Ireland (UKIP), because he was unable to support or condone the morally reprehensible decision to increase the council tax precept by 33 per cent. John Ireland had switched from the Conservatives to UKIP in January 2007. A second UKIP councilor subsequently retracted his verbal resignation and decided to stay on the council.

On 3 September 2009, Gregory Widger (Con) held the seat in Quemerford ward, following the resignation of Emily Pieroux (Con), who was described in a blog as a bit of a wanderer and not very interested in council work.

On 21 January 2010, Michelle Pearce (Lib Dem) gained the seat in Lickhill ward, following the resignation of Andrea Pier (Con)

On 11 February 2010, Emma Holton (Con) gained the seat in Priestley ward, following the resignation of David Bland (UKIP). David Bland had switched from the Conservatives to UKIP in January 2007.

On 3 October 2011, the Town Council co-opted Zoe Kelly (Ind) to a vacancy in Abberd ward, following the resignation of Carol Robinson (Lib Dem).

On 10 January 2012, Philip Redmond (Con) gained the seat in Marden ward, following the resignation of Andrea Venton (Lib Dem).

On 12 May 2012, it was reported that Caroline Ramsey (Lickhill) had left the Conservative Party to become an Independent, because she felt she had no option after taking a new job in Wiltshire Council’s public protection department.

The present by-election on 29 November 2011 in Lickhill ward is caused by the resignation of Chris Dobbie (Lib Dem), after he and his partner decided to move away from the town.

The result in Calne Lickhill ward on 3 May 2007 was:
Con 431/423, UKIP 380/378/356/279, Lib Dem 312/253/247, BNP 91
Elected: Con 2, UKIP 2

Lickhill (31 January 2008): Lib Dem 278, Con 256, UKIP 150, BNP 84, Green 23

Lickhill (12 March 2009): Lib Dem 477, Con 282

Lickhill (21 January 2010): Lib Dem 331, UKIP 79

Candidates for 1 November 2012: Lib Dem and Con

Ward maps

NA H-EILEANAN AN IAR - Sgir'Uige agus Ceann a Tuath nan Loch

SOUTHWARK - East Walworth

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON - Shipston

I assume that St Kilda is also part of a ward, then?? (I don't suppose Rockall is)

Yes, looking it up it seems St Kilda is in Beinn na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath ward.

Looking up the history of Rockall, the 1972 Island of Rockall Act did include the islet under the administrative boundaries of Harris in Inverness-shire, and it is apparently within the boundaries of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in modern times as they approved a planning application for the installation of a new plaque on Rockall as recently as 2010. However, I can find no reference as to which ward, if any, it lies within.

Heard that the Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath nan Loch (Uig and North Lochs) by-election count in the Western Isles which seems to have generated so much excitment here will start at 10am on the 30th and is expected to be over by 10.30 apparently!

Imagine that may be one of the quicker counts... Though if turnout was 50% that would only be around 1200 ballots to count.

Turnout in Southwark seemed low

Surprising. Is that Labour's first councillor for a while on Stratford DC? IIRC the only place they ever one remotely recently was in Southam

I think we also managed to win Studley in the mid-90s.