West Dorset District Council elections

Last updated

South Walks House in Dorchester, headquarters of West Dorset District Council West Dorset District Council Offices (geograph 4179227).jpg
South Walks House in Dorchester, headquarters of West Dorset District Council

West Dorset District Council in Dorset, England existed from 1974 to 2019. 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]

PartyTenure
Independent 1973–1987
No overall control 1987–2003
Conservative 2003–2019

Leadership

The leaders of the council from 2001 until the council's abolition in 2019 were: [2]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Gwyn Pritchard [3] Conservative May 2001May 2004
Robert Gould [4] Conservative May 20048 Jan 2015
Tony Alford Conservative 8 Jan 201531 Mar 2019

Council elections

Year Conservative Liberal Democrats Independent Notes
2003 [7] 251211(New ward boundaries) [8]
2007 [9] 26166
2011 [1] 32115
2015 [10] 30120(New ward boundaries) [11]

District result maps

By-election results

By-elections occur when seats become vacant between council elections. Below is a summary of by-elections from 1997 to 2019; [12] full by-election results can be found by clicking on the by-election name.

By-electionDateIncumbent partyWinning party
Thorncombe by-election 17 April 1997 Conservative Conservative
Bridport South by-election (2 seats)1 May 1997 Labour Labour
Independent Conservative
Yetminster by-election 1 May 1997 Liberal Democrats Conservative
Chickerell by-election 10 July 1997 Conservative Liberal Democrats
Cam Vale by-election 2 May 2013 Conservative Conservative
Piddle Valley by-election 13 April 2017 Conservative Conservative
Lyme Regis & Charmouth by-election 14 September 2017 Conservative Independent
Bridport North by-election 22 February 2018 Liberal Democrats Conservative

Related Research Articles

Bournemouth Borough Council was the local authority for Bournemouth in Dorset, England between 1974 and 2019. Prior to 1974 Bournemouth had been a county borough within Hampshire. Under the Local Government Act 1972 Bournemouth became a non-metropolitan district within Dorset on 1 April 1974, with the same boundaries as the former county borough. On 1 April 1997 it became a unitary authority, taking over the functions previously provided for the area by Dorset County Council. In 2019 the council was abolished, merging with Christchurch and Poole to form Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Chestler-le-Street District Council elections were generally held every four years between the council's creation in 1974 and its abolition in 2009. Chester-le-Street was a non-metropolitan district in County Durham, England. On 1 April 2009 the council's functions passed to Durham County Council, which became a unitary authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christchurch Borough Council elections</span> Local government elections in Dorset, England

Christchurch Borough Council in Dorset, England, existed from 1974 to 2019, when it was abolished and subsumed into Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

Northampton Borough Council was the local authority for Northampton in Northamptonshire, England and was elected every four years. From the last boundary changes in 1999, 47 councillors were elected from 23 wards. The borough council was abolished in 2021, with the area becoming part of West Northamptonshire.

Durham City Council elections were generally held every four years between the reforms of 1974 and the council's abolition in 2009. Durham was a non-metropolitan district in County Durham, England. On 1 April 2009 the council's functions passed to Durham County Council, which became a unitary authority.

Wealden District Council in East Sussex, England is elected every four years. From 2003 until the election in 2019, 55 councillors were elected from 35 wards. From 2019, 45 councillors have been elected from 41 wards.

West Berkshire Council is the local authority for West Berkshire, a unitary authority in Berkshire, England. Until 1 April 1998 it was a non-metropolitan district called Newbury.

Taunton Deane Borough Council in Somerset, England was elected every four years. The first elections to the council were held in 1973, ahead of it coming into being in 1974. The last election was held in 2015. The council was abolished in 2019 when the district merged with neighbouring West Somerset district to become Somerset West and Taunton.

Purbeck District Council in Dorset, England existed from 1973 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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Dorset District Council elections</span> Local government elections in Dorset, England

North Dorset District Council in Dorset, England existed from 1974 to 2019, when it was abolished and subsumed into Dorset Council.

Kennet was a non-metropolitan district in Wiltshire, England. It was abolished on 1 April 2009 and replaced by Wiltshire Council.

Poole was a unitary authority in Dorset, England from 1997 to 2019. From 1974 until 1 April 1997 it was a non-metropolitan district. In 2019 it was abolished and subsumed into Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Dorset District Council elections</span> Local government elections in Dorset, England

East Dorset District Council in Dorset, England existed from 1973 to 2019, when it was abolished and subsumed into Dorset Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Somerset District Council elections</span> Local government elections in Somerset, England

West Somerset District Council in Somerset, England was elected every four years. The first elections to the council were held in 1973, ahead of it coming into being in 1974. The last election was held in 2015. The council was abolished in 2019 when the district merged with neighbouring Taunton Deane district to become Somerset West and Taunton. West Somerset had 28 councillors following its final boundary changes in 2011, 28 elected from 16 wards.

South Northamptonshire District Council in Northamptonshire, England was elected every four years. After the last boundary changes in 2007, 42 councillors were elected from 27 wards. The council was abolished in 2021, with the area becoming part of West Northamptonshire.

One third of Havant Borough Council in Hampshire, England is elected each year, followed by one year without election. Since the last boundary changes in 2002, 38 councillors have been elected from 14 wards.

Salisbury District Council was the local authority for the non-metropolitan district of Salisbury, created in 1974 in Wiltshire, England. It was abolished on 1 April 2009 and replaced by Wiltshire Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Dorset County Council election</span> 2017 UK local government election

The 2017 Dorset County Council election took place on 4 May 2017 as part of the 2017 local elections in the United Kingdom. All 46 councillors were elected from 40 electoral divisions, which returned either one or two county councillors each by first-past-the-post voting for a four-year term of office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 West Dorset District Council election</span> Election in England

The 2003 West Dorset District Council election was held on Thursday 1 May 2003 to elect councillors to West Dorset District Council in England. It took place on the same day as other district council elections in the United Kingdom. The entire council was up for election. Following boundary changes the number of wards were reduced by five, and the number of seats reduced from 55 to 48.

References

  1. 1 2 "England council elections". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  2. "Council minutes". Dorset Council. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  3. "Gwyn voted leader of council". Dorset Echo. 14 May 2001. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  4. "Admiral's parting shot". Dorset Echo. 14 May 2004. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  5. The District of West Dorset (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980
  6. legislation.gov.uk - The Dorset and Somerset (County Boundaries) Order 1991. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
  7. "West Dorset". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  8. legislation.gov.uk - The District of West Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  9. "West Dorset". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  10. "Results of the election to West Dorset District Council 2015". dorsetforyou.com. West Dorset District Council. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  11. legislation.gov.uk - The West Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2015. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
  12. "Local Authority Byelection Results" . Retrieved 8 May 2016.