By-Election - 30th August 2012

[Khunanup]

Aug 31, 2012 11:38:45 GMT @trident said:

The raw number of votes for Labour in this by-election is particularly impressive - up by about 80% since May, and 160 votes above the previous high. Especially so when you consider that it took place at the tail end of the holiday season. I wonder why the turnout was so much higher this time?

To (slightly amended) quote yourself, 'I imagine that Labour activists from around the country will be flocking to Bridgend to see how Bridgend Labour did it.' as even in the best of time, Labour tends to struggle with turnout. To get that sort of turnout in that sort of area (higher than anywhere in Portsmouth for example in May) is brilliant.

[listener]

Here is some background to the by-election in the Congleton East ward of Congleton Town Council in Cheshire East unitary authority.

Congleton Town Council comprises 20 members elected from two wards – Congleton East (10) and Congleton West (10).

The town wards were redrawn as part of the electoral review of Cheshire East unitary authority and came into effect on 5 May 2011. At the town council elections on 3 May 2007, administered by the previous Congleton Borough Council, Congleton Town Council comprised 20 members elected from six wards, so the 2007 results are not comparable.

The council strengths were:
Elections on 3 May 2007: Con 16, Lab 2, Lib Dem 2
Elections on 5 May 2011: Con 17, The Independent Voice of Congleton 3
30 August 2012, following resignations, defections and co-options:
Con 16, The Independent Voice of Congleton 1, Ind 1, UKIP 1, Lib Dem 1

The result in Congleton East ward on 5 May 2011 was:
Con 2027/1889/1799/1787/1748/1710/1644/1602/1583/1576,
Lab 1484/1311/1207/1135/1082,
The Independent Voice of Congleton 1195/1118/1048
Elected: Con 10

It was reported that Neville Price, a former Conservative leader of Cheshire County Council, who had defected to UKIP in February 2010 and then stood successfully in Congleton West for The Independent Voice of Congleton, was now sitting as an Independent.

On 22 September 2011, it was reported that Michael Hutton, elected for The Independent Voice of Congleton in Congleton West, had joined UKIP.

A vacancy arose in Congleton West ward following the death of David Martin (Con), who was the Town Mayor, after a short battle with cancer, reported on 23 December 2011. After the Notice of Vacancy was published, there was no call for an election. Consequently the Town Council, on 15 March 2012, co-opted Denis Murphy, a former Town Mayor and Lib Dem, who had lost his seat in Congleton West ward in 2011.

A vacancy arose in Congleton East ward following the resignation of Matthew Carey (Con) on 8 March, in view of his forthcoming permanent relocation to Switzerland by his company Bosch. After the Notice of Vacancy was published, there was no call for an election. Consequently the Town Council, on 31 May 2012, co-opted Paul Bates, who had been an unsuccessful candidate for The Independent Voice of Congleton in Congleton East in 2011, but who is shown on the website as Con.

The by-election in Congleton East on 30 August 2012 was caused by the resignation of David Fletcher (Con), reported on 21 June 2012.

Result of the Congleton East by-election (30 August 2012):
Con 614, Lab 533, UKIP 524, Lib Dem 340
Con hold

[listener]

The result in the Iver Heath ward of Iver Parish in South Bucks District

Ind 397, Con 314
Ind gain from Con

The council make-up is now: Con 7, Past Parish Councillors 3, No Description 2, Ind 2