By-elections - 4th October

[listener]

Here is some background to the by-election in the Evendons East ward of Wokingham Town Council in the Borough of Wokingham (unitary authority).

Wokingham Town Council comprises 25 members elected from eight wards – Emmbrook North (3), Emmbrook South (3), Evendons East (3), Evendons West (5), Norreys East (4), Norreys West (3), Wescott East (2) and Wescott West (2).

The council strengths were:
Elections on 3 May 2007: Con 25
Elections on 5 May 2011: Con 25

In 2007, there was a ninth ward Sandy Bottom with one member and Norreys East had only three members – so the total membership was still 25. Sandy Bottom was transferred to the neighbouring parish of Barkham in 2010.

The result in Evendons East ward on 3 May 2007 was:
Con 522/463/447, Lib Dem 313, UKIP 145, Lab 122
Elected: Con 3

The result in Evendons East ward on 5 May 2011 was:
Con 678/519/512, Lib Dem 376, Lab 226
Elected: Con 3

The by-election on 4 October 2012 is caused by the resignation of Philip Houldsworth (Con), who stood down from the town council to concentrate on his borough work and for family reasons.

The candidates are Con and Lib Dem.

[listener]

Here is some background to the by-election in the Ash Lea ward of Cotgrave Town Council in the Borough of Rushcliffe (Nottinghamshire).

Cotgrave Town Council comprises 16 members elected from two wards – Ash Lea (12) and Manor (4).

The council strengths were:
Elections on 3 May 2007: Con 8, Lab 7, Ind 1
Elections on 5 May 2011: No Description 8, Non Political Description 5, Lab 2, Con 1
(Only three candidates were nominated for the four seats in Manor ward. The final vacancy was filled by a by-election on 10 August 2011, which was won by Vance Wood (Con)).
Current composition of the council: No Description 6, Non Political Description 5, Lab 3, Con 1, Vacant 1

On 5 May 2011 Cotgrave elected 3 Conservatives to Rushcliffe Borough Council. Two of these candidates were also elected to Cotgrave Town Council as candidates without description (one in each ward) and the third stood unsuccessfully in Ash Lea ward without description.

On 13 October 2011, Craig Chewings (Lab) gained a seat in Ash Lea ward following the resignation of Penny Bunn (no description), due to health problems.

On 22 March 2012, Matt Gable (Lab) was elected unopposed in Ash Lea ward, following the resignation of Jane Bennett (no description) on 3 January 2012.

The result in Ash Lea ward on 3 May 2007 was:
Con 629/623/559/544, Lab 580/555/544/538/498/486/481/480,
Ind 518/396/379/371/361/342/336/328/327
Elected: Con 4, Lab 7, Ind 1

The result in Ash Lea ward on 5 May 2011 was:
Lab 757/648, No Description 597/576/493/492/463/455/454/453/383/340, Non Political Description 596/557/555/504/415
Elected: Lab 2, No Description 6, Non Political Description 4

The result of the Ash Lea by-election on 13 October 2011 was:
Lab 437, Con 283, Ind 111

The by-election on 4 October 2012 is caused by the resignation of Victor Allison (Lab), because of ill health.

The candidates are Lab, 2 No Description candidates and a Con.