Knutsford Town Council

Last updated

Knutsford Town Council
Whole council elected every four years
Knutsford Town Council Coat of Arms.png
Coat of arms
Type
Type
History
Founded1974
Preceded byKnutsford Urban District Council
Leadership
Town Mayor
Cllr Colin Banks
Deputy Mayor
Cllr James McCulloch
Town Clerk
Adam Keppel-Green FSLCC
Structure
Seats15 councillors [1]
Independent
9 / 15
6 / 15
Elections
Last election
2023
Next election
2027
Motto
Looking to the Past, the Present and the Future
Meeting place
Knutsford Council Offices
Website
www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

Knutsford Town Council is the town council for the Cheshire Market Town of Knutsford. It was established in 1974 as a successor council to the Knutsford Urban District Council. The last full council elections were held in May 2023, four wards were uncontested whilst a poll was held in the fifth. The elections saw the Conservatives lose control of the council with 10 Independent councillors elected and five Conservatives. The council is split into five wards, Nether (3), Norbury Booths (3), St John's Wood (3), Cross Town (3) and Bexton and Town Centre (3). [1]

Contents

In 2021, Town Clerk to Knutsford Town Council, Adam Keppel-Green, was named Clerk of the Year in the NALC Star Council Awards. [2]

Precursor

The Knutsford Urban District Council was an Urban District Council for the town of Knutsford, Cheshire from 1895 to 1974. [3] It was established in 1895 following the establishment and dissolution of parish councils created under the Local Government Act 1894 for Nether Knutsford and Over Knutsford. [4] The Urban District Council was dissolved in 1974 upon the creation of the Knutsford Town Council.

Powers and functions

The Town Council derives the bulk of its powers from the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent legislation. The Council adopted the General Power of Competence in 2013 [5] giving it a greater range of powers in line with the Localism Act 2011. The Town Council is a Market Authority, operating an Indoor Market Hall and licensing other markets within its boundary, including a monthly Makers' Market of artisan and local producers. The Town Council operates public toilets, a cemetery and chapel, and Allotments and is seeking to take ownership of the Council Offices and certain open spaces from Cheshire East Council. The Town Council delivers a programme of community events and undertakes a range of initiatives to support the town centre. [6]

Town Mayor

At its inception the newly formed Town Council resolved that the Chairman be styled Town Mayor. [7] The Mayor is elected annually at the Annual Council Meeting in May. The incumbent is Cllr Mike Houghton who took office in May 2022. The Mayor acts a Leader/Chairman of the Town Council and also undertakes an important ambassadorial role, attending community events, opening shops and businesses and acting as a representative of the town in neighbouring areas. The Mayor also hosts a number of fundraising events throughout the year raising money for chosen charities.

Elections

2023 Election

Elections are due to be held on 4 May 2023 for the four wards of the Town Council on the same day as elections to Cheshire East Council. These are the first elections following a community governance review which changes the town boundary and modifies the number of wards. [8] Four wards were uncontested returning councillors unopposed, Cross Town ward is contested and a poll will be held on 4 May 2023. The election sees the end of a Conservative majority. [9]

Bexton and Town Centre Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Stewart Gardinerunopposed
Independent April Johnsonunopposed
Independent Gus Watsonunopposed
Cross Town Ward (3 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative Peter Coan 393 23.25%
Independent Lesley Dalzell 473 27.99%
Independent Rex Mears 484 28.64%
Conservative Tim Regan34020.12%

 

Nether Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Bryan Hartleyunopposed
Independent Scott Loweunopposed
Independent Matthew Woodunopposed

 

Norbury Booths Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Christopher Grayunopposed
Conservative Matthew Robertsonunopposed
Independent Su Russellunopposed

 

St John’s Wood Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Colin Banksunopposed
Independent James McCullochunopposed
Conservative Jennifer Forrestunopposed

By-Elections 2019-2023

Two by-elections were held in May 2021. [10] A by-election for Nether Ward was triggered in April 2020 following the resignation of Katherine Fletcher who had been elected as an MP in December 2019 whilst a by-election for Bexton Ward was triggered following the death of Cllr Barbara Hamilton Coan in November 2020. Both elections had been on hold until May 2021 due to the moratorium on elections under the Coronavirus Act 2020. In February 2023, Cllr Jan Nicholson resigned as Deputy Town Mayor and councillor, the vacancy was left unfilled until the May 2023 elections. [11]

Bexton Ward - By-election 2021
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Amy Rosalind Hobson39448.28
Conservative Millie Morris422 elected51.72
Nether Ward - By-election 2021
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Annie Greer31937.09
Independent Scott Lowe379 elected44.07
Liberal Democrats Bill Tenger16218.84

2019 Election

Elections were held for all four wards in May 2019. All elections were uncontested and one vacancy was left on Over Ward which was filled by co-option with Conservative Elizabeth Beswick.

Bexton Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Barbara Hamilton Coanunopposed
Conservative Mike Houghtonunopposed
Conservative James Powerunopposed
Nether Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Katherine Fletcher unopposed
Conservative Christopher Grayunopposed
Conservative Stewart Gardinerunopposed
Norbury Booths Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Quentin Abelunopposed
Conservative Jan Nicholsonunopposed
Conservative Matthew Robertsonunopposed
Over Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Peter Coanunopposed
Independent Lesley Dalzellunopposed
Conservative Neil Forbesunopposed
Conservative James McCullochunopposed
Independent Andrew Malloyunopposed
Uncontested

By-Elections 2015-2019

A by-election was held for Norbury Booths ward on 5 April 2018 following the resignation of incumbent Independent Councillor Charlotte Greenstein [12]

Norbruy Booths Ward - By-election 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Quentin Abel23332.15
Conservative Elizabeth Beswick496 elected67.85

A by-election was held for Over ward on 4 May 2017 following the resignation of incumbent Independent Councillor Yvonne Bancroft [13]

Over Ward - By-election 2017
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Rebecca O’Rourke36430.30
Labour David Stephenson30525.40
Conservative Jon Wells Bradshaw532 elected44.30

2015 Election

Elections were held on 7 May 2015 for the four wards of the Town Council on the same day as elections to Cheshire East Council and Tatton (UK Parliament constituency) Parliamentary seat. Bexton Ward was not contested with the three candidates being elected unopposed. Nether Ward ended in a dead heat between two candidates, settled by the drawing of lots.

Nether Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Christopher Gray690 elected24.25
Conservative Stewart Gardiner855 elected30.05
Conservative James Power650 elected22.85
Independent Julie Tempest65022.85
Norbury Booths Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Charlotte Greenstein802 elected23.55
Conservative Janet Nicholson970 elected28.48
Conservative Hayley Wells-Bradshaw870 elected25.54
Conservative Jon Wells-Bradshaw76422.43
Bexton Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tony Deanunopposed
Conservative Christine Grayunopposed
Conservative Simon Hutchenceunopposed
Over Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Yvonne Bancroft1209 elected15.70
Conservative Peter Coan886 elected11.51
Conservative Jonathan Farber905 elected11.75
Conservative Neil Forbes921 elected11.96
Conservative Jane Froehlich81910.64
Conservative Julian Goodrich871 elected11.31
Conservative Michael Houghton81110.53
Independent Andrew Malloy1278 elected16.60

By-Elections 2011-2015

A by-election was held for Nether Ward on 13 November 2014 following the death of incumbent Conservative Councillor, Clive Nicholson. [14]

Nether Ward - By-election 2014
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Christopher Gray271 elected55.96
Independent Julie Tempest16032.45
Labour Graeme Webster6212.57

A by-election was held for Over Ward on 7 February following the resignation of incumbent Conservative Councillor Bernadette Emmett. [15]

Over Ward - By-election 2013
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Yvonne Bancroft368 elected50.69
Conservative Paul Hamilton25835.54
UKIP Gerald Norden10013.77

2011 Election

Elections were held on 5 May 2011. Both Norbury Booths and Nether Wards were uncontested, returning three Conservative councillors each.

Bexton Ward 2011
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Caroline Aldhouse34119.92
Liberal Democrats Francis Aldhouse33819.74
Liberal Democrats Barbara Austin45426.52
Conservative Tony Dean579 elected33.82
Conservative Michael Houghton568 elected33.18
Conservative Simon Hutchence501 elected29.26
Bexton Ward 2011
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Barbara Coan686 elected11.49
Conservative Peter Coan691 elected11.58
Conservative Bernadette Emmett771 elected12.92
Conservative Neil Forbes696 elected11.66
Conservative Julian Goodrich698 elected11.69
Independent David Heffernan64510.81
Liberal Democrats Barbara Kay4777.99
Independent Andrew Malloy665 elected11.14
Conservative Charles Mountain64010.72
Nether Ward 2011
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Vivien Daviesunopposed
Conservative Stewart Gardinerunopposed
Conservative Clive Nicholsonunopposed
Norbury Booths Ward 2011
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gary Lashamunopposed
Conservative Janet Nicholsonunopposed
Conservative Peter Raynesunopposed

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References

  1. 1 2 "2023 Election Results « Knutsford Town Council". 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "NALC announces the Star Council Awards 2021 winners".
  3. ↑ "History of the Council | Knutsford Town Council".
  4. ↑ F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 23.
  5. ↑ "Agendas & Minutes « Knutsford Town Council". Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Current Projects « Knutsford Town Council". Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Town Mayor | Knutsford Town Council".
  8. ↑ "Changes to Town Council wards | Knutsford Town Council". March 2023.
  9. ↑ "Parish and Town Councils Election May 2023 - Kettleshulme to Nantwich".
  10. ↑ "New Knutsford councillors raring to go after election victory". 10 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "By-Election Results | Knutsford Town Council". 9 May 2021..
  12. ↑ "Norbury Booths By-Election Results – Knutsford Town Council". Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "Over ward by-election results – Knutsford Town Council". Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  14. ↑ "Nether Ward Election Results « Knutsford Town Council". Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  15. ↑ "Knutsford Town Council Election- over Ward". Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
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