Dorset Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of Dorset in England. There are 82 councillors, elected every five years until 2029, after which elections will be held every four years.
Political control
editThe council was created on 1 April 2019, when Dorset County Council and five of its six district councils merged to form a unitary authority. A "shadow authority" was created in 2018 to oversee the transition, comprising all the existing district and county councillors representing the area of the new authority.[1] The first election to the new council was held in May 2019. Political control of the council has been held by the following parties:[2]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 2019–2024 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 2024–present | |
Leadership
editDuring the shadow period 2018–2019, Rebecca Knox, Conservative leader of the outgoing Dorset County Council served as leader of the shadow authority.[3] At the first formal meeting of the new Dorset Council after its elections, Spencer Flower was appointed leader of the council. He had been the last leader of the former East Dorset District Council.[4]
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Flower | Conservative | 16 May 2019 | 16 May 2024 | |
| Nick Ireland[5] | Liberal Democrats | 16 May 2024 | ||
Council elections
edit| Year | Conservative | Liberal Democrats | Green | Independent | Labour | Council control after election | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 43 | 29 | 4 | 4 | 2 | Conservative | |
| 2024 | 30 | 42 | 4 | 4 | 2 | Liberal Democrats | |
The next election is due in 2029, five years after the 2024 elections. After the 2029 elections have been held, elections will revert back to being held in every fourth year.[1]
District result maps
edit-
2019 results map -
2024 results map
By-election results
edit2019-2025
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Belinda Bawden | 594 | 43.8 | +27.0 | |
| Conservative | Vicci Stocqueler | 359 | 26.5 | −13.6 | |
| Independent | Cheryl Reynolds | 320 | 23.6 | −6.7 | |
| Labour | David Hart | 82 | 6.1 | −6.6 | |
| Majority | 235 | 17.3 | |||
| Turnout | 1,355 | ||||
| Green gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Richard Crabb | 589 | 50.8 | −2.8 | |
| Conservative | Becky Burns | 489 | 42.2 | +4.2 | |
| Labour | Nick Boothroyd | 81 | 7.0 | +7.0 | |
| Majority | 100 | 8.6 | |||
| Turnout | 1,159 | ||||
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Peter Dickenson | 1,237 | 53.7 | +24.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Simon Clifford | 833 | 36.2 | +19.1 | |
| Labour | Stephen Brown | 232 | 10.1 | −9.5 | |
| Majority | 404 | 17.5 | |||
| Turnout | 2,302 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
References
edit- ^ a b "The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2018/648, retrieved 30 June 2022
- ^ "Dorset Council Election Results 2019 - All results". Dorset Council. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ "Shadow Executive minutes, 18 June 2018". Dorset Council. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ Bevins, Trevor (7 May 2021). "No change in senior roles at Dorset Council". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ Jones, Paul (20 May 2024). "New leadership revealed for Dorset Council after Lib Dems' election win". Purbeck Gazette. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Lyme and Charmouth Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Sherborne West Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Littlemoor and Preston Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2024.