Harrogate Borough Council elections

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One third of Harrogate Borough Council in North Yorkshire, England was elected each year, followed by one year without election. From the final boundary changes in 2002, 54 councillors were elected from 35 wards. [1] The last elections were held in 2018, ahead of the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council on 31 March 2023. Its functions transferred to North Yorkshire Council. [2] The first elections to the North Yorkshire Council took place on 5 May 2022, when 21 councillors were elected from 21 divisions in the Borough of Harrogate. [3]

Contents

Political control

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control from 1974 until its abolition in 2023 was as follows: [4] [5] [6]

Party in controlYears
Conservative 1974–1990
No overall control 1990–1994
Liberal Democrats 1994–2002
No overall control 2002–2004
Conservative 2004–2006
No overall control 2006–2010
Conservative 2010–2023

Leadership

The leaders of the council from 1985 until the council's abolition in 2023 were:

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Freddie Rotherham [7] Conservative Jan 1985
Alec McCarroll [8] [9] Conservative 1985May 1988
Nigel Kitson [9] [10] Conservative 27 May 1988May 1990
Phil Willis [11] [12] [a] Liberal Democrats May 1990May 1997
Michael Johnston [13] [14] Liberal Democrats May 199711 Oct 2000
Geoff Webber [15] Liberal Democrats 11 Oct 2000May 2003
Mike Gardner [16] [17] Conservative 16 May 2003May 2011
Don Mackenzie [18] [19] Conservative 20 May 201121 May 2012
Anthony Alton [19] [20] Conservative 21 May 201212 Jun 2014
Richard Cooper [21] [22] Conservative 12 Jun 201431 Mar 2023

Council elections

Borough result maps

By-election results

1997-2001

Fountains By-Election 26 June 1997
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats 19654.2−24.0
Conservative 16645.6+45.6
Majority 308.6
Turnout 362
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Ripon East By-Election 26 June 1997
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative 29041.3−3.2
Liberal Democrats 25536.3+36.3
Labour 15722.4−33.1
Majority 355.0
Turnout 70217.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Ripon West By-Election 26 June 1997
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats 46159.9−3.0
Conservative 30940.1+3.0
Majority 15219.8
Turnout 770
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Lower Nidderdale By-Election 30 July 1998
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats 37850.3+12.1
Conservative 35347.0−6.8
Labour 202.7−5.3
Majority 253.3
Turnout 751
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Marston Moor By-Election 4 February 1999
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats 48661.4+24.4
Conservative 27835.1−15.9
Labour 273.4−8.6
Majority 20826.3
Turnout 791
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Pateley Bridge By-Election 24 February 2000
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats 50658.6+2.4
Conservative 34539.9+1.7
Labour 131.5−4.1
Majority 16118.7
Turnout 86443.6
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Newby By-Election 24 February 2000
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative 63945.8−24.9
Liberal Democrats 28520.4+20.4
Independent 28520.4+20.4
Labour 18713.4−16.0
Majority 35425.4
Turnout 1,396
Conservative hold Swing

2001-2005

New Park By-Election 6 May 2004 [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats 91065.4−0.3
Conservative 41730.0+3.1
Independent 332.4+2.4
Labour 312.2−5.3
Majority 49335.4
Turnout 1,39134.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

2005-2010

New Park By-Election 11 September 2008 [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Matthew Webber84361.1−14.2
Conservative Sharon Bentley49135.6+20.9
Labour Andrew Gray453.3+3.3
Majority 35225.5
Turnout 1,37933.7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Bilton By-Election 19 February 2009 [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Clare McKenzie90250.4+1.0
Conservative Sharon Bentley67337.6−6.9
BNP Steven Gill1649.2+3.0
Labour Andrew Gray512.8+2.8
Majority 22912.8
Turnout 1,79042.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Starbeck By-Election 27 August 2009 [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Janet Law88663.4−8.8
Conservative Dennis Pinchen25218.0+5.0
Independent David Rimington17812.7+12.7
Labour Geoff Foxall825.9+0.8
Majority 63445.4
Turnout 1,39831.8
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

2010-2018

Woodfield By-Election 7 January 2010 [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Greta Knight68862.6+4.1
Conservative Heather Adderley24622.4+7.5
BNP Steven Gill928.4−4.1
Labour Daniel Maguire736.6−7.5
Majority 44240.2
Turnout 1,09927.0
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Previous councillor in Woodfield had been elected as a Liberal Democrat and then defected to the Conservatives. [34]

Rossett By-Election 15 November 2012
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats David Siddans80746.3+22.3
Conservative Rebecca Burnett70440.4−24.2
UKIP Salvina Bashforth1277.3+7.3
Labour Patricia Foxall1066.1−5.3
Majority 1037.9
Turnout 1,744
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Bilton By-Election 15 November 2012
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Val Rodgers62346.0+8.8
Conservative Neil Bentley39529.2−16.1
Labour Andrew Gray20815.4+2.1
UKIP David Simister1279.4+9.4
Majority 22816.8
Turnout 1,353
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Hookstone By-Election 17 July 2014 [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Clare Skardon88651.7+9.1
Conservative Phil Headford55132.1−1.9
UKIP Alan Henderson20612.0−4.3
Labour Pat Foxall714.1−3.1
Majority 33519.5
Turnout 1,714
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Washburn By-Election 28 September 2017 [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Victoria Oldham36374.5−0.5
Labour Laura Dinning6112.5−0.9
Green Paul Trewhitt449.0+9.0
Yorkshire Jack Render193.9+3.9
Majority 30262.0
Turnout 487
Conservative hold Swing

2018-2023

Knaresborough Scriven Park By-Election 29 July 2021 [37]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Hannah Gostlow 635 56.6 +19.5
Conservative Jacqueline Renton38434.3−4.1
Labour Sharon-Theresa Calvert918.1−16.4
UKIP Harvey Alexander111.0N/A
Turnout 1,12431.16
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Wathvale By-Election 5 May 2022 [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Sam Green68652.6−13.9
Liberal Democrats Chris Knight32124.6+3.8
Green Hannah Corlett29722.8+22.8
Majority 36528.0
Turnout 1,304
Conservative hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ Described as de facto leader from May 1990 as chair of council's policy and resources committee, before being formally named leader in 1991. [12]
  1. ↑ "Electoral Boundaries". Harrogate Borough Council. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  2. ↑ "The North Yorkshire (Structural Changes) Order 2022". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  3. ↑ "Lib Dems victorious in Harrogate district". The Stray Ferret. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  4. ↑ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Harrogate" in search box to see specific results.)
  5. ↑ "Harrogate". BBC News Online . 19 April 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "Tories stay in overall control". Yorkshire Evening Post . 11 June 2004. ISSN   0963-1496.
  7. ↑ "Rotherham leaked council secrets". Ripon Gazette. 8 February 1985. p. 1. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  8. ↑ O'Brien, John; Parsley, Steve; Spencer, Richard (15 November 1985). "Mayor alone in parking row". Ripon Gazette. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Meet the chairmen". Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale Herald. 27 May 1988. p. 12. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "Mayors who did not sit so pretty". Knaresborough Post. 11 May 1990. p. 7. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  11. ↑ Harcup, Tony (25 May 1990). "Mayor's casting vote sinks Tories". Harrogate Advertiser. p. 1. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  12. 1 2 Stratton, Maggie (13 June 1997). "Willis in Westminster". Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale Herald. pp. 10–11. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "New leader on 'press on' pledge". Knaresborough Post. 16 May 1997. p. 7. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "New leader taking over". Ripon Gazette. 6 October 2000. p. 4. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  15. ↑ Marsh, Pat (15 March 2021). "Eulogy for departed colleague Geoff Webber by Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats". Harrogate Informer. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  16. ↑ "Tories unveil their cabinet". Harrogate Advertiser. 16 May 2003. p. 3. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  17. ↑ "Harrogate local election results 2011". Harrogate Informer. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  18. ↑ "Council minutes, 20 May 2011" (PDF). Harrogate Borough Council. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  19. 1 2 "Council minutes, 21 May 2012" (PDF). Harrogate Borough Council. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  20. ↑ "Harrogate Borough Council set to appoint new Leader". Harrogate Informer. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  21. ↑ "Council minutes, 12 June 2014" (PDF). Harrogate Borough Council. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  22. ↑ Chalmers, Graham (21 March 2023). "Interview: No regrets from Harrogate council leader as he prepares to step down in council's final days". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  23. ↑ The Borough of Harrogate (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979
  24. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire (County and District Boundaries) Order 1991. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
  25. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire (County Boundaries) Order 1992. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
  26. ↑ "Harrogate". BBC News Online . Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  27. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Harrogate (Electoral Changes) Order 2000. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  28. ↑ "The Harrogate (Electoral Changes) Order 2017", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2017/477, retrieved 20 July 2024
  29. ↑ "Tories make byelection gains". guardian.co.uk . London. 7 May 2004. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  30. ↑ "New Park by-election - Lib Dem win". Harrogate Advertiser. 12 September 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  31. ↑ "Bilton by-election result announced". Harrogate Advertiser. 19 February 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  32. ↑ "Starbeck by-election result revealed". Harrogate Advertiser. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  33. ↑ "Woodfield by-election - Results". Nidderdale Herald. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  34. ↑ Mead, Chris (8 January 2010). "Tories lose majority in Harrogate". The Independent . London. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  35. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Hookstone Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  36. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Washburn Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  37. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Knaresborough Scriven Park Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  38. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Wathvale Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
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