Weymouth and Portland Borough Council elections

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Weymouth and Portland Borough Council in Dorset, England existed from 1974 to 2019. One-third of the council was elected each year, followed by one year where there was an election to Dorset County Council instead. The council was abolished and subsumed into Dorset Council in 2019.

Contents

Political control

The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority prior to the district coming into effect the following year. From 1973 until its abolition in 2019 political control of the council was held by the following parties: [1] [2]

Party in controlYears
Labour 1973–1976
Conservative 1976–1980
No overall control 1980–2019

Leadership

The role of mayor was largely ceremonial at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. Until 2016, the council did not formally appoint a leader of the council. Instead, the chair of the management committee represented the council alongside leaders from other councils, and was frequently called the leader in media coverage. [3] [4] In 2016 the chair of the management committee was given the additional title of leader of the council. [5] The chairs of the management committee from 2002 until the council's abolition in 2019 were:

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Anne Thomas [6] [7] [8] Labour 20022004
Brian Ellis [9] Liberal Democrats 20042007
Nigel Reed [10] Conservative 2007May 2008
Mike Goodman Conservative 20082010
Geoff Petherick [11] Conservative 2010May 2011
Mike Goodman [12] Conservative 20112014
Mike Byatt [13] Labour 2014May 2015
Ian Bruce [13] [14] Conservative May 2015May 2016
Jeff Cant [15] [16] Conservative May 201631 Mar 2019

Party representation

DateElectionFull council
Con Lab LD Ind UKIP Gr Con Lab LD Ind UKIP Gr
Jun 200489145––89145––
May 20065232––117135––
Jun 2006By-Election: LD to Con127125––
May 20077131––146115––
Feb 2008Death of councillor146105––
May 20084171––164124––
2008Defection: Ind to Con174123––
2008Defection: LD to Con184113––
Oct 2008Defection: LD to Con194103––
Dec 2009By-Election: Con to Lab185103––
May 20107221––185112––
May 20116321––177102––
May 2011Defection: Con to Ind167103––
May 2012264–––141183––
May 2013By-Election: Con to Lab131283––
May 201445111–1115721–
Mar 2015Defection: Lab to Ind1114731–
May 20159111––1413621–
May 2016174––114126211
Dec 2016Defection: Con to Gr13126212
May 2017By-election: LD to Con14125212
Dec 2017

- May 2018

By-election: Ind to Con

Defection: UKIP to Con

By-election: Gr to Con

16125201

Council elections

Borough result maps

By-elections

1998-2002

Westham North By-Election 4 October 2001
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour 51749.9+19.4
Liberal Democrats 34233.0−14.1
Conservative 17817.2−5.2
Majority 17516.9
Turnout 1,03727.7
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

2002-2006

Wey Valley By-Election 14 October 2004 [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Kevin Brookes49741.3−1.9
Labour 40833.9+1.1
Liberal Democrats 29924.8+0.8
Majority 897.4
Turnout 1,20444.1
Conservative hold Swing

2006-2010

Westham North By-Election 22 June 2006
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ian Bruce 43635.0+11.3
Labour 41233.1−5.2
Liberal Democrats Ray Banham34027.3−10.7
Independent 584.7+4.7
Majority 241.9
Turnout 45.5
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

A by-election was held in Wyke Regis ward on 10 December 2009 following the death of councillor Doug Hollings (Conservative).

Wyke Regis By-Election 10 December 2009 [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Kate Wheller57940.1+3.9
Conservative Helen Glavin48633.7−30.1
Liberal Democrats Trefor Morgan26818.6+18.6
Citizen's Action PartyRichard Denton-White1117.7+7.7
Majority 936.4
Turnout 1,44433.4
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

2010-2014

A by-election was held in Melbombe Regis ward on 16 May 2013 following the death of councillor Peter Farrell (Conservative) in April 2013. [24] Farrell had been elected in May 2012 and so the election was for the period May 2013 to May 2016.

Melbombe Regis By-Election 16 May 2013
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Stewart Pearson279
Conservative Andrew Manvell258
Independent James Williamson204
Liberal Democrats Stephanie Taylor170
Green Jonathan Orrell143
Majority 21
Turnout 1,05821.24
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

2014-2019

A by-election was held in Wey Valley ward on 20 October 2016 following the resignation of Cory Russell (Conservative).

Wey Valley By-Election 20 October 2016
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tony Ferrari47562.3+0.4
Liberal Democrats Robin Vaughan11815.5N/A
Labour Grafton Straker9612.6−9.8
Green James Askew749.7−6.1
Majority 35746.8
Turnout 76427.25
Conservative hold Swing

A by-election was held in Westham East ward on 4 May 2017 following the resignation of councillor Sally Maslin (Liberal Democrats). [25]

Westham East By-Election 4 May 2017
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Mike Byatt294
Liberal Democrats Andreas Scheffler270
Green Caz Dennett260
Labour David Joseph Greenhalf236
Majority 24
Turnout
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

A by-election was held in Tophill East ward on 8 February 2018 following the resignation of councillor David Hawkins (Independent). [26]

Tophill East By-Election 8 February 2018 [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Katharine Garcia36246.9+16.7
Labour Becky Blake35445.9+23.0
Green Sara Harpley567.3−5.3
Majority 81.0
Turnout 772
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

A by-election was held in Tophill West ward on 8 February 2018 following the resignation of councillor Jason Webb (Conservative). [26]

Tophill West By-Election 8 February 2018 [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Kerry Baker51153.8+13.7
Labour Giovanna Lewis35637.5−22.4
Green Carole Timmons828.6+8.6
Majority 15516.3
Turnout 949
Conservative hold Swing

Green councillor Claudia Moore (Weymouth West, elected as a Conservative) resigned from the council on 20 December 2017. [29] The vacancy was originally going to be left to be filled in the scheduled on-third election on 3 May 2018. However, following the government's approval of the Dorset mergers with first elections 2 May 2019, [30] the election was cancelled and the by-election for Weymouth West was called for 3 May 2018. [21]

Weymouth West By-Election 3 May 2018 [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Richard Nickinson55839.3+2.4
Green Val Graves50835.8+16.2
Labour David Greenhalf35424.9−18.7
Majority 503.5
Turnout 1,420
Conservative hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ "Weymouth & Portland". BBC News Online . 19 April 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  2. ↑ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 26 November 2024. (Put "Weymouth & Portland" in search box to see specific results.)
  3. ↑ "Council report, 19 March 2015" (PDF). Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  4. ↑ Lea, Martin (1 June 2011). "Independent Weymouth councillor voted down again". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  5. ↑ "Council minutes, 1 June 2017". Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. June 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  6. ↑ "Cross-party talks to decide on new decision-makers". Dorset Echo. 9 May 2002. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  7. ↑ McSmith, Andy (2 March 2003). "Prescott says he may revive rate-capping". Independent. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  8. ↑ "'Martyr' couple pay council tax". Dorset Echo. 22 April 2004. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  9. ↑ "New mayor welcomes Olympic sail challenge". Dorset Echo. 2 July 2004. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  10. ↑ "Tories gain seats and Labour lose". BBC News. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  11. ↑ Bolado, Catherine (12 May 2011). "Independent decision: Weymouth and Portland Borough Council leader quits Tories". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  12. ↑ Bevins, Trevor (16 October 2018). "Tributes to former council leader Mike Goodman". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Christine James appointed mayor of Weymouth and Portland". Dorset Echo. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  14. ↑ Tollast, Oscar (6 May 2016). "Weymouth and Portland has its first Green Party councillor and Conservatives remain largest party". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  15. ↑ Peace, Alex (19 May 2016). "Richard Kosior officially takes up role as Mayor of Weymouth and Portland". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  16. ↑ Bevins, Trevor (10 March 2019). "Borough council leader Jeff Cant hands over to new Dorset Council". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  17. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Weymouth and Portland (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
  18. ↑ "Weymouth and Portland council". BBC Online . Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  19. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Weymouth and Portland (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  20. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Weymouth and Portland (Electoral Changes) (Amendment) Order 2003. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
  21. 1 2 "Weymouth & Portland area elections and referendums". www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  22. ↑ "Twin council win for Tories". The Guardian . London. 15 October 2004. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  23. ↑ "Red Kate has taken the Wyke Regis seat". Dorset Echo . 11 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  24. ↑ Rachael Burnett (3 April 2013). "Tributes paid to councillor Peter Farrell". Dorset Echo.
  25. ↑ "Weymouth & Portland Borough Council - previous elections". www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  26. 1 2 Boothroyd, David (29 December 2017). "MORE THAN THE SNP CAN BEAR IN BEARSDEN". Local Councils. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  27. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Tophill East Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  28. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Tophill West Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Councillor details - Councillor Claudia Moore". moderngovdcp.dorsetforyou.gov.uk. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  30. ↑ "Local Government Policy: Written statement - HCWS486". UK Parliament. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  31. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Tophill West Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
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