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The Lincolnshire poached

Lindsey Cawrey, elected as a Labour county councillor from Lincoln Boultham ward to Lincolnshire county council, has announced that she is joining the Conservatives. Meanwhile a British National Party candidate took the seat in Fenside ward of Boston borough council from the Boston Bypass Independents.

The Liberal Democrats won back their seat in North Road ward of Darlington borough council where the incumbent councillor had been expelled from the party for signing the nomination papers for a British National Party candidate.

The Conservatives held Markfield, Stanton and Field Head ward on Hinckley and Bosworth district council and Coronation ward on Wokingham borough council.

Forthcoming byelections

Here are the vacancies and forthcoming byelections:

20 November

• South Cambridgeshire district council: Teversham ward, after the resignation of Caroline Hunt (Conservative). Term ends 2011.

• Tower Hamlets borough council: Mile End East ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Rupert Bawden. Term ends 2010.

27 November

• Cambridgeshire county council: Hardwick division, after Denzil Baldwin of the Conservatives was disqualified for non-attendance. Term ends June 2009.

• Devon county council: Exminster and Kenton division, after the sudden death of Brian Berman (Liberal Democrat). Term ends June 2009.
• Teignbridge district council: Kenn Valley ward, also after the death of Brian Berman (Liberal Democrat). Term ends 2011.
• Walsall borough council: Birchills and Leamore ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Jonathan Phillips. Term ends 2010.

4 December

• Bradford city council: Bingley ward, caused by the resignation of Conservative councillor and former cabinet member for education Colin Gill. Term ends 2012.

• Braintree district council: Three Colnes ward, after the resignation of Rosemary O’Shea of the Conservatives who is moving to Scotland. Term ends 2011.
• Colchester borough council: Birch and Winstree ward, after the death of Peter Crowe who was the incumbent Mayor of the borough. Crowe was elected as a Conservative. Term ends 2011.
• Rugby borough council: Avon and Swift ward, after the death of Hazel Bell (Conservative). Term ends 2010.
• Waltham Forest borough council: Hale End and Highams Park ward, a double vacancy after the death of John Beanse and resignation of Noel Penstone, both of the Liberal Democrats. Term ends 2010.

11 December

• East Ayrshire council: Ballochmyle ward, after the resignation of former Labour group leader Eric Jackson. Term ends 2011.

• Fenland district council: Parsons Drove and Wisbech St Mary ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Phil Wait in protest at a licensing decision. Term ends 2011.
• Hillingdon borough council: Northwood ward, after the disqualification of Ian Oakley who was given an 18-week suspended sentence for harassing members of the Liberal Democrats in Watford where he had been selected as Conservative candidate. Oakley had been expelled from the Conservatives and was sitting on the council as an Independent. Term ends 2010.
• Corporation of London: Aldgate ward, after the resignation of John Holland. Should the nomination be opposed at the wardmote, the poll will be on the following day. Term ends March 2009.
• Newark and Sherwood district council: Clipstone ward, after the death of Len Sprigg who was deputy leader of the Independent group. Term ends 2011.
• North Ayrshire council: Kilbirnie and Beith ward, after the death of SNP councillor Craig Taylor. Term ends 2012.

18 December

• Isle of Wight council: Newchurch division, after the death of Brian Mosdell who was sitting as an Independent after leaving the Conservative group. Term ends June 2009.

• North West Leicestershire district council: Ibstock and Heather ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Ted Blunt. Term ends 2011.
• Rhondda Cynon Taff county borough council: Glyncoch ward, after the death of Labour councillor Judith Burford. Term ends 2012.

Undated

• Bexley borough council: East Wickham ward, after the death of Alf Catterall (Conservative). Term ends 2010.

• East Devon district council: Honiton St Michaels ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Chris Tratt. Term ends 2011.
• Enfield borough council: Bush Hill Park ward, after the death of veteran Conservative councillor John Jackson. Term ends 2010.
• Haringey borough council: Seven Sisters ward, after the death of veteran Labour councillor Fred Knight. Term ends 2010.
• Mid Sussex district council: Bentswood ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Trevor Fisher. Term ends 2011.
• Newcastle-on-Tyne city council: Fenham ward, after the death of Labour councillor Terry Cooney, who was Lord Mayor in 1989-90. Term ends 2011.
• North Somerset council: Clarence and Uphill ward, after the resignation of former Conservative council leader Mike Roe. Term ends 2011.
• Reigate and Banstead borough council: Tadworth and Walton ward, after the death of Conservative former Mayor and Deputy Leader Michael Buttery. Term ends 2011.
• South Northamptonshire district council: Grange Park ward, after the resignation of Peter O’Leary (Conservative). Term ends 2011.
• Torridge district council: Hartland and Bradworthy ward, after the death of Bill Pillman who was an Independent councillor. Term ends 2011.
• Wolverhampton city council: Heath Town ward, after the death of Labour councillor Les Turner. Term ends 2011.
• Wrexham county borough council: Rossett ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Robert Shepherd. Term ends 2012.

Vacancies which will not be filled

The Local Elections (Ordinary Day of Elections in 2009) Order 2008 (SI 2008 No. 2857) provides that any vacancy notified after 7 November 2008 in a council due to have elections in 2009, or to be abolished will not be filled. These council vacancies will therefore not see a byelection.

• Crewe and Nantwich borough council: Wellington ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Keith Healey. This vacancy means that the Conservatives lose their overall majority on the council in its last few months.

• Cumbria county council: Kells and Sandwith division, after the death of Labour councillor Joe McAllister.
• Kent county council: Maidstone Rural East division, after the death of former council and Local Government Association leader Sandy Bruce-Lockhart (Conservative).
• Restormel borough council: Bethel ward, after the death of Roy Gill of the Liberal Democrats.
• Salisbury district council: St Martin and Milford ward, after the death of Labour councillor Simon Howarth.
• Sedgefield district council: Sedgefield ward, after the death of Independent councillor Jim Wayman.
• Shewsbury and Atcham borough council: Condover ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Tom Hendry.
• Suffolk county council: Felixstowe Coastal division, after the death of the Council Chairman, Ann Rodwell. She was serving as a Conservative councillor.

Labour goes Forth

On a night marked by its success in a Parliamentary byelection in Scotland, the Labour Party also kept two vulnerable council seats in the main Scottish cities. The first was in Forth ward, Edinburgh city council, and the second was Andy Muir’s victory in Bailieston ward of Glasgow city council.

An Independent candidate took Whissendine ward on Rutland county council from the Conservatives. The Conservatives did manage to keep Valley ward on Waltham Forest borough council.

There is one party switch to report: Denise Summers, elected as a Liberal Democrat in Aylesbury South division of Buckinghamshire county council, has joined the Conservatives.

Forthcoming byelections

Here are the vacancies and forthcoming byelections:

13 November

• Boston borough council: Fenside ward, after the resignation of Guy Curley who was a member of the Boston Bypass Independents. Term ends 2011.

• Darlington borough council: North Road ward, after independent councillor Stephen Jones was disqualified for not attending a meeting for six months. He was leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council but was expelled from the party over signing the nomination papers for a British National Party candidate. Term ends 2011.
• Hinckley and Bosworth district council: Markfield, Stanton and Field Head ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor John Cort. Term ends 2011.
• Wokingham borough council: Coronation ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Patti Sherratt who has moved to Cyprus. Term ends 2011.

20 November

• South Cambridgeshire district council: Teversham ward, after the resignation of Caroline Hunt (Conservative). Term ends 2011.

• Tower Hamlets borough council: Mile End East ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Rupert Bawden. Term ends 2010.

27 November

• Cambridgeshire county council: Hardwick division, after Denzil Baldwin of the Conservatives was disqualified for non-attendance. Term ends June 2009.

• Devon county council: Exminster and Kenton division, after the sudden death of Brian Berman (Liberal Democrat). Term ends June 2009.
• Teignbridge district council: Kenn Valley ward, also after the death of Brian Berman (Liberal Democrat). Term ends 2011.
• Walsall borough council: Birchills and Leamore ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Jonathan Phillips. Term ends 2010.

4 December

• Bradford city council: Bingley ward, caused by the resignation of Conservative councillor and former cabinet member for education Colin Gill. Term ends 2012.

• Braintree district council: Three Colnes ward, after the resignation of Rosemary O’Shea of the Conservatives who is moving to Scotland. Term ends 2011.
• Colchester borough council: Birch and Winstree ward, after the death of Peter Crowe who was the incumbent Mayor of the borough. Crowe was elected as a Conservative. Term ends 2011.
• Rugby borough council: Avon and Swift ward, after the death of Hazel Bell (Conservative). Term ends 2010.
• Waltham Forest borough council: Hale End and Highams Park ward, a double vacancy after the death of John Beanse and resignation of Noel Penstone, both of the Liberal Democrats. Term ends 2010.

11 December

• East Ayrshire council: Ballochmyle ward, after the resignation of former Labour group leader Eric Jackson. Term ends 2011.

• Hillingdon borough council: Northwood ward, after the disqualification of Ian Oakley who was given an 18-week suspended sentence for harassing members of the Liberal Democrats in Watford where he had been selected as Conservative candidate. Oakley had been expelled from the Conservatives and was sitting on the council as an Independent. Term ends 2010.
• Corporation of London: Aldgate ward, after the resignation of John Holland. Should the nomination be opposed at the wardmote, the poll will be on the following day. Term ends March 2009.
• Newark and Sherwood district council: Clipstone ward, after the death of Len Sprigg who was deputy leader of the Independent group. Term ends 2011.
• North Ayrshire council: Kilbirnie and Beith ward, after the death of SNP councillor Craig Taylor. Term ends 2012.

Undated

• Bexley borough council: East Wickham ward, after the death of Alf Catterall (Conservative). Term ends 2010.

• Enfield borough council: Bush Hill Park ward, after the death of veteran Conservative councillor John Jackson. Term ends 2010.
• Fenland district council: Parsons Drove and Wisbech St Mary ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Phil Wait in protest at a licensing decision. Term ends 2011.
• Mid Sussex district council: Bentswood ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Trevor Fisher. Term ends 2011.
• Newcastle-on-Tyne city council: Fenham ward, after the death of Labour councillor Terry Cooney, who was Lord Mayor in 1989-90. Term ends 2011.
• North Somerset council: Clarence and Uphill ward, after the resignation of former Conservative council leader Mike Roe. Term ends 2011.
• North West Leicestershire district council: Ibstock and Heather ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Ted Blunt. Term ends 2011.
• Reigate and Banstead borough council: Tadworth and Walton ward, after the death of Conservative former Mayor and Deputy Leader Michael Buttery. Term ends 2011.
• Rhondda Cynon Taff county borough council: Glyncoch ward, after the death of Labour councillor Judith Burford. Term ends 2012.
• South Northamptonshire district council: Grange Park ward, after the resignation of Peter O’Leary (Conservative). Term ends 2011.
• Torridge district council: Hartland and Bradworthy ward, after the death of Bill Pillman who was an Independent councillor. Term ends 2011.
• Wolverhampton city council: Heath Town ward, after the death of Labour councillor Les Turner. Term ends 2011.
• Wrexham county borough council: Rossett ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Robert Shepherd. Term ends 2012.

Vacancies unlikely to be filled

The draft Local Elections (Ordinary Day of Elections in 2009) Order 2008 provides that any vacancy notified after 7 November 2008 in a council due to have elections in 2009, or to be abolished will not be filled. These council vacancies will therefore not see a byelection.

• Cumbria county council: Kells and Sandwith division, after the death of Labour councillor Joe McAllister.

• Isle of Wight council: Newchurch division, after the death of Brian Mosdell who was sitting as an Independent after leaving the Conservative group.
• Kent county council: Maidstone Rural East division, after the death of former council and Local Government Association leader Sandy Bruce-Lockhart (Conservative).
• Restormel borough council: Bethel ward, after the death of Roy Gill of the Liberal Democrats.
• Salisbury district council: St Martin and Milford ward, after the death of Labour councillor Simon Howarth.
• Sedgefield district council: Sedgefield ward, after the death of Independent councillor Jim Wayman.
• Shewsbury and Atcham borough council: Condover ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Tom Hendry.
• Suffolk county council: Felixstowe Coastal division, after the death of the Council Chairman, Ann Rodwell. She was serving as a Conservative councillor.

Sandy Beds goes Green

Labour made the only gain of the byelections on 30 October, taking Workington St Johns ward on Allerdale borough council from the Conservatives.

The Liberal Democrats narrowly held off a Labour challenge to their seat in Kentish Town ward of Camden borough council, despite the sitting councillor being forced out after being discovered in Arizona. The Green Party, which had been within a few votes of winning in a late 2006 byelection, faded this time.

The Conservatives held on to Hutton South ward on Brentwood borough council despite internal strife, and to Thame North ward on South Oxfordshire district council.

There are some party switches to note. Earlier this year, Harold Moth, councillor for Fullwell ward on Redbridge borough council, left the Conservatives to sit as an Independent; now three more Conservatives have been suspended from their party for 28 days because they went against the party line on allowances to committee chairs.

Two members of Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council, both elected as Liberal Democrats, have joined the Conservatives. Tony Durnell represents Monkmoor and David Farmer represents Bagley; it is reported that both intend to be Conservative candidates for the new Shropshire unitary council next June.

Finally, on Mid Bedfordshire district council, an Independent councillor has joined the Green Party of England and Wales. He is Ken Lynch of Sandy Pinnacle ward.

Forthcoming byelections

Here are the vacancies and forthcoming byelections:

6 November

• Edinburgh city council: Forth ward, after the death of Elizabeth Maginnis who was a Labour councillor. Term ends 2012.

• Glasgow city council: Bailieston ward, after the death of veteran Labour councillor Dougie Hay. Term ends 2012.
• Rutland county council: Whissendine ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Loretta Marsh. Term ends 2011.
• Waltham Forest borough council: Valley ward, after the death of Conservative councillor John Gover. Term ends 2010.

13 November

• Boston borough council: Fenside ward, after the resignation of Guy Curley who was a member of the Boston Bypass Independents. Term ends 2011.

• Darlington borough council: North Road ward, after independent councillor Stephen Jones was disqualified for not attending a meeting for six months. He was leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council but was expelled from the party over signing the nomination papers for a British National Party candidate. Term ends 2011.
• Hinckley and Bosworth district council: Markfield, Stanton and Field Head ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor John Cort. Term ends 2011.
• Wokingham borough council: Coronation ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Patti Sherratt who has moved to Cyprus. Term ends 2011.

20 November

• South Cambridgeshire district council: Teversham ward, after the resignation of Caroline Hunt (Conservative). Term ends 2011.

• Tower Hamlets borough council: Mile End East ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Rupert Bawden. Term ends 2010.

27 November

• Cambridgeshire county council: Hardwick division, after Denzil Baldwin of the Conservatives was disqualified for non-attendance. Term ends June 2009.

• Devon county council: Exminster and Kenton division, after the sudden death of Brian Berman (Liberal Democrat). Term ends June 2009.
• Teignbridge district council: Kenn Valley ward, also after the death of Brian Berman (Liberal Democrat). Term ends 2011.
• Walsall borough council: Birchills and Leamore ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Jonathan Phillips. Term ends 2010.

4 December

• Bradford city council: Bingley ward, caused by the resignation of Conservative councillor and former cabinet member for education Colin Gill. Term ends 2012.

• Braintree district council: Three Colnes ward, after the resignation of Rosemary O’Shea of the Conservatives who is moving to Scotland. Term ends 2011.
• Colchester borough council: Birch and Winstree ward, after the death of Peter Crowe who was the incumbent Mayor of the borough. Crowe was elected as a Conservative. Term ends 2011.
• Rugby borough council: Avon and Swift ward, after the death of Hazel Bell (Conservative). Term ends 2010.
• Waltham Forest borough council: Hale End and Highams Park ward, a double vacancy after the death of John Beanse and resignation of Noel Penstone, both of the Liberal Democrats. Term ends 2010.

11 December

• East Ayrshire council: Ballochmyle ward, after the resignation of former Labour group leader Eric Jackson. Term ends 2011.

• Newark and Sherwood district council: Clipstone ward, after the death of Len Sprigg who was deputy leader of the Independent group. Term ends 2011.
• North Ayrshire council: Kilbirnie and Beith ward, after the death of SNP councillor Craig Taylor. Term ends 2012.

Undated

• Bexley borough council: East Wickham ward, after the death of Alf Catterall (Conservative). Term ends 2010.

• Enfield borough council: Bush Hill Park ward, after the death of veteran Conservative councillor John Jackson. Term ends 2010.
• Fenland district council: Parsons Drove and Wisbech St Mary ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Phil Wait in protest at a licensing decision. Term ends 2011.
• Hillingdon borough council: Northwood ward, after the disqualification of Ian Oakley who was given an 18-week suspended sentence for harassing members of the Liberal Democrats in Watford where he had been selected as Conservative candidate. Oakley had been expelled from the Conservatives and was sitting on the council as an Independent. Term ends 2010.
• Mid Sussex district council: Bentswood ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Trevor Fisher. Term ends 2011.
• Newcastle-on-Tyne city council: Fenham ward, after the death of Labour councillor Terry Cooney, who was Lord Mayor in 1989-90. Term ends 2011.
• North Somerset council: Clarence and Uphill ward, after the resignation of former Conservative council leader Mike Roe. Term ends 2011.
• Rhondda Cynon Taff county borough council: Glyncoch ward, after the death of Labour councillor Judith Burford. Term ends 2012.
• Salisbury district council: St Martin and Milford ward, after the death of Labour councillor Simon Howarth. Term ends 2011.
• South Northamptonshire district council: Grange Park ward, after the resignation of Peter O’Leary (Conservative). Term ends 2011.
• Wolverhampton city council: Heath Town ward, after the death of Labour councillor Les Turner. Term ends 2011.
• Wrexham county borough council: Rossett ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Robert Shepherd. Term ends 2012.

Vacancies unlikely to be filled

The draft Local Elections (Ordinary Day of Elections in 2009) Order 2008 provides that any vacancy notified after 7 November 2008 in a council due to have elections in 2009, or to be abolished will not be filled. These council vacancies are therefore unlikely to see a byelection.

• Cumbria county council: Kells and Sandwith division, after the death of Labour councillor Joe McAllister.

• Isle of Wight council: Newchurch division, after the death of Brian Mosdell who was sitting as an Independent after leaving the Conservative group.
• Kent county council: Maidstone Rural East division, after the death of former council and Local Government Association leader Sandy Bruce-Lockhart (Conservative).
• Restormel borough council: Bethel ward, after the death of Roy Gill of the Liberal Democrats.
• Sedgefield district council: Sedgefield ward, after the death of Independent councillor Jim Wayman.
• Shewsbury and Atcham borough council: Condover ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Tom Hendry.

Bad night for the Lib Dems

Nothing went the Liberal Democrats’ way in the byelections of 23 October. Labour gained the Town ward of Merthyr Tydfil county borough council from them, and the Conservatives gained Billington and Old Langho ward on Ribble Valley district council from them.

Labour held Loughborough Dishley and Hathern ward on Charnwood borough council. The Conservatives held East Wittering ward, Chichester district council, Alderholt ward on East Dorset district council, Ashford East ward on Spelthorne borough council, Lancaster Gate ward on Westminster city council, and both Wednesfield North and Wednesfield South on Wolverhampton city council.

In further bad news for the team in yellow, Councillor John Wren has left the Liberal Democrat group on Harrogate borough council (where he represents Woodfield ward) and joined the Conservatives. His switch gives the Conservatives an overall majority. Councillor Wren also represents Harrogate Bilton and Nidd Gorge on North Yorkshire county council.

Forthcoming byelections

Here are the vacancies and forthcoming byelections:

30 October

• Allerdale borough council: Workington St Johns ward, following the death of Conservative councillor John Heathcote. Term ends 2011.

• Brentwood borough council: Hutton South ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Frank Kenny, said to be connected to internal strife in the Conservative group. Term ends 2012.
• Camden borough council: Kentish Town ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Philip Thompson who has begun a university course in Arizona, USA. Term ends 2010.
• South Oxfordshire district council: Thame North ward, after the resignation of Richard Walker (Conservative). Term ends 2011.

6 November

• Edinburgh city council: Forth ward, after the death of Elizabeth Maginnis who was a Labour councillor. Term ends 2012.

• Glasgow city council: Bailieston ward, after the death of veteran Labour councillor Dougie Hay. Term ends 2012.
• Rutland county council: Whissendine ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Loretta Marsh. Term ends 2011.
• Waltham Forest borough council: Valley ward, after the death of Conservative councillor John Gover. Term ends 2010.

13 November

• Boston borough council: Fenside ward, after the resignation of Guy Curley who was a member of the Boston Bypass Independents. Term ends 2011.

• Darlington borough council: North Road ward, after independent councillor Stephen Jones was disqualified for not attending a meeting for six months. He was leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council but was expelled from the party over signing the nomination papers for a British National Party candidate. Term ends 2011.
• Hinckley and Bosworth district council: Markfield, Stanton and Field Head ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor John Cort. Term ends 2011.
• Wokingham borough council: Coronation ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Patti Sherratt who has moved to Cyprus. Term ends 2011.

20 November

• South Cambridgeshire district council: Teversham ward, after the resignation of Caroline Hunt (Conservative). Term ends 2011.

• Tower Hamlets borough council: Mile End East ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Rupert Bawden. Term ends 2010.

27 November

• Cambridgeshire county council: Hardwick division, after Denzil Baldwin of the Conservatives was disqualified for non-attendance. Term ends June 2009.

• Devon county council: Exminster and Kenton division, after the sudden death of Brian Berman (Liberal Democrat). Term ends June 2009.
• Teignbridge district council: Kenn Valley ward, also after the death of Brian Berman (Liberal Democrat). Term ends 2011.
• Walsall borough council: Birchills and Leamore ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Jonathan Phillips. Term ends 2010.

4 December

• Bradford city council: Bingley ward, caused by the resignation of Conservative councillor and former cabinet member for education Colin Gill. Term ends 2012.

• Colchester borough council: Birch and Winstree ward, after the death of Peter Crowe who was the incumbent Mayor of the borough. Crowe was elected as a Conservative. Term ends 2011.
• Rugby borough council: Avon and Swift ward, after the death of Hazel Bell (Conservative). Term ends 2010.

Undated

• Cumbria county council: Kells and Sandwith division, after the death of Labour councillor Joe McAllister. Term ends June 2009.

• East Ayrshire council: Ballochmyle ward, after the resignation of former Labour group leader Eric Jackson. Term ends 2011.
• Fenland district council: Parsons Drove and Wisbech St Mary ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Phil Wait in protest at a licensing decision. Term ends 2011.
• Hillingdon borough council: Northwood ward, after the disqualification of Ian Oakley who was given an 18-week suspended sentence for harassing members of the Liberal Democrats in Watford where he had been selected as Conservative candidate. Oakley had been expelled from the Conservatives and was sitting on the council as an Independent. Term ends 2010.
• Kent county council: Maidstone Rural East division, after the death of former council and Local Government Association leader Sandy Bruce-Lockhart (Conservative). Term ends June 2009.
• Mid Sussex district council: Bentswood ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Trevor Fisher. Term ends 2011.
• Newark and Sherwood district council: Clipstone ward, after the death of Len Sprigg who was deputy leader of the Independent group. Term ends 2011.
• Newcastle-on-Tyne city council: Fenham ward, after the death of Labour councillor Terry Cooney, who was Lord Mayor in 1989-90. Term ends 2011.
• North Somerset council: Clarence and Uphill ward, after the resignation of former Conservative council leader Mike Roe. Term ends 2011.
• Restormel borough council: Bethel ward, after the death of Roy Gill of the Liberal Democrats. Term ends 2009 when the authority will be abolished.
• Rhondda Cynon Taff county borough council: Glyncoch ward, after the death of Labour councillor Judith Burford. Term ends 2012.
• Salisbury district council: St Martin and Milford ward, after the death of Labour councillor Simon Howarth. Term ends 2011.
• Sedgefield district council: Sedgefield ward, after the death of Independent councillor Jim Wayman. Cllr Wayman died in January and the authority is due to be abolished next spring so it may be that the seat will be left unfilled.
• South Northamptonshire district council: Grange Park ward, after the resignation of Peter O’Leary (Conservative). Term ends 2011.
• Waltham Forest borough council: Hale End and Highams Park ward, a double vacancy after the death of John Beanse and resignation of Noel Penstone, both of the Liberal Democrats. Term ends 2010.
• Wolverhampton city council: Heath Town ward, after the death of Labour councillor Les Turner. Term ends 2011.
• Wrexham county borough council: Rossett ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Robert Shepherd. Term ends 2012.

Brian Jones makes a comeback

Labour gained a seat on Kirklees borough council in Dewsbury East ward in a byelection held on 16 October. The seat had previously been held by Colin Auty who was elected as a British National Party member but fell out with the party earlier this year after his leadership challenge failed.

In Tewkesbury borough council, an Independent candidate called Brian Jones won the byelection in Churchdown Brookfield ward from the Liberal Democrats. Brian Jones had previously been a Conservative borough councillor and stood as a Conservative candidate for Gloucestershire county council in the area, but stood as an Independent against Conservative nominees in both 2007 and this byelection.

Two byelections resulted in the incumbent party holding them. In Redcar and Cleveland council, Labour held South Bank ward, and in Watford borough council, the Liberal Democrats held Tudor ward (where the Conservative vote collapsed in the week that former Parliamentary candidate Ian Oakley was sentenced).

There is one recent defection to note: Mark Gadd, elected as a Liberal Democrat in New Mills East ward to High Peak borough council, has joined the Conservatives.