2012 North Hertfordshire District Council election
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15 of 49 seats on North Hertfordshire District Council
25 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Con
Lab
LD
Leader Lynda Needham David Billing Steve Jarvis
Party Conservative Labour Liberal Democrats
Seats before 34 7 8
Seats after 33 10 6
Seat change Decrease1 Increase3 Decrease2
Popular vote 9,972 6,729 3,386
Percentage 42.4% 28.6% 14.4%
Leader before election

Lynda Needham
Conservative

Leader after election

Lynda Needham
Conservative

The 2012 North Hertfordshire Council election was held on 3 May 2012, at the same time as other local elections across England, Scotland and Wales. Of the 49 seats on North Hertfordshire District Council, 15 were up for election.[1][2]

Labour gained three seats from the Conservatives, whilst the Conservatives gained two seats from the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives retained overall control of the council, whilst Labour overtook the Liberal Democrats to become the second largest party.[2]

Overall results

The overall results were as follows:[3]

2012 North Hertfordshire District Council election
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Conservative 9 Decrease 1 60.0 24 33 67.3 9,972 42.4 -6.0
  Labour 5 Increase 3 33.3 5 10 20.4 6,729 28.6 +5.7
  Liberal Democrats 1 Decrease 2 6.7 5 6 12.2 3,386 14.4 -3.2
  Green 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 2,341 10.0 +1.8
  UKIP 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 850 3.6 +1.7
  English Democrat 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 238 1.0 +0.8

Ward results

The results for each ward were as follows. Where the previous incumbent was standing for re-election they are marked with an asterisk(*). A double dagger (‡) indicates a sitting councillor contesting a different ward.[4][5]

Baldock East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Harris 475 46.8 +2.3
Liberal Democrats Marilyn Kirkland* 392 38.7 -13.1
Labour Vaughan West 86 8.5 n/a
Green Sylvia Hutchinson 54 5.3 +1.7
Majority 83 8.2
Turnout 1,014 45.19
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +7.8
Baldock Town
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Edwin Weeks* 828 54.7 -3.3
Labour Ken Garland 308 20.3 -2.3
Green Arwen Jane Tapping 221 14.6 +5.5
Liberal Democrats Richard Winter 147 9.7 +0.5
Majority 520 34.3
Turnout 1,514 26.1
Conservative hold Swing -0.5
Chesfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sally Margaret Jarvis 685 43.9 +9.0
Conservative James Henry 534 34.2 -7.3
Labour Bhavna Joshi 280 17.9 -0.5
Green Felicity Ann Power 59 3.8 -0.8
Majority 151 9.7
Turnout 1,562 29.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +8.2
Hitchin Bearton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Deborah Segalini 1,041 52.7 +2.4
Conservative Alex Stoner 536 27.1 -3.5
Green Gavin Nicholson 216 10.9 +2.4
Liberal Democrats Michael John Lott 175 8.9 -1.0
Majority 505 25.6
Turnout 1,976 31.7
Labour hold Swing +3.0
Hitchin Highbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Leal-Bennett 906 39.7 +5.1
Liberal Democrats Clare Body* 877 38.4 -1.4
Labour Peter Anthony Mardell 301 13.2 +2.3
Green Jackie Greatorex 187 8.2 +2.4
Majority 29 1.3
Turnout 2,283 37.9
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +3.3
Hitchin Oughton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joan Irene Kirby* 638 60.4 +21.7
Conservative Faye Barnard 258 24.4 -10.2
Green Alan Brookman 103 9.8 +3.7
Liberal Democrats Rob Lambie 50 4.7 -15.3
Majority 380 36.0
Turnout 1,056 29.3
Labour hold Swing +16.0
Hitchin Priory
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Thake* 696 49.0 -7.6
Labour Nafisa Sayany 228 16.1 +7.5
UKIP Adrianne Smyth 228 16.1 n/a
Liberal Democrats Liz Willoughby 146 10.3 -17.9
Green Ann De Bock 117 8.2 +2.3
Majority 468 33.0
Turnout 1,419 39.6
Conservative hold Swing -7.5
Hitchin Walsworth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ray Shakespeare-Smith* 759 38.9 -1.7
Labour Derek Nigel Sheard 756 38.7 +8.6
Green Mario May 299 15.3 +3.2
Liberal Democrats Andrew Ircha 127 6.5 -1.1
Majority 3 0.2
Turnout 1,952 32.1
Conservative hold Swing -5.2
Hitchwood, Offa & Hoo
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claire Patricia Strong* 1,230 63.7 -2.6
Labour Louise Helen Chinnery 325 16.8 +1.4
Green George Winston Howe 213 11.0 +3.4
Liberal Democrats Peter Donald Johnson 147 7.6 -2.5
Majority 905 46.9
Turnout 1,931 34.6
Conservative hold Swing -2.0
Knebworth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Bardett* 741 57.4 -4.4
Labour Jonathan Holman 251 19.4 +2.7
UKIP Andrew Scuoler 147 11.4 n/a
Green Harold Bland 142 11.0 +6.8
Majority 490 37.9
Turnout 1,292 31.3
Conservative hold Swing -3.5
Letchworth East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ian Mantle 472 40.2 +1.2
Conservative Michael Paterson* 383 32.6 -4.3
UKIP John Barry 108 9.2 -0.4
Green Eric Morris Blakeley 97 8.3 -5.1
Liberal Democrats Mertsi Fisher 73 6.2 n/a
English Democrat Tim Vickers 36 3.1 n/a
Majority 89 7.6
Turnout 1,174 27.6
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +2.7
Letchworth Grange
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Clare Helen Billing 721 43.1 +1.4
Conservative Paul Marment* 487 29.1 -6.5
English Democrat Charles Vickers 202 12.1 +9.3
Green Rosemary Bland 131 7.8 +2.2
Liberal Democrats Martin Geoffrey Penny 123 7.3 +0.2
Majority 234 14.0
Turnout 1,674 29.1
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +3.9
Letchworth South East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Charles Levett* 627 38.8 -9.1
Labour Nicholas Kissen 487 30.1 +3.7
UKIP Philip Martin Stevens 235 14.5 +5.7
Liberal Democrats John Winder 132 8.2 -0.5
Green James Drew 124 7.7 +0.5
Majority 140 8.7
Turnout 1,617 28.6
Conservative hold Swing -6.4
Letchworth South West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Terry Hone* 1,097 53.8 -2.1
Labour Jean Andrews 403 19.8 +3.8
Liberal Democrats John Paul Winder 274 13.4 -1.0
Green Rebecca Leek 257 12.6 -0.4
Majority 694 34.0
Turnout 2,039 34.0
Conservative hold Swing -3.0
Letchworth Wilbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Deepak Singh Sangha ‡ 432 37.7 -9.5
Conservative Andy Frankland 415 36.2 +1.8
UKIP Michael Rodgers 132 11.5 n/a
Green Jonathan Guy Hart 121 10.5 -1.6
Liberal Democrats John Stephen White 38 3.3 n/a
Majority 17 1.5
Turnout 1,147 27.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -5.7

Changes 2012–2014

Immediately after the 2012 elections, Robert Inwood, who had been elected as a Liberal Democrat for the Royston Palace ward in 2010, defected to Labour.[6]

Two by-elections were held on 15 November 2012. The by-election in Hitchwood, Offa and Hoo ward was triggered by the death of Conservative councillor David Miller, who had been most recently elected in 2010. The by-election in Letchworth South East ward was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Richard Harman, who had been elected in 2011, after being charged with various offences; he was subsequently convicted of burglary.[7][8] Neither seat changed party at the resulting by-elections.[9]

Hitchwood, Offa and Hoo ward by-election, 15 November 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Faye Susan Barnard 774 56.5 -7.2
UKIP Peter Robbins 217 15.8 n/a
Labour Jackie McDonald 189 13.8 -3.0
Liberal Democrats Peter Donald Johnson 110 8.0 +0.4
Green George Winston Howe 72 5.3 -5.8
Majority 557 40.7
Turnout 1,370 24.6
Conservative hold Swing n/a
Letchworth South East ward by election, 15 November 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Michael Cunningham 761 50.9 +12.1
Labour Martin Stears-Handscomb 399 26.7 -3.4
UKIP John Finbarr Barry 184 12.3 -2.2
Liberal Democrats Margaret Anne Higbid 88 5.9 -2.3
Green Mario Alexander May 51 3.4 -4.3
Majority 362 24.2
Turnout 1,496 26.5
Conservative hold Swing +7.8

A by-election in Hitchin Oughton ward was held on 12 September 2013 following the death of Labour councillor David Billing, who was also the party's leader on the council, and had most recently been elected in 2010. Labour retained the seat.[10][11]

Hitchin Oughton ward by election, 12 September 2013
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Radcliffe 361 48.0 -12.4
Conservative Mara MacSeoinin 180 23.9 -0.5
UKIP Peter Croft 148 19.7 n/a
Green Jacqueline Greatorex 32 4.3 -5.5
Liberal Democrats Clare Body 31 4.1 -0.6
Majority 181 24.1
Turnout 20.8
Labour hold Swing -6.0

References

  1. ^ "The District of North Hertfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2006", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2006/3112, retrieved 4 March 2023
  2. ^ a b "Vote 2012: North Hertfordshire". BBC News. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  3. ^ Andrew, Teale. "Local Election Results 2012: North Hertfordshire". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  4. ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "North Hertfordshire District Council Election Results 1973–2012" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Plymouth University. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Election Results 2012". North Hertfordshire District Council. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  6. ^ Foskett, Ewan (17 May 2012). "Former mayor and district councillor defects to Labour from Lib Dems". Royston Crow. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  7. ^ Burge, Laura (5 October 2012). "By-election to be held after councillor accused of rape". The Comet. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  8. ^ Tanna, Chandni (4 November 2013). "Former Letchworth councillor guilty of burglary". The Comet. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Election Results November 2012". North Hertfordshire District Council. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  10. ^ Tanna, Chandni (13 September 2013). "Labour wins in Hitchin by-election". The Comet. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  11. ^ Teale, Andrew. "Hitchin Oughton Ward - North Hertfordshire". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
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