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Post by richardh on Jun 10, 2022 13:19:48 GMT
Alwoodley (Leeds) Parish Council by-election on June 23rd is only second-ever contested election since the first election in 2008 when the council was formed. Traditionally a non-party-political council some of its members are political party members and make no secret of it. However all councillors have been nominated for the parish council under "no description" or Independent label. The by-election's two candidates are "independent" and no description.
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peterl
Green
Monarchic Technocratic Localist
Posts: 8,254
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Post by peterl on Jun 13, 2022 12:28:50 GMT
Weymouth Town Council Wyke Regis Ward July 7th
Stephen Nicholas Brown Labour (address in Dorset) Joanna Mary Dickenson Conservative (Lives the other side of Weymouth) Helen Jane Toft Green Party (Lives in the next ward over)
We are mounting a full campaign for this one.
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Post by carolus on Jun 13, 2022 17:30:37 GMT
14 JuneHart, Crondall. []* 15 JuneRyedale, Newton upon Rawcliffe (5). 4x []* Ryedale, Stape (3). 2x []* Ryedale, Sherburn (8). []* 16 JuneWest Suffolk, Clare (2). Ind*, []* Huntingdonshire, Woodwalton (3). []* Rutland, Uppingham (2). []* South Cambridgeshire, Caxton (5). []* South Cambridgeshire, Croxton (3). []* South Cambridgeshire, Graveley (5). []*, []*. []* South Cambridgeshire, Shudy Camps (3). []*, []*. []* South Cambridgeshire, Toft (5). []*, []* West Lindsey, Keelby. []* Rother, Brede. ? 23 JuneNorth Warwickshire, Atherstone, North. Con, Lab, Local Resident. Leeds, Alwoodley. Ind, []. Northumberland, Eglingham (7). 8x []. Rotherham, Thurcroft, North (8). 13x Ind, 2x [] South Hams, Thurlestone (4). Resident of Bantham, 4x []. South Somerset, Drayton (3). 4x []. Bridgend, Llangynwyd Middle, Cwfelin (4). Green*, 2x Ind* Bridgend, Ogmore, Nant-y-moel (4). Lab*, Ind* East Lindsey, Mablethorpe & Sutton, Central. Lab* Monmouthshire, Monmouth, Drybridge (3). 2x Lab* Monmouthshire, Monmouth, Overmonnow (2). Lab*, []* Monmouthshire, Monmouth, Town (3). Lab*, Ind*, []* Monmouthshire, Monmouth, Wyesham (3). Lab*, Ind* Bridgend, Coychurch Higher (5). Ind*, 4x []* Bridgend, Llangynwyd Middle, Pontrhydycyff (6). Ind*, []* Bridgend, Ogmore, Blackmill (3). Ind*, []* Bridgend, Ogmore, Ogmore Vale (4). 2x Ind* Cornwall, Torpoint, East. []* Monmouthshire, Llanfoist Fawr, Govilon (5). 3x []* Monmouthshire, Llanfoist Fawr, Llanellen (2). 2x []* Monmouthshire, Skenfrith, Cross Ash (3). []* Monmouthshire, Whitecastle, Rockfield & St Maughans (3). 2x []* Newport, Llanvaches (7). Ind*, 3x []* South Oxfordshire, South Stoke (2). Ind*, []* South Somerset, Ashill (6). 2x []* South Somerset, Charlton Horethorne (5). 2x []* South Somerset, Lopen (7). 5x []* South Somerset, Pitney (5). 3x []* Monmouthshire, Llanfoist Fawr, Llanfoist (4). ? Monmouthshire, Monmouth, Osbaston (3). ? Monmouthshire, Skenfrith, Skenfrith (2). ? Monmouthshire, Whitecastle, Llangattock Vibon Avel. ? Monmouthshire, Whitecastle, Llanvihangel Ystern Llewern. ? Monmouthshire, Whitecastle, Newcastle (2). ? Monmouthshire, Whitecastle, Penrhos. ? 30 JuneCotswold, Tetbury. Ind, 2x []. Newark & Sherwood, Farnsfield. []*
7 July Dorset, Weymouth, Wyke Regis. Con, Lab, Green. Dover, Sandwich, South. Con, Independent Endorsed by Sandwich Matters. Northumberland, Ashington, Seaton. Lab, LD. Telford & Wrekin, Lawley & Overdale, Central. Con, Lab, Ind. Wealden, Uckfield, North. Lab, Trust Independent Candidate.
Hinckley & Bosworth, Groby, Groby. [], Former Parish Council Chairman, Local Business Man. Milton Keynes, Wroughton, Leadenhall. Resident of Leadenhall, Resident Honest Dependable.
Forest of Dean, Newent, North East. []* Harrogate, Asenby (5). 4x []*
Stroud, Whiteshill & Ruscombe. []*
Babergh, Hadleigh, South (2). ?
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J.G.Harston
Lib Dem
Leave-voting Brexit-supporting Liberal Democrat
Posts: 13,687
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Post by J.G.Harston on Jun 14, 2022 8:07:06 GMT
I couldn't find a thread for parish polls, so this seems the best fit.
A parish poll took place yesterday (13 June) in Whitby with two 'yes' or 'no' questions on the ballot. The questions and results are as follows:
Should all new build and additional housing in Whitby parish be restricted to full time local occupation as a primary residence only and forever (in perpetuity)? Yes: 2,111 - 92.3% No: 157 - 6.9% Do you want to stay in the same area committee as Scarborough in the new North Yorkshire unitary council? Yes: 253 - 11.1% No: 1,982 - 86.6% The turnout was 2288, 22.72%.
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Post by finsobruce on Jun 14, 2022 8:44:11 GMT
I couldn't find a thread for parish polls, so this seems the best fit.
A parish poll took place yesterday (13 June) in Whitby with two 'yes' or 'no' questions on the ballot. The questions and results are as follows:
Should all new build and additional housing in Whitby parish be restricted to full time local occupation as a primary residence only and forever (in perpetuity)? Yes: 2,111 - 92.3% No: 157 - 6.9% Do you want to stay in the same area committee as Scarborough in the new North Yorkshire unitary council? Yes: 253 - 11.1% No: 1,982 - 86.6% The turnout was 2288, 22.72%.
The first question seems a wee bit loaded.
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Post by finsobruce on Jun 14, 2022 8:44:44 GMT
Must I paint you a picture?
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Post by listener on Jun 16, 2022 18:53:39 GMT
The uncontested elections today in Huntingdonshire (1 parish) and South Cambridgeshire (5 parishes), designed to fill the remaining vacancies in parishes left inquorate on 5 May, have now achieved a quorum in each parish, although not all vacancies have been filled. The remaining vacancies will be filled by co-option.
It may be interesting to look at some statistics regarding candidates and councillors in these two districts of Cambridgeshire, both of which are fully parished.
In Huntingdonshire there are 81 parishes, but only 71 parish councils, as 10 small parishes are without councils and have annual parish meetings.
Five parishes have town status, with the council chairman acting as the town mayor, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Ramsey, St. Ives and St. Neots.
Five parishes are divided into wards – Fenstanton, Huntingdon, St. Ives and St. Neots – giving rise to 89 separate elections across the 71 parish councils.
Amongst the 89 separate elections, 10 were contested, 20 attracted the exact number of candidates required, 56 had a shortfall of candidates and 3 attracted no candidates at all. These 3 were all parish wards and did not impact on the council achieving a quorum.
1 parish, Wood Walton, remained inquorate, because it attracted just 2 candidates for the 5 seats.
There were 652 seats available on 5 May, attracting 529 candidates in total. There were 4 Labour, 0 Conservatives, 4 Lib Dems, 2 Green Party, 21 Community Candidates from 3 groups in St. Ives and St. Neots with the remaining 498 candidates (94%) non political. These break down as 32 Independents, 44 giving non-political descriptions and 422 giving no description at all.
In terms of the 652 seats, 60 seats were filled by election, 456 were filled without a contest, 131 are to be filled by co-option and 5 in Wood Walton have been re-advertised under the quorum rules.
The 60 contested seats produce a degree of contestation measure of just 23. What does this mean. If there are 16 candidates for 15 seats, then 15 seats are contested, but the degree of contestation is only 1
68 of the 71 councils have ended up with a majority of councillors with Independent or non-political descriptions. Only Huntingdon, St. Ives and St. Neots can be regarded as having party activity.
Huntingdon (19 seats) has 4 Lab, 4 Lib Dem, 7 Independents, 1 No Description and 3 vacancies for co-option. St. Ives (17 seats) has 12 Independent for St. Ives, 1 non-political, 1 no description and 3 vacancies for co-option. St. Neots (21 seats) has 5 St. Neots Independent Group, 3 People Before Politics, 2 Green Party, 8 Independent, 1 non-political, 1 no description and 1 vacancy for co-option.
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Post by listener on Jun 16, 2022 18:56:09 GMT
In South Cambridgeshire there are 104 parishes, but only 92 parish councils, as 11 small parishes are without councils and have annual parish meetings, whilst 2 parishes (Great Eversden and Little Eversden) have a joint council.
Two parishes have town status, with the council chairman acting as the town mayor, Cambourne and Northstowe. Both of these parishes were created recently in new housing developments.
Four parishes are divided into wards – Fen Ditton, Great and Little Chishill, Little Wilbraham and Thriplow, whilst the joint parish council has separate elections in each constituent parish – giving rise to 97 separate elections across the 92 parish councils.
Two parishes, however, Longstanton and Willingham, had parish elections in 2021, following the boundary reorganisation consequent upon creating Northstowe parish, but they will revert to the normal electoral cycle in 2026.
Amongst the remaining 95 separate elections, 5 were contested, 18 attracted the exact number of candidates required, 71 had a shortfall of candidates and 1 parish (Graveley) attracted no candidates at all.
5 parishes remained inquorate. In addition to Graveley, 4 other parishes attracted only 2 candidates, insufficient for the minimum parish quorum of 3. Sufficient candidates have now come forward to ensure that all 5 parishes are quorate.
There were 826 seats available on 5 May, attracting 663 candidates in total, all of whom (100%) were non political. These break down as 34 Independents, 28 giving non-political descriptions and 601 giving no description at all.
In terms of the 826 seats, 50 seats were filled by election, 580 were filled without a contest, 175 are to be filled by co-option and 21 were re-advertised under the quorum rules.
The 50 contested seats in 5 contested parishes produce a degree of contestation measure of just 12. What does this mean? If there are 16 candidates for 15 seats, then 15 seats are contested, but the degree of contestation is only 1
All 92 councils (including Longstanton and Willingham) have councillors who were elected with Independent or non-political descriptions.
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ColinJ
Labour
Living in the Past
Posts: 1,981
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Post by ColinJ on Jun 21, 2022 5:12:08 GMT
A vacancy has arisen on Abbots Langley PC, Bedmond ward, following the death of Cllr Jean Bowman (LDem). The Notice of Vacancy can be viewed here.
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Post by carolus on Jun 21, 2022 7:49:53 GMT
23 JuneNorth Warwickshire, Atherstone, North. Con, Lab, Local Resident. Leeds, Alwoodley. Ind, []. Northumberland, Eglingham (7). 8x []. Rotherham, Thurcroft, North (8). 13x Ind, 2x [] South Hams, Thurlestone (4). Resident of Bantham, 4x []. South Somerset, Drayton (3). 4x []. Bridgend, Llangynwyd Middle, Cwfelin (4). Green*, 2x Ind* Bridgend, Ogmore, Nant-y-moel (4). Lab*, Ind* East Lindsey, Mablethorpe & Sutton, Central. Lab* Monmouthshire, Monmouth, Drybridge (3). 2x Lab* Monmouthshire, Monmouth, Overmonnow (2). Lab*, []* Monmouthshire, Monmouth, Town (3). Lab*, Ind*, []* Monmouthshire, Monmouth, Wyesham (3). Lab*, Ind* Bridgend, Coychurch Higher (5). Ind*, 4x []* Bridgend, Llangynwyd Middle, Pontrhydycyff (6). Ind*, []* Bridgend, Ogmore, Blackmill (3). Ind*, []* Bridgend, Ogmore, Ogmore Vale (4). 2x Ind* Cornwall, Torpoint, East. []* Monmouthshire, Llanfoist Fawr, Govilon (5). 3x []* Monmouthshire, Llanfoist Fawr, Llanellen (2). 2x []* Monmouthshire, Skenfrith, Cross Ash (3). []* Monmouthshire, Whitecastle, Rockfield & St Maughans (3). 2x []* Newport, Llanvaches (7). Ind*, 3x []* South Oxfordshire, South Stoke (2). Ind*, []* South Somerset, Ashill (6). 2x []* South Somerset, Charlton Horethorne (5). 2x []* South Somerset, Lopen (7). 5x []* South Somerset, Pitney (5). 3x []* Monmouthshire, Llanfoist Fawr, Llanfoist (4). ? Monmouthshire, Monmouth, Osbaston (3). ? Monmouthshire, Skenfrith, Skenfrith (2). ? Monmouthshire, Whitecastle, Llangattock Vibon Avel. ? Monmouthshire, Whitecastle, Llanvihangel Ystern Llewern. ? Monmouthshire, Whitecastle, Newcastle (2). ? Monmouthshire, Whitecastle, Penrhos. ? 30 JuneCotswold, Tetbury. Ind, 2x []. Newark & Sherwood, Farnsfield. []* 7 JulyDorset, Weymouth, Wyke Regis. Con, Lab, Green. Dover, Sandwich, South. Con, Independent Endorsed by Sandwich Matters. Northumberland, Ashington, Seaton. Lab, LD. Telford & Wrekin, Lawley & Overdale, Central. Con, Lab, Ind. Wealden, Uckfield, North. Lab, Trust Independent Candidate. Hinckley & Bosworth, Groby, Groby. [], Former Parish Council Chairman, Local Business Man. Milton Keynes, Wroughton, Leadenhall. Resident of Leadenhall, Resident Honest Dependable. Forest of Dean, Newent, North East. []* Harrogate, Asenby (5). 4x []* Stroud, Whiteshill & Ruscombe. []* Babergh, Hadleigh, South (2). ?
14 July Breckland, Thetford, Boudica. Con, Lab. Wiltshire, Salisbury, Harnham West. Con, Green, Lab, LD. Wyre Forest, Stourport-on-Severn, Central. Con, Lab, LD.
Babergh, Layham. Ind, []. Babergh, Polstead. 2x Ind, 3x []. Boston, Fosdyke. Ind, []. Forest of Dean, St Briavels. Ind, 2x []. South Oxfordshire, Goring-on-Thames. Clarity, Community and Common Sense, Rejoin EU, Ind, 3x [].
Cornwall, Bodmin, St Petrocs. Ind* Cornwall, St Agnes, Mount Hawke. []* Shropshire, Clee St Margaret. []* South Somerset, Charlton Horethorne (3). []* West Lindsey, South Kelsey (3). []* Wiltshire, Wilton (3). 3x []*
Erewash, Stanley & Stanley Common, Stanley Common (2). ? Erewash, Stanley & Stanley Common, Stanley Village. ?
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Post by listener on Jun 22, 2022 9:20:18 GMT
I reported above about the second round of elections in Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire on 16 June to deal with inquorate parishes.
A second round has also been held in Harrogate on 26 May and in Ryedale on (Wednesday) 15 June. A second round is coming up in South Somerset, Bridgend, Monmouthshire and Newport tomorrow (23 June).
I will post individual summaries of these elections below. The parish structure in the 7 districts of North Yorkshire is particularly complex (with a large number of small parishes either holding annual parish meetings or grouped in common councils) and I hope that the new unitary authority will hold a review of community governance to simplify the pattern of parishes, as the two new unitaries in Cheshire have done in recent years. Along with East Riding of Yorkshire and East Lindsey, Harrogate has one of the largest number of parishes and it was even more confusing when Harrogate still had elections by thirds, with the parish elections falling in different years. That all stopped in 2018, when Harrogate moved to all-out elections.
I am struck by the small number of party candidates put up by the Conservative Party, giving a nearly clear run at town council level to the Liberal Democrats in Knaresborough, Chard and Yeovil and to Labour in Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow and Monmouth. I don’t know whether this is party policy or simply election exhaustion.
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Post by listener on Jun 22, 2022 9:21:37 GMT
In Harrogate there are 139 parishes, but only 77 parish councils, as 11 small parishes are without councils and have annual parish meetings and 76 parishes are grouped into 25 common councils.
One parish (Ripon) has city status and another two parishes have town status, with the council chairman acting as the town mayor, High and Low Bishopside (which covers Pateley Bridge) and Knaresborough.
All of the constituent parishes in the grouped councils have a separate election and seven parishes are divided into wards – Azerley, Boroughbridge, Killinghall, Kirkby Overblow, Knaresborough, Ripon and Tockwith (20 parish wards across the 7 parishes) – giving rise to 141 separate elections across the 77 parish councils.
Amongst the 141 separate elections, 13 were contested, 72 attracted the exact number of candidates required, 42 had a shortfall of candidates and 14 attracted no candidates at all. 4 of these were separate parishes and the remaining 10 were parish wards or grouped parishes, which did not impact on the council achieving a quorum.
None of the grouped parish councils remained inquorate, but 7 separate parishes (all with a membership of 5) needed a second round of elections. Asenby, Newall with Clifton, North Deighton and Scotton had 0 candidates, Nun Monkton attracted just 1 candidate and Little Ribston and Nidd attracted only 2 candidates.
There were 520 seats available on 5 May, attracting 444 candidates in total. There were 4 Labour, 3 Conservatives, 15 Lib Dems, 8 Green Party, 12 Community Candidates from Independent Putting Ripon Before Party Politics with the remaining 402 candidates (91%) non political. These break down as 11 Independents, 16 giving non-political descriptions and 375 giving no description at all.
In terms of the 520 seats, 60 seats were filled by election, 360 were filled without a contest, 69 are to be filled by co-option and 31 seats in 7 parishes were re-advertised under the quorum rules.
The 520 seats available and the 60 contested seats produce a degree of contestation measure of just 24, 16 of which occurred in Knaresborough and Ripon. What does this mean? If there are 16 candidates for 15 seats, then 15 seats are contested, but the degree of contestation is only 1.
The second round of elections on 26 May attracted 17 candidates for the 31 seats, all of them uncontested. There were still no candidates in Asenby and Nidd.
A third round of elections on 7 July has produced 4 candidates in Asenby, but still no more candidates in Nidd. At its General Purposes Committee on 16 June, Harrogate Borough Council appointed District Councillor, Margaret Atkinson, to Nidd Parish Council (section 91(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 refers) to provide a quorum and enable 2 or 3 further members to be co-opted.
75 of the 77 councils have ended up with a majority of councillors with Independent or non-political descriptions. Only Knaresborough and Ripon can be regarded as having party activity.
The Independents Putting Ripon Before Party Politics took 11 seats in Ripon, with only 1 Lib Dem elected in Ripon Spa ward.
Knaresborough (12 seats) has 8 Lib Dem, 2 Conservatives and 2 Green Party.
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Post by listener on Jun 22, 2022 9:23:42 GMT
In Ryedale there are 115 parishes, but only 67 parish councils, as 31 small parishes are without councils and have annual parish meetings and 30 parishes are grouped into 13 common councils.
Five parishes have town status, with the council chairman acting as the town mayor, Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Malton, Norton-upon-Derwent and Pickering.
All of the constituent parishes in the grouped councils have a separate election and five parishes are divided into wards – Ebberston and Yedingham, Heslerton, Norton-upon-Derwent, Pickering and Welburn (York) (11 parish wards across the 5 parishes) – giving rise to 90 separate elections across the 67 parish councils.
Amongst the 90 separate elections, 6 were contested, 41 attracted the exact number of candidates required, 37 had a shortfall of candidates and 6 attracted no candidates at all. 2 of these (Newton-on-Rawcliffe and Stape) were grouped in a common council, which was consequently inquorate, and the remaining 4 were parish wards or grouped parishes, which did not impact on the council achieving a quorum.
The only other inquorate council was Sherburn with 3 candidates for 11 seats, which failed the one-third quorum rule.
There were 470 seats available on 5 May, attracting 391 candidates in total. There were 2 Lib Dems, 5 Green Party, 5 Community Candidates standing as Malton and Norton Residents with the remaining 379 candidates (97%) non-political. These break down as 13 Independents, 10 giving non-political descriptions and 356 giving no description at all.
In terms of the 470 seats, 41 seats were filled by election, 336 were filled without a contest, 77 are to be filled by co-option and 16 seats in 3 parishes (2 councils) were re-advertised under the quorum rules.
The 470 seats available and the 41 contested seats produce a degree of contestation measure of just 14 – only Cropton parish was fully contested. What does this mean? If there are 16 candidates for 15 seats, then 15 seats are contested, but the degree of contestation is 1.
The second round of elections on 15 June attracted 7 candidates for the 16 seats, sufficient to provide a quorum in the 2 remaining councils.
66 of the 67 councils have ended up with a majority of councillors with Independent or non-political descriptions. Only Malton can be regarded as having party activity.
Malton (12 seats) has 4 Malton Residents, 2 Green Party, 4 Independents and 2 No Description.
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Post by listener on Jun 22, 2022 10:00:07 GMT
In South Somerset there are 121 parishes, but only 95 parish councils, as 19 small parishes are without councils and have annual parish meetings and 11 parishes are grouped into 4 common councils.
Nine parishes have town status, with the council chairman acting as the town mayor, Bruton, Castle Cary, Chard, Crewkerne, llchester, Langport, Somerton, Wincanton and Yeovil.
All of the constituent parishes in the grouped councils have a separate election and nine parishes are divided into wards – Brympton, Chard, East Coker, Huish Episcopi, Mudford, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, West Coker, Yeovil and Yeovil Without (30 parish wards across the 9 parishes) – giving rise to 123 separate elections across the 95 parish councils.
Amongst the 123 separate elections, 22 were contested, 26 attracted the exact number of candidates required, 71 had a shortfall of candidates and 4 attracted no candidates at all. 2 of these (Charlton Horethorne and Lopen) were separate parishes and the remaining 2 were parish wards, which did not impact on the council achieving a quorum.
Also inquorate were Ashill with only 1 candidate and Drayton and Pitney with only 2 candidates each.
There were 831 seats available on 5 May, attracting 699 candidates in total. There were 6 Labour, 13 Conservatives, 47 Lib Dems, 17 Green Party, 13 Community Candidates standing as Wincanton Forward with the remaining 603 candidates (86%) non-political. These break down as 24 Independents, 33 giving non-political descriptions and 546 giving no description at all.
In terms of the 831 seats, 120 seats were filled by election, 524 were filled without a contest, 161 are to be filled by co-option and 26 seats in 5 parishes were re-advertised under the quorum rules.
The 831 seats available and the 120 contested seats produce a degree of contestation measure of 55, of which 16 are in Chard, 10 in Wincanton and 14 in Yeovil. What does this mean? If there are 16 candidates for 15 seats, then 15 seats are contested, but the degree of contestation is 1.
The second round of elections on 23 June attracted 16 candidates for the 26 seats, sufficient to provide a quorum in 4 councils. In Drayton there were 4 candidates for the 3 remaining vacancies, resulting in a contested election tomorrow.
Unfortunately, there are still only 2 candidates in Charlton Horethorne and a further election has been called for the 3 remaining seats on 7 July.
92 of the 95 councils have ended up with a majority of councillors with Independent or non-political descriptions. Chard, Crewkerne and Yeovil are under Lib Dem control. The Wincanton Forward group won only 6 of the 15 seats in Wincanton, with the remaining 9 seats won by No Description
Chard (15 seats) has 10 Lib Dem, 4 Green Party and 1 Independent. Crewkerne (12 seats) has 8 Lib Dem, 2 Conservatives and 2 Independents Yeovil (24 seats) has 22 Lib Dem, 1 Conservative and 1 Independent.
The Conservatives fielded 0 candidates in Chard, 6 in Crewkerne and 5 in Yeovil.
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Post by listener on Jun 22, 2022 21:29:30 GMT
The pattern of Welsh communities is somewhat different from the pattern of English parishes. Shortly after reorganisation in 1974, the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales (LGBCW) conducted a comprehensive review of community boundaries across all the 37 Welsh Districts. They were directed to establish a comprehensive pattern of communities across the whole of Wales, even if the community chose not to form a community council. Whereas in England, the urban areas are largely unparished, there is a full set of communities throughout Wales.
LGBCW also took the opportunity to establish a series of viable communities, often merging several far-flung rural settlements into one community, but preserving their identity by setting up a web of community wards for electoral purposes.
The choice of whether or not to form a community council had led to some anomalous situations. For example, Merthyr Tydfil has only one community council, Bedlinog and Trelewis, which was transferred from Gelligaer Urban District in 1974. Vale of Glamorgan has a full set of community councils, except for the village of Rhoose, the location of Cardiff Airport, which dissolved its council many years ago. The old borough of Neath had a full set of community councils, whereas Afan had only one (Glyncorrwg). When they merged as Neath Port Talbot, nothing changed – so the Neath communities have councils whereas the Port Talbot communities do not have councils. Glyncorrwg community council was dissolved shortly after the merger.
There is rather more political competition in the Welsh communities, particularly in South Wales and Gwent, as the data below will demonstrate.
The Welsh Government brought in a new electoral law for the 2022 elections, requiring anyone standing for election to disclose membership of any political parties in the previous year. Quite a few community council candidates disclosed membership of a political party, but in my analysis below, I have stuck to the ballot paper description, which they used on their nomination papers, often Independent or No Description.
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Post by listener on Jun 22, 2022 21:34:38 GMT
In Bridgend there are 20 communities, all of which have councils. 13 of them are divided into wards, giving rise to 49 separate elections across the 20 councils.
Four communities have town status, with the council chairman acting as the town mayor, Bridgend, Maesteg, Pencoed and Porthcawl.
Amongst the 49 separate elections, 18 were contested, 9 attracted the exact number of candidates required, 18 had a shortfall of candidates and 4 attracted no candidates at all.
These were all community wards, but three of them were wards in Ogmore Valley, which did not achieve a quorum. Three communities failed to achieve a quorum, Coychurch Higher (2 candidates), Llangynwyd Middle (2 candidates across the 2 wards) and Ogmore Valley (1 candidate across the 4 wards).
There were 236 seats available on 5 May, attracting 227 candidates in total. There were 79 Labour, 31 Conservatives, 3 Lib Dems, 4 Plaid Cymru, with the remaining 110 candidates (46%) non-political. These break down as 104 Independents and 6 giving no description at all.
In terms of the 236 seats, 83 seats were filled by election, 94 were filled without a contest, 30 are to be filled by co-option and 29 seats in 7 separate elections in 3 communities were re-advertised under the quorum rules for election on 23 June. Sufficient candidates have now come forward to provide a quorum in all three.
The 236 seats available and the 83 contested seats produce a degree of contestation measure of 46, of which 13 are in Bridgend Community and 10 in Brackla. What does this mean? If there are 16 candidates for 15 seats, then 15 seats are contested, but the degree of contestation is 1.
13 of the 20 councils have ended up with a majority of councillors with Independent or non-political descriptions.
Brackla, Cefn Cribwr, Cornelly, Garw Valley, Pencoed and Pyle are under Lab control.
Coychurch Lower (7 seats) has 2 Conservatives, 1 Labour, 1 Independent, 1 No Description and 2 vacancies for co-option.
Independents hold a majority of seats in Bridgend Community and Porthcawl and also in Maesteg, which was once a solid Labour council. The Independents hold 9 seats in Maesteg to Labour’s 8 seats.
Conservatives fielded 2 candidates for 19 seats in Bridgend and 7 candidates for the 18 seats in Porthcawl. Labour fielded 11 candidates in Bridgend and a full set for Maesteg.
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Post by listener on Jun 22, 2022 21:37:15 GMT
In Monmouthshire there was complete reorganisation of communities and their electoral arrangements in 2022.
There are 30 communities, all of which have councils. 27 of them are divided into wards, giving rise to 118 separate elections across the 20 councils.
Five communities have town status, with the council chairman acting as the town mayor, Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow, Monmouth and Usk.
Amongst the 118 separate elections, 17 were contested, 45 attracted the exact number of candidates required, 36 had a shortfall of candidates and 20 attracted no candidates at all, but these included 13 community wards in communities which were nevertheless quorate.
Four communities failed to achieve a quorum, two with only 2 candidates nominated and two which failed the achieve a quorum of one third of the available seats Llanfoist (2 candidates for 13 seats across 3 wards), Monmouth Town Council (5 candidates for 19 seats across the 5 wards), the new community of Skenfrith (2 candidates across 3 wards) and the new community of Whitecastle (3 candidates for 11 seats across the 6 wards).
There were 297 seats available on 5 May, attracting 233 candidates in total. There were 47 Labour, 30 Conservatives, 10 Lib Dems, 1 Plaid Cymru, with the remaining 145 candidates (62%) non-political. These break down as 41 Independents and 104 giving no description at all.
In terms of the 297 seats, 48 seats were filled by election, 153 were filled without a contest, 58 are to be filled by co-option and 38 seats in 15 separate elections in 4 communities were re-advertised under the quorum rules.
Sufficient candidates have now come forward to provide a quorum in all four. Only 1 candidate came forward for the 5 re-advertised vacancies in Skenfrith and only 2 for the 8 re-advertised vacancies in Whitecastle – but this was sufficient to tip them over into a quorum.
The 297 seats available and the 48 contested seats produce a degree of contestation measure of 31, of which 15 are in Abergavenny. What does this mean? If there are 16 candidates for 15 seats, then 15 seats are contested, but the degree of contestation is 1.
25 of the 30 councils have ended up with a majority of councillors with Independent or non-political descriptions.
Abergavenny, Caerwent and Chepstow are under Lab control. Portskewett has a Conservative majority.
Monmouth Town Council (19 seats), after topping up tomorrow with 5 Labour, 2 Independents and 2 No Description, has 7 Labour, 2 Conservatives, 3 Independents, 2 No Description and 5 to be co-opted.
Conservatives fielded 2 candidates for 19 seats in Monmouth, 12 candidates for the 17 seats in Abergavenny and 1 candidate for the 19 seats in Chepstow. Only one of their candidates was elected in Abergavenny.
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Post by listener on Jun 22, 2022 21:40:26 GMT
In Newport City there are 29 communities, but only of 14 have councils. The remaining 15 communities cover the urban area and Caerleon. 5 of the communities are divided into wards, giving rise to 21 separate elections across the 14 councils.
No communities have town status.
Amongst the 21 separate elections, 2 were contested, 4 attracted the exact number of candidates required, 14 had a shortfall of candidates and 1 community ward attracted no candidates at all, but this did not affect the quorum of the council.
2 unwarded communities (both with 7 members) failed to attract sufficient candidates for a quorum – Coedkernew (2 candidates) and Llanvaches (1 candidate)
The vacancies in Llanvaches have been re-advertised for tomorrow (23 June) and 4 additional candidates have come forward, providing a quorum.
I am at a loss to explain what has happened in Coedkernew, where the community council website shows 6 councillors with an advertisement to co-opt the final vacancy. Newport City Council do not appear to have re-advertised the election, so they may have gone ahead and co-opted without a quorum.
There were 130 seats available on 5 May, attracting 80 candidates in total. There were 14 Labour, 5 Conservatives, with the remaining 61 candidates (76%) non-political. These break down as 6 Independents and 55 giving no description at all.
In terms of the 130 seats, 14 seats were filled by election, 63 were filled without a contest, 47 are to be filled by co-option and 6 seats in Llanvaches were re-advertised under the quorum rules for election on 23 June. In fact, Newport City Council re-advertised all 7 seats, although one community councillor had already been returned unopposed on 5 May.
The 130 seats available and the 14 contested seats produce a degree of contestation measure of just 3. What does this mean? If there are 16 candidates for 15 seats, then 15 seats are contested, but the degree of contestation is 1.
12 of the 14 councils have ended up with a majority of councillors with Independent or non-political descriptions.
Rogerstone (15 seats) is under Conservative control (14 Conservatives and 1 Independent). Graig (15 seats) has 4 Conservatives, 3 No Description and 8 for co-option.
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peterl
Green
Monarchic Technocratic Localist
Posts: 8,254
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Post by peterl on Jun 23, 2022 20:43:09 GMT
June 23rd Dorset: Wimborne Town Council - Wimborne Town Ward - 2 seats Winterborne St. Martin Parish Council No nominations received for these. These will be re-run on July 28th. Will be interesting to see if anyone stands this time.
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peterl
Green
Monarchic Technocratic Localist
Posts: 8,254
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Post by peterl on Jun 24, 2022 4:18:52 GMT
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