Torbay Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of Torbay in Devon, England. Until 1 April 1998 it was a non-metropolitan district. From 2005 to 2019 it had a directly elected mayor. The council is elected every four years.

Political control

Borough council

Since the first election to the council in 1973 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:[1][2]

Non-metropolitan district

Party in control Years
Conservative 1973–1990
No overall control 1990–1991
Liberal Democrats 1991–1998

Unitary authority

Party in control Years
Liberal Democrats 1998–2000
Conservative 2000–2003
Liberal Democrats 2003–2007
Conservative 2007–2019
No overall control 2019–present

Leadership

Prior to 2005, political leadership was provided by the leader of the council. The leader from 2003 to 2005 was:[3]

Councillor Party From To
Chris Harris Liberal Democrats 15 May 2003 23 Oct 2005

Between 2005 and 2019 the council had a directly elected mayor. The mayors were:

Councillor Party From To
Nick Bye[4] Conservative 24 Oct 2005 8 May 2011
Gordon Oliver[5] Conservative 9 May 2011 5 May 2019

In 2019 the council reverted to having a leader instead of a directly elected mayor. The leader since 2019 has been:[3]

Councillor Party From To
Steve Darling Liberal Democrats 28 May 2019

Council elections

Non-metropolitan district elections

Unitary authority elections

Mayoral elections

A referendum took place on 14 July 2005 on establishing a directly elected mayor. The result saw a majority in favour with 18,074 in support and 14,684 opposed on a 32.1% turnout.[10]

A referendum took place on 5 May 2016 on reverting to a leader and cabinet system. The result saw a majority in favour of a leader and cabinet system with 15,846 votes in support of the leader and cabinet system and 9,511 wanting to stick with an elected mayor, on a 25.3% turnout.[11]

Borough result maps

By-election results

1997–2000

Tormohun By-Election 15 January 1998
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative 1,380 46.3 +10.9
Liberal Democrats 884 29.7 -2.4
Independent 521 17.5 -3.5
Labour 195 6.5 -5.0
Majority 469 16.6
Turnout 2,980 35.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Tormohun By-Election 17 September 1998
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Damian Barton 671 38.2 +5.9
Liberal Democrats Jennifer Faulkner 667 38.0 -5.3
Labour Darren Cowell 321 18.3 -6.1
Liberal 97 5.5 +5.5
Majority 4 0.2
Turnout 1,756
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Preston By-Election 8 April 1999
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative 1,504 51.4 +16.0
Liberal Democrats 1,129 38.6 +6.5
Labour 295 10.1 -1.4
Majority 375 12.8
Turnout 2,928 34.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

2000–2003

Ellacombe By-Election 7 December 2000[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Andrew Blake 1,151 62.9 +32.9
Conservative David Selley 546 29.8 -7.2
Labour Pauline Digby 94 5.1 +0.0
Independent Lionel Digby 40 2.2 +2.2
Majority 605 33.1
Turnout 1,831 24.7
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Tormohun By-Election 29 November 2001[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Christopher Harris 1,201 63.4 -26.3
Conservative 557 29.6 -10.9
Labour 121 6.4 -5.6
Majority 644 33.8
Turnout 1,879 25.5
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

2003–2007

Roundham with Hyde By-Election 20 May 2004[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Joseph Carroll 498 29.3 -2.3
Liberal Democrats Andrew Douglas-Dunbar 413 24.3 -24.7
Independent Alan Hall 203 11.9 +4.6
Labour David Pedrick-Friend 203 11.9 -0.1
UKIP Mark Dent 128 7.5 +7.5
BNP Michael Turner 106 6.2 +6.2
Independent Pamela Neale 85 5.0 +5.0
Independent Mary Bennett 63 3.7 +3.7
Majority 85 5.0
Turnout 1,699 31.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Wellswood By-Election 5 August 2004 (2)[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative 964
Conservative 923
UKIP 545
UKIP 482
Liberal Democrats Tristan Gruber 198
Liberal Democrats Thomas Pentney 192
Labour 102
Labour 89
Turnout 3,496 27.6
Conservative hold Swing
Goodrington with Roselands By-Election 21 October 2004[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Colin Hurst 701 42.2 +10.5
Liberal Democrats Thomas Pentney 510 30.7 -27.9
UKIP Mark Dent 284 17.1 +7.4
Labour John Mellor 116 7.0 +7.0
BNP Michael Turner 50 3.0 +3.0
Majority 191 11.5
Turnout 1,661 30.9
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Wellswood By-Election 10 March 2005[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Hanley 1,261 62.5 +8.5
Liberal Democrats Jefferson Rose 331 16.4 +5.2
UKIP Mark Dent 326 16.1 -13.3
Labour Thomas Millman 99 4.9 -0.6
Majority 930 46.1
Turnout 2,017 29.6
Conservative hold Swing
Blatchcombe By-Election 5 May 2005[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jeanette Richards 1,708 38.9 +18.9
Liberal Democrats Alan Forbes 1,563 35.6 -14.1
Labour Jonathan Haines 1,124 25.6 +7.4
Majority 145 3.3
Turnout 4,395 57.8
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Churston with Galmpton By-Election 8 December 2005[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Derek Mills 1,250 77.7 +27.4
Liberal Democrats Andrew Douglas-Dunbar 270 16.8 -32.9
Labour Trevor Fine 89 5.5 +5.5
Majority 980 60.9
Turnout 1,609 28.3
Conservative hold Swing

2007–2011

Berryhead with Furzeham By-Election 14 June 2007 (3)[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Michael Morey 1,006
Independent Vic Ellery 952
Conservative Martyn Hodge 853
Conservative Simon Jones 727
Conservative Alan Craig 689
Independent Tony Walker 510
Liberal Democrats Chris Lomas 483
Independent Nigel James 397
Liberal Democrats Catherine Johns 277
Liberal Democrats John Turner 245
BNP Michael Turner 159
BNP Maureen Turner 152
BNP Chris Marchant 151
UKIP Gary Booth 145
UKIP Peter Fryett 129
UKIP Mike Simpson 93
Labour Patrick Canavan 71
Labour Jermaine Atiya-Alla 67
Labour Irene Reade 66
Turnout 7,172 31.8
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Independent gain from Conservative Swing
Conservative hold Swing
St. Mary's-with-Summercombe By-Election 22 July 2010[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Andrew Baldrey 801 52.7
Conservative Nicholas Henderson 365 24.0
Labour Rosemary Ann Clarke 195 12.8
UKIP Jen Walsh 159 10.5
Majority
Turnout 2,017 1,520
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

2011–2015

Cockington-with-Chelston By-Election 23 June 2011[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Mark Pountney 1,048 46.3
Conservative Sylvia Faryna 614 27.1
Labour Leonora Critchlow 357 15.8
Independent Susie Colley 129 5.7
Independent Mark Dent 61 2.7
Green Thomas Cooper 55 2.4
Majority
Turnout 2,264 26.3
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

2015–2019

Clifton with Maidenway By-Election 5 November 2015[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Adrian Sanders 1,096 69.2 +39.3
Conservative Richard Barnby 234 14.8 -13.7
UKIP Anthony Rayner 158 10.0 -9.7
Labour Eddie Harris 53 3.3 -9
Green Stephen Pocock 43 2.7 -6.8
Majority 862 54.4 +53
Turnout 1,584 27.6
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +26.5
Tormohun By-Election 5 May 2016[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nicholas Pentney 1,126 46.7
Conservative Jacqueline Wakeham 533 22.1
Labour Darren Cowell 344 14.3
UKIP Steven Walsh 315 13.1
Green Stephen Morley 66 2.7
TUSC Michelle Goodman 27 1.1
Majority 593 24.6
Turnout 2,411 29.8
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Watcombe By-election 14 December 2017[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Swithin Long 655 57.1
Conservative Daniel Maddock 355 30.9
Labour Julia Neal 121 9.5
Green Eleanor Taylor 17 1.4
Majority 300 26.1
Turnout 1,148 22.3
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

References

  1. ^ "Council compositions". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Torbay". BBC News Online. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Council minutes". Torbay Council. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Torbay Mayor Nick Bye loses local Conservative support". BBC News. 26 November 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Gordon Oliver remains Torbay Mayor". ITV News. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  6. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Torbay (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
  7. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Torbay (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1987. Retrieved on 4 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Local elections". * BBC News Online. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  9. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Torbay (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Totals so far". guardian.co.uk. London. Archived from the original on 12 April 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  11. ^ "Mayoral System Referendum". Torbay: www.torbay.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  12. ^ "Torbay Borough Council Casual Election 7th December 2000" (PDF). Torbay Council. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  13. ^ "Labour regains Burnley". guardian.co.uk. London. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  14. ^ "Roundham with Hyde By-Election" (PDF). Torbay Council. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  15. ^ "Tories keep seats despite Ukip vote surge". guardian.co.uk. London. 6 August 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  16. ^ "Labour wins byelection in army town". guardian.co.uk. London. 22 October 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  17. ^ "Candidates named for by-election". BBC News Online. 25 September 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  18. ^ "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Torbay Council. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  19. ^ "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Torbay Council. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  20. ^ "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Torbay Council. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  21. ^ "Declaration of result of poll". Torbay Council. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  22. ^ "Declaration of result of poll". Torbay Council. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  23. ^ "Declaration of result of poll". Torbay Council. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  24. ^ "DECLARATION OF RESULT OF POLL, Torbay Council local election on Thursday 5 November 2015, Result of poll for the Clifton with Maidenway ward" (Microsoft Word). Torbay Council. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  25. ^ "DECLARATION OF RESULT OF POLL, Torbay Borough Election of a Borough Councillor for Tormohun on Thursday 5 May 2016" (Microsoft Word). Torbay Council. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  26. ^ "DECLARATION OF RESULT OF POLL, Torbay Borough Election of a Borough Councillor for Watcombe on Thursday 14 December 2017" (Microsoft Word). Torbay Council. Retrieved 15 December 2017.

External links

Council elections in Devon
Unitary authorities of England
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