2022-23 local government by-elections

[carolus]

Dartford, Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley. Ellenor Palmer (Conservative) has ceased to be a councillor.

[middleenglander]

Nov 7, 2022 0:31:43 GMT andrewteale said:

Nov 6, 2022 0:46:27 GMT timmullen1 said:

The Coronation Bank Holiday has been announced for Monday 8 May, so election counts should be unaffected (unless Tower Hamlets are counting 😆)

www.itv.com/news/2022-11-05/sunak-announces-extra-bank-holiday-to-mark-kings-coronation

The Association of Electoral Administrators reckon it might, however, affect the retirement date for councillors - which then has an impact on the six-month rule. Which brings us back on-topic for this thread.

Just been informed in an errant email from our former District Council that the "6 month rule" came into effect on 08 November.

[carolus]

Chelmsford, Boreham & The Leighs. John Galley (Conservative) has died.

Eastbourne, Sovereign. Paul Metcalfe (Conservative) has resigned.

(No byelections)

Wigan, Ashton (2026) is on 15 December.

[casualobserver]

Nov 7, 2022 17:07:50 GMT carolus said:

Somewhat oddly, Labour have held the King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Gaywood Clock vacancy unopposed. The ward was a three way split between Lab, Con, UKIP in 2019. The (slightly) overlapping vacancy in Norfolk, Gaywood North & Clock has candidates from each of the four main parties.

Here is the local paper’s explanation for the uncontested Borough Council by-election, assuming you can trust any source which says that there will only be one name on the ballot paper?

www.edp24.co.uk/news/23109373.candidates-revealed-by-elections-gaywood-norfolk/

“ A by-election is to be held with only one candidate on the ballot paper, following the death of a long-standing councillor”

What’s the old saying ….. “they do things different in Norfolk”?

[Tony Otim]

Nov 10, 2022 12:07:29 GMT casualobserver said:

Nov 7, 2022 17:07:50 GMT carolus said:

Somewhat oddly, Labour have held the King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Gaywood Clock vacancy unopposed. The ward was a three way split between Lab, Con, UKIP in 2019. The (slightly) overlapping vacancy in Norfolk, Gaywood North & Clock has candidates from each of the four main parties.

Here is the local paper’s explanation for the uncontested Borough Council by-election, assuming you can trust any source which says that there will only be one name on the ballot paper?

www.edp24.co.uk/news/23109373.candidates-revealed-by-elections-gaywood-norfolk/

“ A by-election is to be held with only one candidate on the ballot paper, following the death of a long-standing councillor”

What’s the old saying ….. “they do things different in Norfolk”?

What a bizarre explanation.

[andrewteale]

Nov 10, 2022 12:07:29 GMT casualobserver said:

Nov 7, 2022 17:07:50 GMT carolus said:

Somewhat oddly, Labour have held the King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Gaywood Clock vacancy unopposed. The ward was a three way split between Lab, Con, UKIP in 2019. The (slightly) overlapping vacancy in Norfolk, Gaywood North & Clock has candidates from each of the four main parties.

Here is the local paper’s explanation for the uncontested Borough Council by-election, assuming you can trust any source which says that there will only be one name on the ballot paper?

www.edp24.co.uk/news/23109373.candidates-revealed-by-elections-gaywood-norfolk/

“ A by-election is to be held with only one candidate on the ballot paper, following the death of a long-standing councillor”

What’s the old saying ….. “they do things different in Norfolk”?

The suggestion I saw was that the Conservatives and Lib Dems had decided not to contest out of respect for the late councillor. Forgive me for being sceptical, but this doesn't sound like a very good excuse.

[timrollpickering]

Three City of London Alderman elections on 8th December (if contested - the nomination deadline is on the 15th), all due to the incumbents reaching seven years:

Aldgate - Susan Langley is seeking re-election Notice Diamond Geezer's visit
Farringdon Without - Gregory Jones is seeking re-election Notice SA Notice SZ Diamond Geezer's visit
Queenhithe - Alastair John Naisbitt King is seeking re-election Notice Diamond Geezer's visit

Farringdon Without gets two notices for two different polling stations, I think in the two separate parts.

Queenhithe is, I believe, the physically smallest ward in the whole of the UK.

Current council composition: Not specified 116 + these 3 vacancies, Labour 5, Missing from Website 1

[andrewteale]

Nov 10, 2022 21:22:48 GMT timrollpickering said:

Three City of London Alderman elections on 8th December (if contested - the nomination deadline is on the 15th), all due to the incumbents reaching seven years:

Aldgate - Susan Langley is seeking re-election Notice Diamond Geezer's visit
Farringdon Without - Gregory Jones is seeking re-election Notice SA Notice SZ Diamond Geezer's visit
Queenhithe - Alastair John Naisbitt King is seeking re-election Notice Diamond Geezer's visit

Farringdon Without gets two notices for two different polling stations, I think in the two separate parts.

Queenhithe is, I believe, the physically smallest ward in the whole of the UK.

Current council composition: Not specified 116 + these 3 vacancies, Labour 5, Missing from Website 1

The only one of those Aldermen who has gone over the normal six-year term is King, who was elected in November 2016. Jones was elected in February 2017 so he was coming up to the end of the six years, but Langley was elected to the Aldermanic bench as recently as July 2018 (that was a rare case where a sitting Alderman sought re-election and was defeated).

[timrollpickering]

The way the Aldermen work is very odd.

[Adam in Stroud]

Nov 10, 2022 22:08:57 GMT timrollpickering said:

The way the Aldermen work is very odd.

Please specify, as otherwise I'm going to assume that they work in vats of custard and only on Catholic Days of Observation.

[casualobserver]

Nov 10, 2022 21:22:48 GMT timrollpickering said:

Three City of London Alderman elections on December 8th.

……

Farringdon Without gets two notices for two different polling stations, I think in the two separate parts.

Queenhithe is, I believe, the physically smallest ward in the whole of the UK.

Election Day for the three Aldermanic Elections is December 7th. If one (or more) of the elections is contested and a poll is required, polling will take place on December 8th.

Several City of London Wards have “sides” or “divisions” (sometimes ‘Within’ and ‘Without’, but in Farringdon Without ward it’s ‘North’ and ‘South’). Each Division has its own Deputy and Beadle. Beadles are democratically elected, but only one person (the Ward Alderman) can nominate a candidate to be Beadle so, surprise surprise, no contested election ever actually takes place. In prior times, the two divisions in Farringdon Without ward were called ‘Holborn’ and ‘Fleet Street’, and each division was itself divided into precincts (15 precincts in this ward in 1715). The US arrangement of electoral ‘precincts’ was taken over to America from this country. Farringdon Without, however, is the only Ward in the City to have two polling districts - the ward is the largest in the City both by area and by electorate.

Farringdon Without Ward is one of the newer wards in the City of London, having only been created in 1394 when the Farringdon ward was split into two.

24 of the 25 smallest (by area) principal area wards in the UK are in the City of London. The one exception is Farringdon Without. Queenhithe Ward contains some area of the River Thames, so the title of the smallest principal area Ward in the country belongs to Candlewick Ward.

Farringdon Without Ward has the distinction of containing within its boundaries two quasi-autonomous local authorities - Inner Temple and Middle Temple - these are liberties and their powers are now codified in the Temples Order 1971. Inner Temple is governed by its own Parliament, which has over 300 members. Middle Temple’s Parliament is somewhat fewer in number.

Farringdon Without Ward is one of the strangest in the country, and that’s without considering the role of the Butchers, whose Smithfield Market premises must by a Victorian UK Act of Parliament be included within the Ward, and who have significant electoral power in the ward through differential turnout. The Metropolitan Meat & Poultry Market Act 1860 surely contains the most obscure extant legal requirement for any local authority Ward boundaries in the country!

A whole separate thread could be devoted just to this single ward.

[carolus]

Liverpool, Knotty Ash. Alison Clarke (Liverpool Community Independents, elected as Labour) has ceased to be a councillor. No byelection.

Sevenoaks, Farningham, Horton Kirby & South Darenth. Brian Carroll (Conservative) has resigned. No byelection.

Test Valley, Andover Romans will be on 15 December.

[carolus]

Cannock Chase, Etching Hill & The Heath (2026). James Fletcher (Conservative) has ceased to be a councillor.

[carolus]

17 November:
Bolsover, Pinxton. Stan Fox (Labour) has resigned.
Blackburn with Darwen, Darwen South (2024). Andrew Walker (Independent elected as Conservative) has ceased to be a councillor.
Blackpool, Greenlands. John Wing (Conservative) has died
Glasgow, Linn. Malcolm Cunning (Labour) has died.
Oldham, Hollinwood (2026). Jean Stretton (Labour) has died.
Rhondda Cynon Taf, Abercynon. Marcia Rees-Jones (Labour) has ceased to be a councillor.
Shetland, Shetland West. John Leask (Ind) has resigned.
Suffolk, Beccles. Peggy McGregor (Green) has ceased to be a councillor.

23 November:
Ashfield, Hucknall Central. Jim Blagden (Ashfield Independents) has died.

24 November:
Bassetlaw, Sutton. Denise Depledge (Conservative) has resigned.
Isle of Wight, Brighstone, Calbourne & Shalfleet. Steve Hastings (Conservative) has resigned.
Sefton, Linacre (2026). Gordon Friel (Labour) has died.
Warrington, Rixton & Woolston. Joshua Dixon (Conservative) has resigned.

30 November:
Surrey, Sunbury Common & Ashford Common. Alison Griffiths / Todd (Conservative) has died.

1 December:
Arun, Arundel & Walberton. Faye Catterson (Green) has been disqualified for failing to attend meetings.
King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Gaywood Clock. John Collop (Labour) has ceased to be a councillor.
Norfolk, Gaywood North & Central. Graham Middleton (Conservative) has ceased to be a councillor.
Southampton, Bitterne. Terry Streets (Conservative) has died.
Waverley, Chiddingfold & Dunsfold. John Gray (Conservative) has died.
West Lothian, Broxburn, Uphall & Winchburgh. Ann Davidson (Labour) has died.

8 December:

Brighton & Hove, Wish. Garry Peltzer Dunn (Conservative) has died.

City of London, Aldgate (Alderman). Susan Langley seeking re-election.

City of London, Farringdon Without (Alderman). Gregory Jones seeking re-election.

City of London, Queenhithe (Alderman). Alastair Kind seeking re-election.

Colchester, Highwoods (2023). Beverley Oxford (Highwoods Group) has resigned.
Colchester, Highwoods (2024). Gerard Oxford (Highwoods Group) has resigned.
Dumfries & Galloway, Mid Galloway & Wigtown West. Sandy Whitelaw (Labour) has ceased to be a councillor.
Lincolnshire, Spalding West. Angela Newton (Independent) has died.
Medway, Peninsula. Mick Pendergast (Independent) has died.
North Devon, Landkey. David Luggar (North Devon Independent, elected as Conservative) has ceased to be a councillor.
South Holland, Monks House. Angela Newton (Independent) has died.

15 December:

Amber Valley, Wingfield. Valerie Thorpe (Conservative) has died.

Ipswich, Priory Heath (2024). Sarah Barber (Labour) has resigned.

Pendle, Barrowford & Pendleside (2023). Carlo Lionti (Conservative) has died.

South Kesteven, Toller. Jan Hansen (Independent) has resigned.

Test Valley, Andover Romans. Nick Matthews (Conservative) has resigned.

Wigan, Ashton (2026). Anthony Sykes (Labour) has died.

Known vacancies:

Cannock Chase, Etching Hill & The Heath (2026). James Fletcher (Conservative) has ceased to be a councillor.

Central Bedfordshire, Cranfield & Marston Moretain. Ken Matthews (Conservative) has died.

Dartford, Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley. Ellenor Palmer (Conservative) has ceased to be a councillor.

Denbighshire, Rhyl Ty Newydd. Brian Blakeley (Labour) has died.
High Peak, Whaley Bridge. Kath Thomson (Labour) has resigned.
High Peak, Whaley Bridge. Shannon-Kate Thomson (Labour) has resigned.
Lancaster, University & Scotforth Rural. Katie Whearty (Non-aligned Independent, ex-Eco-socialist Independent, elected as Labour) has resigned.
Lancaster, Westgate. Merv Evans (Independent) has died.
Melton, Long Clawson & Stathern. Melanie Steadman (Conservative) has died.
Redcar & Cleveland, Normanby. Chris Foley-McCormack (Labour) has died.
Sefton, Netherton & Orrell (2024). Robert Brennan (Labour) has resigned.
Staffordshire, Biddulph North. Ian Lawson (Conservative) has died.
Staffordshire Moorlands, Biddulph West. Ian Lawson (Conservative) has died.
Staffordshire Moorlands, Biddulph West. Hilda Sheldon (Independent) has died.

Uttlesford, Great Dunmow South & Barnston. Colin Day (Residents for Uttlesford) has ceased to be a councillor.

West Suffolk, Haverhill North. Elaine McManus (Ind elected as Conservative) has resigned.

The following vacancies fall within the six-month rule for elections next May and so will not be filled:

Chelmsford, Boreham & The Leighs. John Galley (Conservative) has died.
Eastbourne, Sovereign. Paul Metcalfe (Conservative) has resigned.

Liverpool, Knotty Ash. Alison Clarke (Liverpool Community Independents, elected as Labour) has ceased to be a councillor.

Sevenoaks, Farningham, Horton Kirby & South Darenth. Brian Carroll (Conservative) has resigned

The following vacancies are for councils which will be abolished next April. The six-month rule now applies, so they will not be filled:
Barrow-in-Furness: Dalton South. Cause: Resignation of Shaun Blezard (Lab) on 3 February 2022.
Carlisle: Botcherby and Harraby North. Cause: Resignation of Jack Paton (Ind) on 2 February 2022.
Copeland, Millom. Fred Gleaves (Conservative) has died.
Cumbria, Dearham & Broughton. Hugo Graham (Conservative) resigned on 3 May.
Cumbria: Longtown. Cause: Death of Val Tarbitt (C) on 28 January 2022.
Harrogate, Harlow. Jim Clark (Conservative) has resigned.
Harrogate: Marston Moor. Cause: Death of Norman Waller (C) on 25 January 2022
Ryedale, Ampleforth. Jim Bailey (Conservative) resigned.
Ryedale, Pickering West. Carrie Brackstone (Liberal) has ceased to be a councillor.
Ryedale, Rillington. Nathan Garbutt-Moore (Conservative) has resigned.
Ryedale, Sherburn. Cause: Resignation of John Raper (Ind) on c. 1 February 2022.
Ryedale, Thornton Dale. C W Delaney (Conservative) has resigned.
Scarborough, Scalby. Hazel Lynskey (No Political Affiliation, elected as Conservative) has died.
Somerset West & Taunton, South Quantock. Anthony Trollope-Bellew (Conservative) has died.

[timmullen1]

John Collop, King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, Gaywood Clock, passed away and his seat will be uncontested as the other parties declined to nominate as a mark of respect.

[listener]

Cllr John Galley of Chelmsford City Council (Boreham and The Leighs ward) passed away on Tuesday, 11 October.

The Local Government Act 1972 (section 87) states:
"For the purpose of filling a casual vacancy, the date on which the vacancy is to be deemed to have occurred shall be in the case of death, on the date of death.

Nick Eveleigh, the Returning Officer of Chelmsford, has published a Notice of Vacancy for Boreham and The Leighs, conveniently dated 9 November 2022, which states "Section 89(3) of the Local Government Act requires that the vacancy shall be filled on 4th May 2023". Section 89(3) deals with the six-month rule.

This vacancy occurred three weeks before the six-month rule kicked in.

Can anyone else advise about this?

[The Bishop]

Unfortunately, an electoral officer getting the law wrong wouldn't be unprecedented.

[peterl]

Nov 14, 2022 3:44:45 GMT listener said:

Cllr John Galley of Chelmsford City Council (Boreham and The Leighs ward) passed away on Tuesday, 11 October.

The Local Government Act 1972 (section 87) states:
"For the purpose of filling a casual vacancy, the date on which the vacancy is to be deemed to have occurred shall be in the case of death, on the date of death.

Nick Eveleigh, the Returning Officer of Chelmsford, has published a Notice of Vacancy for Boreham and The Leighs, conveniently dated 9 November 2022, which states "Section 89(3) of the Local Government Act requires that the vacancy shall be filled on 4th May 2023". Section 89(3) deals with the six-month rule.

This vacancy occurred three weeks before the six-month rule kicked in.

Can anyone else advise about this?

If you are a local seeking to trigger a by election, I would advise sending in two letters requesting one accompanied by a letter explaining that the six month rule applies from the date of death, referencing the law as you have here and explaining the relevant dates. That would probably get the job done.

[carolus]

Cambridgeshire, St Neots The Eatons. Derek Giles (St Neots Independent Group) has died. www.huntspost.co.uk/news/23120644.tributes-paid-derek-giles-died-morning/

Rotherham, Keppel. Paul Hague (Rotherham Democratic Party) has ceased to be a councillor.

[bungle]

North Yorkshire CC/UA - Masham and Fountains division.

Margaret Atkinson (Con) has sadly died. Term ends 2027
She was the current Chair of the County Council

www.northyorks.gov.uk/news/article/council-chair-remembered-her-passion-north-yorkshire