The 2007 West Berkshire Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of West Berkshire Council in Berkshire, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council. [1]
West Berkshire Council is the local authority of West Berkshire in Berkshire, England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. West Berkshire is divided into 30 wards, electing 52 councillors. The council was created by the Local Government Act 1972 as the Newbury District Council and replaced five local authorities: Bradfield Rural District Council, Hungerford Rural District Council, Newbury Borough Council, Newbury Rural District Council and Wantage Rural District Council. On 1 April 1998 it was renamed West Berkshire Council and since then has been a unitary authority, assuming the powers and functions of Berkshire County Council. In the 2015 election the Conservatives won 48 out of 52 seats. The next election to the authority will be in 2019.
Berkshire is one of the home counties in England. It was recognised by the Queen as the Royal County of Berkshire in 1957 because of the presence of Windsor Castle, and letters patent were issued in 1974. Berkshire is a county of historic origin, a ceremonial county and a non-metropolitan county without a county council. The county town is Reading.
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to the west and Scotland to the north-northwest. The Irish Sea lies west of England and the Celtic Sea lies to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south. The country covers five-eighths of the island of Great Britain, which lies in the North Atlantic, and includes over 100 smaller islands, such as the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.
At the last election in 2003 both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats won 26 seats and the Liberal Democrats kept control with the chairman's casting vote. [2] However the Conservatives took control in May 2005 after gaining a seat from the Liberal Democrats at a by-election. [3]
The Liberal Democrats are a liberal political party in the United Kingdom. It is currently led by Vince Cable. They have 11 Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, 96 members of the House of Lords, one member of the European Parliament, five Members of the Scottish Parliament and one member in the Welsh Assembly and London Assembly. At the height of its influence, the party formed a coalition government with the Conservative Party from 2010 to 2015 with its leader Nick Clegg serving as Deputy Prime Minister.
A casting vote is a vote that someone may exercise to resolve a deadlock. A casting vote is typically by the presiding officer of a council, legislative body, committee, etc., and may only be exercised to break a deadlock. Examples of officers who hold casting votes are the Speaker of the British House of Commons and the President of the United States Senate.
The Conservatives increased their majority to 20 seats after gaining seats from the Liberal Democrats. [4] Conservative gains included taking seats in Clay Hill, Falkland and Thatcham Central wards to win 36 seats on the council, but they did lose one seat in Thatcham North to leave the Liberal Democrats on 16 seats. [4] Overall turnout at the election improved to 45%. [4]
Thatcham is a market town in the historic county of Berkshire, England, centred 3 miles (5 km) east of Newbury, 14 miles (24 km) west of Reading and 54 miles west of London. Its population grew rapidly in the second half of the 20th century: from 5,000 in 1951 and 7,500 in 1961 to 22,824 in 2001. During World War II, Thatcham housed one of the biggest Prisoner of War camps in the South, known as camp 1001.
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.
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. Eligibility varies by country, and the voting-eligible population should not be confused with the total adult population. Age and citizenship status are often among the criteria used to determine eligibility, but some countries further restrict eligibility based on sex, race, or religion.
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | 36 | 10 | 1 | +9 | 69.2 | 59.4 | 52,047 | +9.1% | |
Liberal Democrat | 16 | 1 | 10 | -9 | 30.8 | 35.3 | 30,962 | -10.3% | |
Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.2 | 1,966 | -0.9% | |
Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 1,330 | +1.1% | |
Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.9 | 831 | +0.4% | |
BNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 232 | +0.3% | |
UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 224 | +0.3% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Irene Neill | 762 | 79.7 | +9.3 | |
Liberal Democrat | Kath Evans | 194 | 20.3 | -9.3 | |
Majority | 568 | 59.4 | +18.5 | ||
Turnout | 956 | 46.5 | -1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Alan Law | 968 | 83.2 | +27.3 | |
Liberal Democrat | Silvia Boschetto | 195 | 16.8 | -27.3 | |
Majority | 773 | 66.5 | +54.6 | ||
Turnout | 1,163 | 51.2 | -4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Joe Mooney | 1,390 | |||
Conservative | Tony Linden | 1,340 | |||
Conservative | Emma Webster | 1,265 | |||
Labour | Sean Hartney | 509 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Clive Hillman | 486 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Susan Prime | 425 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Paul Pritchard | 357 | |||
Turnout | 5,772 | 34.6 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Graham Pask | 1,340 | |||
Conservative | Quentin Webb | 1,283 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Ben Morgan | 382 | |||
Liberal Democrat | James Cullen | 283 | |||
Turnout | 3,288 | 49.0 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | Royce Longton | 991 | |||
Conservative | Carol Jackson-Doerge | 956 | |||
Conservative | Michael Wright | 946 | |||
Liberal Democrat | John Farrin | 921 | |||
Turnout | 3,814 | 44.9 | |||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Brian Bedwell | 1,507 | |||
Conservative | Peter Argyle | 1,354 | |||
Conservative | Manohar Gopal | 1,254 | |||
Independent | Edmund Savage | 531 | |||
Labour | Glenn Dennis | 504 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Chris Day | 311 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Gina Houghton | 282 | |||
Green | Jacob Sanders | 270 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Mark Thatcher | 197 | |||
Turnout | 6,210 | 34.10 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Hilary Cole | 720 | 82.2 | +13.9 | |
Liberal Democrat | John Steels | 156 | 17.8 | -13.9 | |
Majority | 564 | 64.4 | +27.8 | ||
Turnout | 876 | 46.8 | +9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jeff Beck | 986 | |||
Conservative | Dave Goff | 892 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Phil Barnett | 817 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Pam Taylor | 717 | |||
Labour | Barry Lambert | 88 | |||
Turnout | 3,500 | 38.6 | +4 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat | Swing | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Geoff Findlay | 834 | 69.0 | +13.8 | |
Liberal Democrat | Rod King | 374 | 31.0 | -13.8 | |
Majority | 460 | 38.1 | +27.8 | ||
Turnout | 1,208 | 54.1 | +4.1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Barbara Alexander | 798 | 68.3 | +7.9 | |
Liberal Democrat | Peter Newman | 371 | 31.7 | -7.9 | |
Majority | 427 | 36.5 | +15.7 | ||
Turnout | 1,169 | 52.8 | +7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | George Chandler | 826 | 70.8 | +10.8 | |
Liberal Democrat | Paul Walter | 160 | 13.7 | +13.7 | |
Green | Adrian Hollister | 104 | 8.9 | +8.9 | |
Labour | Yogi Johnston | 77 | 6.6 | -4.4 | |
Majority | 666 | 57.1 | +26.1 | ||
Turnout | 1,167 | 51.7 | +6 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Adrian Edwards | 1,537 | |||
Conservative | Howard Bairstow | 1,510 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Mavis Greenhalgh | 1,070 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Peter Greenhalgh | 1,070 | |||
Labour | Derek Brear | 100 | |||
Turnout | 5,287 | 57.9 | +12 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat | Swing | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | Billy Drummond | 868 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Julian Swift-Hook | 804 | |||
Conservative | Chris Austin | 663 | |||
Conservative | Ken Neal | 621 | |||
Labour | Hannah Cooper | 101 | |||
Turnout | 3,057 | 41.5 | +4 | ||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Paul Hewer | 1,244 | |||
Conservative | David Holtby | 1,189 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Denise Gaines | 924 | |||
Liberal Democrat | James Mole | 821 | |||
Turnout | 4,178 | 49.0 | |||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat | Swing | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Andrew Rowles | 1,224 | |||
Conservative | Anthony Stansfeld | 1,211 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Christopher Doyle | 455 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Ian O'Callaghan | 380 | |||
Turnout | 3,270 | 46.5 | +10 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Graham Jones | 1,514 | |||
Conservative | Gordon Lundie | 1,343 | |||
Liberal Democrat | John Davies | 409 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Joyce Easteal | 350 | |||
Labour | Grahame Murphy | 85 | |||
Turnout | 3,701 | 46.8 | +23 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | Keith Lock | 1,183 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Mollie Lock | 1,063 | |||
Conservative | John Bull | 1,017 | |||
Conservative | Ben Bovill | 928 | |||
Turnout | 4,191 | 54.1 | +15 | ||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | Tony Vickers | 749 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Gwen Mason | 712 | |||
Conservative | John Tristam | 644 | |||
Conservative | Charlie Farrow | 643 | |||
Independent | David Yates | 342 | |||
Independent | Lee Harris | 290 | |||
Turnout | 3,380 | 45.5 | |||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Pamela Bale | 742 | 82.8 | +8.6 | |
Green | Katherine Kennet | 56 | 6.3 | +6.3 | |
Liberal Democrat | Teresa Wareham | 50 | 5.6 | -10.3 | |
Labour | Robert Tutton | 48 | 5.4 | -4.5 | |
Majority | 686 | 76.6 | +18.4 | ||
Turnout | 896 | 41.0 | +5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Tim Metcalfe | 1,272 | |||
Conservative | David Betts | 1,261 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Stephen Bown | 278 | |||
Green | Miriam Kennet | 264 | |||
Labour | Riyad Abboushi | 261 | |||
Liberal Democrat | David Wood | 238 | |||
Turnout | 3,574 | 37.7 | +14 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Paul Bryant | 1,336 | |||
Conservative | Marcus Franks | 1,295 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Chris Hood | 517 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Sam Elliott | 488 | |||
Turnout | 3,636 | 44.2 | +5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Mike Johnston | 1,269 | |||
Conservative | Ieuan Tuck | 1,227 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Malik Azam | 848 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Cheryl McAlinn | 837 | |||
Turnout | 4,181 | 48.9 | +9 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Keith Chopping | 663 | 67.0 | +15.8 | |
Liberal Democrat | James Kerry | 326 | 33.0 | -15.8 | |
Majority | 337 | 34.1 | +31.8 | ||
Turnout | 989 | 50.9 | +7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Richard Crumly | 818 | |||
Conservative | Ellen Crumly | 793 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Patrick Denys | 773 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Alexander Payton | 720 | |||
UKIP | Craig Sandelands | 127 | |||
Green | Volker Heinemann | 110 | |||
Turnout | 3,341 | 39.9 | |||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat | Swing | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | David Rendel | 1,019 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Lee Dillon | 920 | |||
Conservative | Sheila Ellison | 904 | |||
Conservative | Kay Smurthwaite | 854 | |||
BNP | Andy Clasper | 119 | |||
BNP | Jacqui Hunt | 113 | |||
Turnout | 3,929 | 49.7 | |||
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | Owen Jeffery | 898 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Terry Port | 861 | |||
Conservative | Peter Ellison | 817 | |||
Conservative | Sandra Warham | 764 | |||
Turnout | 3,340 | 38.7 | |||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | Keith Woodhams | 960 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Jeff Brooks | 957 | |||
Conservative | Rodney Arnold | 837 | |||
Conservative | James Crumly | 797 | |||
Turnout | 3,551 | 37.2 | |||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | Alan Macro | 445 | 50.9 | +9.5 | |
Conservative | Ian MacFarlane | 300 | 34.3 | +0.5 | |
Labour | Terry Jackson | 102 | 11.7 | -13.0 | |
Green | Nicholas Foster | 27 | 3.1 | +3.1 | |
Majority | 145 | 16.6 | +9.0 | ||
Turnout | 874 | 42.0 | +10 | ||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | Roger Hunneman | 609 | |||
Liberal Democrat | Gabrielle McGarvey | 578 | |||
Conservative | Brian Goodall | 504 | |||
Conservative | Pearl Hancock | 425 | |||
Independent | Philip Parry | 167 | |||
UKIP | David McMahon | 97 | |||
Turnout | 2,380 | 35.1 | +5 | ||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Laszlo Zverko | 460 | 64.4 | +23.7 | |
Liberal Democrat | Sid Sidamparappillai | 163 | 22.8 | -17.3 | |
Labour | Charles Croal | 91 | 12.7 | -6.5 | |
Majority | 297 | 41.6 | +41.0 | ||
Turnout | 714 | 38.7 | +7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | Robert Morgan | 936 | 54.3 | +2.0 | |
Conservative | Dominic Boeck | 787 | 45.7 | -2.0 | |
Majority | 149 | 8.6 | |||
Turnout | 1,723 | 34.0 | -4.7 | ||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing |
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