1961 Carmarthenshire County Council election
An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in April 1961.[1] It was preceded by the 1958 election and followed, by the 1964 election.
Overview of the result
A close run election resulted in Labour increasing its majority by two after capturing an additional two seats. In addition, Labour took the majority of the aldermanic vacancies.[2]
Boundary changes
There were no boundary changes at this election.
Retiring aldermen
A number of retiring councilors stood down to allow retiring aldermen to be returned unopposed. These included D.T. Williams at Llangadog, who stood down in favour of Gwynfor Evans.[3]
Unopposed returns
39 members were returned unopposed, including six of the nine members in Llanelli town.
Contested elections
20 contests took place.
Summary of results
59 councillors were elected.
Ward results
Abergwili
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | William John Phillips* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Ammanford No.1
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Haydn Lewis* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Ammanford No.2
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Thomas E. Evans* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Berwick
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | William Isaac Daniel* | ||||
| Plaid Cymru | David Hubert Evans | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Burry Port East
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Edward Lewis* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Burry Port West
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Labor Dennis* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Caio
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | unopposed | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Carmarthen Division 1
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | G.V. Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Carmarthen Division 2
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David Mansel Thomas* | 656 | |||
| Labour | David Owen | 626 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Carmarthen Division 3
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | D. Denzil Harries | 748 | |||
| Ratepayers | Graham Jones* | 562 | |||
| Independent gain from Other parties | Swing | ||||
Cenarth
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | D.G. James Jones* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Cilycwm
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | James James | 331 | |||
| Independent | Thomas L. Jones | 300 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Conwil
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | W.A. Phillips** | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Cwmamman
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Rev. Oswald Rees Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Felinfoel
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Arthur Cledwyn Francis* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Kidwelly
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | G.O. Williams* | 880 | |||
| Plaid Cymru | W. Morris | 507 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Laugharne
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Tudor H. Fleming Williams* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanarthney
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | D.M. Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanboidy
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | William Joshua Phillips* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandebie North
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | William Morris* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llandebie South
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Idris Evans* | 1,242 | |||
| Independent | J.R. Griffiths | 372 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llandilo Rural
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David Marlais Humphreys* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandilo Urban
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | D'Arcy Lewis Duckfield* | 499 | |||
| Labour | W.D. Watkins | 488 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandovery
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | William J. Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llandyssilio
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Daniel Clodwyn Thomas | 448 | |||
| Independent | H.H. Harries* | ||||
| Labour | Ifor Walter Morgan | 85 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanedy
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | W. John Evans* | 1,635 | |||
| Independent | Rev D. Cynddylan Jones | 673 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanegwad
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | M.I. Griffiths* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division.1
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Dr H.D. Llewellyn* | 1,471 | |||
| Independent | W. John Thomas | 993 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 2
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Brinley Owen* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 3
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Mrs Claudia R. Rees* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 4
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Mrs Loti Rees Hughes* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 5
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Sidney Lewis* | ||||
| Independent | Gwilym Gibby | 288 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 6
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | William Douglas Hughes** | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 7
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | D.J. Williams* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 8
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | George M. McConkey* | 667 | |||
| Independent | Fred Howells | 498 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanelly Division 9
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Sidney Ivor Thomas* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llanfihangel Aberbythych
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David Ivor James Evans* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | William Harry | 586 | |||
| Independent | Ivor Thomas Davies* | 487 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangadog
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaid Cymru | Gwynfor Richard Evans** | unopposed | |||
| Plaid Cymru gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Llangeler
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | John Evans | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llangendeirne
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Rev R.G. James* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llangennech
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | John William Boyles* | 1,117 | |||
| Plaid Cymru | Mrs C.E. Beasley | 526 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Llangunnor
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | John Dobson Phelps* | 909 | |||
| Ratepayers | John S. Thomas | 214 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanon
Labour had lost this ward in a by-election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | David William Jenkins | 1,379 | |||
| Independent | Clifford Jenkins* | 1,228 | |||
| Labour gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Llansawel
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | John Morgan* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanstephan
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | J.H. Davies* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Llanybyther
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies* | 792 | |||
| Independent Labour | Thomas Davies | 580 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Myddfai
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Morgan Lewis Jones* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Pembrey
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Simon John Elwyn Samuel* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Pontyberem
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | David John Jones* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Quarter Bach
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Josiah Jones* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Rhydcymerau
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | David Arthur Evans* | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
St Clears
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Rev W.J. Rees* | 769 | |||
| Independent | Tudor N. Evans | 707 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
St Ishmaels
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | C.J. Burgess | 648 | |||
| Independent | Major J.R.P. Thomas | 639 | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Trelech
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | S.O. Thomas** | unopposed | |||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Trimsaran
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Samuel T. Hughes* | unopposed | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Whitland
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | unopposed | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Election of aldermen
In addition to the 59 councillors the council consisted of 19 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections, the majority of the aldermanic seats were taken by Labour.
References
- "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 14 April 1961.
- "Election of Aldermen". Carmarthen Journal. 28 April 1961.
- "Nominations". Carmarthen Journal. 24 March 1961.