One third of North Hertfordshire District Council in England is elected each year, followed by one year without election.

Political control

Since the first election to the council in 1973 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:

Party in control Years
No overall control 1973-1976
Conservative 1976-1994
No overall control 1994-1996
Labour 1996-1999
Conservative 1999-2019
No overall control 2019–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1974 (formally the chair of the policy and resources committee prior to the Local Government Act 2000) have been:[1][2]

Councillor Party From To
Robert Flatman Conservative 1974 1992
Geoffrey Woods Conservative 1992 1995
David Kearns Labour 1995 1999
F. John Smith Conservative 1999 9 May 2010
Lynda Needham Conservative 20 May 2010 5 May 2019
Martin Stears-Handscomb Labour 21 May 2019 9 May 2021
Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg Labour 26 May 2021

Council elections

By-election results

By-Election 1 May 1997
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour 1,635 50.8 -7.9
Conservative 1,025 31.8 +5.1
Liberal Democrats 560 17.4 +2.8
Majority 610 19.0
Turnout 3,220 72.9
Labour hold Swing
Codicote By-Election 22 February 2001
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour 632 59.8 +36.9
Conservative 343 32.5 -33.7
Liberal Democrats 82 7.8 -3.1
Majority 289 27.3
Turnout 1,057 52.3
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Hitchin Highbury By-Election 7 June 2001
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats 2,102 57.7 +16.2
Conservative 1,542 42.3 -5.1
Majority 560 15.4
Turnout 3,644
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Letchworth Grange By-Election 7 June 2001
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jon Newham 1,725 54.8 +4.2
Conservative 911 29.0 -8.5
Liberal Democrats 510 16.2 +4.3
Majority 814 25.8
Turnout 3,146
Labour hold Swing
Baldock East By-Election 17 November 2005[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Marilyn Kirkland 331 48.2 -4.8
Conservative Les Wilsher 324 47.2 +0.2
Labour Paul Burgin 31 4.5 +4.5
Majority 7 1.0
Turnout 686 38.2
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Hitchin Oughton By-Election 10 November 2016
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Martin Stears-Handscomb 258 31.9 -17.4
Independent Jackie McDonald 200 24.8 N/A
Conservative Serena Farrow 158 19.6 -12.5
Liberal Democrats Louise Peace 150 18.6 +9.9
Green George Howe 42 5.2 -4.8
Majority 58 7.1
Turnout 20.07
Labour hold Swing

References

  1. ^ "Council minutes". North Herts Council. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. ^ Pre-2005 leaders taken from the council minute books available for inspection at the council offices in Letchworth.
  3. ^ The District of North Hertfordshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977
  4. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire (County Boundaries) Order 1989. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
  5. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Lincolnshire (County Boundaries) Order 1989. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
  6. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The District of North Hertfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 1998. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  7. ^ "North Hertfordshire". * BBC News Online. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  8. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The District of North Hertfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2006. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Labour vote surges in council byelections". guardian.co.uk. 18 November 2005. Retrieved 5 September 2009.

External links

Council elections in Hertfordshire
Categories