2003 Richmondshire District Council election

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Map of the results of the 2003 Richmondshire District Council election. Conservatives in blue, independents in light grey, Liberal Democrats in yellow, Richmondshire Independents in white and Social Democratic Party in purple. Richmondshire UK local election 2003 map.svg
Map of the results of the 2003 Richmondshire District Council election. Conservatives in blue, independents in light grey, Liberal Democrats in yellow, Richmondshire Independents in white and Social Democratic Party in purple.

The 2003 Richmondshire District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Richmondshire District Council in North Yorkshire, England. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 1999. [1] The council stayed under no overall control. [2]

Richmondshire District in England

Richmondshire is a local government district of North Yorkshire, England. It covers a large northern area of the Yorkshire Dales including Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, Wensleydale and Coverdale, with the prominent Scots' Dyke and Scotch Corner along the centre. Teesdale lies to the north. With a total area of 1,319 km², it is larger than seven of the English ceremonial counties.

Non-metropolitan district Type of local government district in England

Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially "shire districts", are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a two-tier arrangement.

North Yorkshire County of England

North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan county and the largest ceremonial county in England by area. It is located primarily in the region of Yorkshire and the Humber but partly in the region of North East England. The estimated population of North Yorkshire was 602,300 in mid-2016.

Contents

Background

Before the election the council was run by the independents with support from the Conservatives, while the Liberal Democrats formed the opposition. [3] The independents were divided into two groups after the Richmondshire Independent Group split from the Richmondshire Association of Independent Councillors in 2001. [4]

Conservative Party (UK) Political party in the United Kingdom

The Conservative Party, officially the Conservative and Unionist Party, known informally as the Tories, and historically also known as the Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom. The governing party since 2010, it is the largest in the House of Commons, with 288 Members of Parliament, and also has 234 members of the House of Lords, 4 members of the European Parliament, 31 Members of the Scottish Parliament, 11 members of the Welsh Assembly, 8 members of the London Assembly and 7,445 local councillors.

Liberal Democrats (UK) Political party in the United Kingdom

The Liberal Democrats are a liberal political party in the United Kingdom. Currently led by Jo Swinson, the party has 18 Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, 96 members of the House of Lords, 16 members of the European Parliament, five Members of the Scottish Parliament and one member in each of the Welsh Assembly and the London Assembly. It was in a coalition government with the Conservative Party from 2010 to 2015.

Almost a third of the councillors stood down at the 2003 election, including a former chairperson of the council, Jane Metcalfe, and the Liberal Democrat group leader, Richard Good. [5] Other councillors who stood down included Alison Appleton, Colin Bailey, Grace Buckle, Sylvia Golding, Mike Graham, Terry Jones, Andrea Robson and Nigel Watson. [5]

A Councillor is a member of a local government council.

A total of 56 candidates stood in 2003, with several being elected without opposition, however there were no candidates from the Labour party. [5] The two groups of independents stood against each in several wards including Colburn, Hornby Castle and Melsonby. [5] Meanwhile, the leader of the council, John Blackie, contested the election as a Conservative after having previously led the Richmondshire Association of Independent Councillors. [5]

The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists. The party's platform emphasises greater state intervention, social justice and strengthening workers' rights.

The wards and electoral divisions in the United Kingdom are electoral districts at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. The ward is the primary unit of English electoral geography for civil parishes and borough and district councils, electoral ward is the unit used by Welsh principal councils, while the electoral division is the unit used by English county councils and some unitary authorities. Each ward/division has an average electorate of about 5,500 people, but ward-population counts can vary substantially. As at the end of 2014 there were 9,456 electoral wards/divisions in the UK.

Colburn, North Yorkshire village in United Kingdom

Colburn is a town, suburban area, civil parish and electoral ward in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. It is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Catterick village and has a population of 3,606, rising to 4,860 at the 2011 census.

Election result

The Conservatives became the largest group on the council with 11 councillors, after gaining four seats, but without a majority. [6] Nine independents were elected, a gain of four, while the Liberal Democrats dropped two to have eight councillors. [6]

The council leader John Blackie held his seat in Hawes as a Conservative, while councillors who were defeated included Liberal Democrat Patrick Brennan in Catterick, Richmondshire Independent Helen Grant and Katherine Kerr in Richmond Central. [3] [7] Overall turnout at the election was 37.69%, down from 40.22% in 1999. [8]

Hawes town in North Yorkshire, England

Hawes is a small market town and civil parish in Upper Wensleydale in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England, that was granted its market charter in 1699. Historically in the North Riding of Yorkshire, Hawes is located at the head of Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales; the River Ure runs to the north of the town and is regarded as one of the honeypot tourist attractions of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is known as the home to the Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese.

Catterick, North Yorkshire Village, civil parish and electoral ward in North Yorkshire, England

Catterick is a village, civil parish and electoral ward in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, it is 8.5 miles (13.7 km) north-west of the county town of Northallerton just to the west of the River Swale. It lends its name to nearby Catterick Garrison and the nearby hamlet of Catterick Bridge, the home of Catterick Racecourse where the village Sunday market is held. It lies on the route of the old Roman Road of Dere Street and is the site of the Roman fortification of Cataractonium.

Richmond, North Yorkshire town in North Yorkshire, England

Richmond is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England and the administrative centre of the district of Richmondshire. Historically in the North Riding of Yorkshire, it is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and one of the park's tourist centres. Richmond is the most duplicated UK placename, with 56 occurrences worldwide.

Following the election Yvonne Peacock became leader of the Conservative group, Richard Dunn leader of the Richmondshire Association of Independent Councillors, John Harris leader of the Liberal Democrat group and Paul Cullen leader of the Richmondshire Independent Group. [4] Conservative John Blackie continued as leader of the council, defeating a challenge from the Liberal Democrat group leader John Harris. [9]

Richmondshire local election result 2003 [2] [10]
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Conservative 11+432.429.13,857+0.6%
  Independent 9+426.521.52,853+1.6%
  Liberal Democrat 8-223.527.13,602-16.5%
 Richmondshire Independent Group5-714.718.62,464+18.6%
  SDP 1+12.93.7492-4.3%

Ward results

Addlebrough [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Yvonne Peacockunopposed
Barton [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Campbell Dawson28557.5
Liberal Democrat Amanda Adams21142.5
Majority7414.9
Turnout 49648.8
Bolton Castle [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Wendy Morton38472.7
Liberal Democrat John Weedon14427.3
Majority24045.5
Turnout 52851.7
Brompton on Swale and Scorton (2 seats) [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Michael Heseltine559
Independent James Fryer417
Liberal Democrat Leslie Rowe298
Turnout 1,27437.7
Catterick (2 seats) [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
SDP Anthony Pelton492
Conservative Robert Johnson326
Liberal Democrat Patrick Brennan310
Turnout 1,12837.0
Colburn (3 seats) [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Peter Wood384
Independent William Glover375
Richmondshire Independent GroupLynn Miller323
Richmondshire Independent GroupHelen Grant311
Independent Janet Kirk187
Turnout 1,58030.5
Croft [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Democrat Jane Parlour28051.4
Independent Kenneth Smith26548.6
Majority152.8
Turnout 54553.7
Gilling West [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Richmondshire Independent GroupJohn Cronin26867.0
Conservative John Hartley13233.0
Majority13634.0
Turnout 40041.9
Hawes and High Abbotside [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative John Blackie48787.7
Richmondshire Independent GroupClive Rudd6812.3
Majority41975.5
Turnout 55553.0
Hipswell (2 seats) [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Richmondshire Independent GroupPaul Cullen149
Liberal Democrat Ann Bagley130
Conservative Melva Steckles108
Independent Betty Robertson70
Turnout 45716.7
Hornby Castle [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Richard Dunn29087.3
Richmondshire Independent GroupAndrew Munro4212.7
Majority24874.7
Turnout 33235.3
Leyburn (2 seats) [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative David Morton423
Liberal Democrat Frances Ramsbottom238
Liberal Democrat Kathleen Weedon193
Turnout 85431.3
Lower Wensleydale [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Keith Loadmanunopposed
Melsonby [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent John Gill22656.5
Richmondshire Independent GroupTimothy Place17443.5
Majority5213.0
Turnout 40037.4
Middleham [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Howard Thomasunopposed
Middleton Tyas [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Jill McMullon38075.1
Richmondshire Independent GroupHarold Joicey12624.9
Majority25450.2
Turnout 50649.6
Newsham with Eppleby [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Richmondshire Independent GroupDavid Maudeunopposed
Penhill [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative George Dentunopposed
Reeth and Arkengarthdale [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Oswin Kendallunopposed
Richmond Central (2 seats) [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Democrat Clive World480
Liberal Democrat Sheila Clarke381
Richmondshire Independent GroupKatherine Carr368
Conservative David Johnson323
Turnout 1,55240.1
Richmond East (2 seats) [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Democrat John Harris486
Richmondshire Independent GroupThomas Burrows409
Conservative Iain McDougall408
Liberal Democrat John Robinson342
Turnout 1,64545.6
Richmond West (2 seats) [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Democrat Linda Curranunopposed
Liberal Democrat Stuart Parsonsunopposed
Scotton (2 seats) [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Patricia Middlemiss204
Independent David Leadbeatter150
Liberal Democrat Karin Ecker109
Richmondshire Independent GroupMichael Kerr105
Turnout 56817.8
Swaledale [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Raymond Alderson32773.0
Richmondshire Independent GroupStephen Smethurst12127.0
Majority20646.0
Turnout 44846.6

By-elections between 2003 and 2007

A by-election was held in Gilling West on 2 November 2006 after the resignation of independent councillor John Cronin. [11] The seat was won by independent William Heslop with a majority of 116 votes over Conservative candidate Margaret Turnbull. [11]

Gilling West by-election 2 November 2006 [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent William Heslop25864.5-2.5
Conservative Margaret Turnbull14235.5+2.5
Majority11629.0-5.0
Turnout 40040.4-1.5
Independent hold Swing

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References

  1. ↑ "Local elections". BBC News Online . Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Election results". Financial Times . NewsBank. 2 May 2003. p. 4.
  3. 1 2 Parsley, Steve (2 May 2003). "Conservatives pip Lib Dems to council chamber seats". The Northern Echo . NewsBank. p. 8. ISSN   2043-0442.
  4. 1 2 "New-look to chamber takes shape". Durham County Publications. NewsBank. 15 May 2003.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Parsley, Steve (5 April 2003). "Council facing major changes". The Northern Echo . NewsBank. p. 6. ISSN   2043-0442.
  6. 1 2 "Conservatives 'delighted' by poll results". Durham County Publications. NewsBank. 3 May 2003.
  7. ↑ Burton, Nigel (2 May 2003). "BNP fails to grab foothold in region". The Northern Echo . NewsBank. p. 1. ISSN   2043-0442.
  8. ↑ "District Council Elections". Richmondshire District Council. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "Familiar look to new chiefs". Durham County Publications. NewsBank. 22 May 2003.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 "District Council election" (PDF). Richmondshire District Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 "District Council by-elections results 1973 to 2015" (PDF). Richmondshire District Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
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