Local elections update

On 1 May there are local elections in many authorities in England and to every seat in Wales. A list of authorities with elections, and the proportion of seats up for election in each, is given here.

Double vacancies

Where a councillor who is not up for election has resigned or died in an authority which is elected by thirds, their replacement can be elected at the same time as the ordinary election for councillors. This is called a ‘double vacancy’. The top-polling candidate gets the four year term, while the second placed candidate gets the shorter term. We have found the following:

Metropolitan boroughs

• Barnsley borough council: Old Town ward. Sandra Birkinshaw (Barnsley Independent Group) resigned from her term ending in 2011.

• Dudley borough council: Sedgley ward. Charles Fraser-Macnamara (Conservative) resigned from his term ending in 2010.
• Gateshead borough council: Low Fell ward. Charles Jevon (Liberal Democrat) resigned from his term ending in 2010.
• Leeds city council: Calverley and Farsley ward. Amanda Carter (Conservative) resigned from his term ending in 2011.
• Liverpool city council: Kirkdale ward. Pat Holleran (Labour) resigned from his term ending in 2011.
• Newcastle-upon-Tyne city council: North Jesmond ward. Tony Rounthwaite (Liberal Democrat) resigned from his term ending in 2010.
• Newcastle-upon-Tyne city council: Parklands ward. David Brook (Liberal Democrat) resigned from his term ending in 2011.
• Sefton borough council: Netherton and Orrell ward. Labour group leader Dave Martin died one year into a term ending in 2011.
• Sheffield city council: Mosborough ward. Samuel Wall (Labour) resigned from his term ending in 2010.
• Sheffield city council: Richmond ward. Elizabeth Naylor (Labour) resigned from her term ending in 2010.
• Trafford borough council: Clifford ward. Andrea Jones (Labour) resigned from her term ending in 2010.
• Wakefield borough council: Hemsworth ward. Wayne Jenkins (Labour) resigned from his term ending in 2011.

Unitary authorities

• Peterborough city council: Walton ward. David Vellam (Liberal Democrat) resigned from a term ending in 2010.

• Slough borough council: Central ward. The election of Eshaq Khan (elected as Conservative) was declared void after postal vote fraud was proved. The term ends in 2011.
• Southampton borough council: Harefield ward. Adrian Johnson (Conservative) resigned from a term ending in 2011.
• Swindon borough council: Dorcan ward. Andrew James (Conservative) resigned from a term ending in 2010.
• Swindon borough council: Parks ward. Barrie Thompson (Labour) resigned from a term ending in 2010.

Non-metropolitan districts

• Adur district council, Churchill ward. Jaynie Sykes-Strudwick (Conservative) resigned from her term ending in 2010.

• Adur district council, Marine ward. Keith Fayers-Morrissey (Independent) resigned from a term ending in 2010.
• Adur district council: Widewater ward. Christine Turner (Conservative) resigned from a term ending in 2010.
• Cannock Chase district council: Hawks Green ward. Reg Butler, former Conservative deputy leader of the council, died one year into a term ending in 2011.
• Castle Point district council: Canvey South ward. Natalie Derby (Canvey Island Independent Party) resigned from her term ending in 2011.
• Cherwell district council: Banbury Hardwick ward. Stuart Robbins (Conservative) resigned for business reasons from a term ending in 2010.
• Epping Forest district council: Loughton Forest ward. Peter House (Loughton Residents Association) resigned from his term ending in 2010.
• Gloucester city council: Barnwood ward. Phil Taylor (elected as a Liberal Democrat, latterly sitting as a Conservative-supporting Independent) resigned from a term ending in 2011.
• Gloucester city council: Barton and Tredworth ward. Carol Francis (Labour) resigned from a term ending in 2010.
• Ipswich borough council: Bixley ward. Bill Wright (Conservative) resigned from his term ending in 2010.
• Ipswich Borough council: Gainsborough ward. Don Edwards (Labour) resigned from his term ending in 2011.
• Rossendale borough council: Whitewell ward. David Hancock (Labour) resigned from a term ending in 2010.
• Rugby borough council: Dunchurch and Knightlow ward. Stuart Davenport (Conservative) resigned from his term ending in 2011.
• Runnymede borough council: Chertsey St. Anne’s ward. Dolsie Clarke (Conservative) resigned from her term ending in 2011.
• Runnymede borough council: Egham Hythe ward. Rebecca Denby (Conservative) resigned in order to stand in Addlestone North ward; the term she gave up ended in 2010.
• Rushmoor district council: St John’s ward. Graham Tucker (Conservative) died one year into a term ending in 2011.
• Waveney borough council: Carlton Colville ward. Ronald Bell (Conservative) resigned from his term ending in 2010.
• Weymouth and Portland borough council: Melcombe Regis ward, after the resignation of Lynne Herbert (Liberal Democrat). The two vacancies have terms ending in 2012 and 2010.

Postponed polls

Where a nominated candidate dies after nomination, the election on 1 May is countermanded and the process restarts in May with a polling date in June. We know of the following postponed polls:

• Carlisle city council: Upperby ward (one member). Les Griffiths of the British National Party has died.

• Gwynedd county council: Bowydd and Rhiw ward (one member0. Incumbent Labour councillor Ernest Williams has died.
• Harlow borough council: Harlow Common ward (one member). The incumbent Labour councillor Greg Peck has died.
• Newport city council: St. Julians ward (three members). Incumbent Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Bull has died.