2011 North Devon District Council election

The 2011 North Devon District Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of North Devon District Council in Devon, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative party lost overall control of the council to no overall control.[1]

Map of the results of the 2011 North Devon council election. Conservatives in blue, Liberal Democrats in yellow and independents in grey.

Background

Before the election the council was controlled by the Conservatives with 22 councillors, compared to 17 Liberal Democrats and 4 independents.[2] However North Devon was reported as one of the councils that the Conservatives were most likely to lose control of in 2011.[3][4]

There were 120 candidates standing in the election for the 43 seats on the council.[5] These were made up of 36 Conservatives, 33 Liberal Democrats, 20 independents, 17 Green Party, 10 Labour, 2 Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, 1 United Kingdom Independence Party and 1 Communist Party of Britain.[5] The candidates included the former Liberal Democrat leader of the council, Malcolm Prowse, and Yvette Gubb, who both quit the Liberal Democrats to stand as independents in the election.[6]

Election result

The results saw the Conservative lose their majority on the council, dropping to 18 seats after suffering a net loss of four councillors.[7] The Liberal Democrats stayed as the main opposition with 14 seats, but also dropped 3 seats.[7] It was independents who made progress in the election, with the number of independent councillors going up to 11.[8] Overall turnout in the election was 45.33%,[9] ranging from a high of 63% in Bratton Fleming to a low of 30% in Forches and Whiddon Valley.[5]

Among the councillors to lose their seats to independents were Conservatives Dick Jones and John Gill in Fremington and Liberal Democrats Carol Mccormack-Hole and Sue Sewell in Bickington and Roundswell, and South Molton respectively.[10] Successful independent candidates included the former Conservative Rodney Cann and the former Liberal Democrat Malcolm Prowse.[5]

10 of the 11 elected independent councillors divided up into 3 groups, New Wave, containing Rodney Cann, Joanne Bell, Frank Biederman and Brian Hockin, North Devon First, containing Malcolm Prowse, Julia Clark and Yvette Gubb, and Independent Group, containing Mike Edmunds, Eric Ley and Walter White.[11] The final independent, John Moore, was not part of any group.[11]

Following the election a coalition between the Liberal Democrat and independent councillors took control of the council from the former Conservative administration.[12] Liberal Democrat Brian Greenslade became the new council leader,[13] taking over from Conservative Des Brailey, while independent Rodney Cann became deputy leader.[12] The new cabinet was made up of 5 Liberal Democrats and 4 independents.[12]

North Devon Local Election Result 2011[9][14]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 18 1 5 -4 41.9 36.1 18,269 -3.7%
  Liberal Democrats 14 2 5 -3 32.6 31.6 16,004 -11.2%
  Independent 11 7 0 +7 25.6 20.4 10,317 +12.9%
  Green 0 0 0 0 0 6.9 3,474 -2.4%
  Labour 0 0 0 0 0 3.9 1,985 +3.7%
  TUSC 0 0 0 0 0 0.7 340 +0.7%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 0.3 131 +0.3%
  Communist 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 90 +0.0%

2 independent candidates were unopposed.[9][14]

Ward results
Bickington & Roundswell (2)[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Rodney Cann* 850 55.6 -9.7
Independent Brian Hockin 570 37.3 N/A
Liberal Democrats Carol McCormack-Hole* 411 26.9 -17.6
Liberal Democrats Jerry Hole 281 18.4 N/A
Conservative Serena Thomas 278 18.2 -47.1
Conservative Jason Ritterband-Fulcher 272 17.8 N/A
Labour Jean Smalley 163 10.7 N/A
Turnout 1,550 43.39 +8.5
Independent hold Swing
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Bishops Nympton[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Eric Ley* unopposed 0.0 -84.2
Turnout 0 N/A
Independent hold Swing
Bratton Fleming[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Malcolm Prowse* 544 54.1 -24.8
Conservative Gordon Cumming 315 31.3 +10.2
Green Ian Godfrey 147 14.6 N/A
Majority 229 22.8
Turnout 1,018 62.78 +6.2
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Braunton East (2)[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roy Lucas* 621 41.4 -8.6
Liberal Democrats Derrick Spear 517 34.5 -4.8
Liberal Democrats Elizabeth Spear 495 33.0 -2.9
Conservative Sally Smith 489 32.6 -8.2
Green Mary Breeds 276 18.4 +1.6
Green Andy Leat 191 12.7 N/A
Labour Valerie Cann 173 11.5 N/A
Turnout 1,528 47.03 +6.4
Conservative hold Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Braunton West (2)[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Caroline Chugg* 753 47.6 -9.5
Conservative Jasmine Chesters* 677 42.8 -8.9
Liberal Democrats Marguerite Shapland 478 30.2 -4.6
Liberal Democrats Carol Woodford 342 21.6 -11.1
Green Liz Wood 218 13.8 N/A
Labour Steven Holden 206 13.0 +5.3
Green Mary Clay 174 11.0 N/A
Turnout 1,618 47.60 +4.2
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Central Town (Barnstaple) (2)[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Faye Webber* 593 48.4 -4.9
Liberal Democrats Adam Bradford 550 44.9 -2.4
Conservative Simon Harvey 459 37.4 +1.3
Labour Danny Neary 235 19.2 N/A
Conservative Deborah Lewis 201 16.4 -5.2
Communist Gerrard Sables 90 7.3 N/A
Turnout 1,256 33.86 +0.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Chittlehampton[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Walter White unopposed 0.0 N/A
Turnout 0 N/A
Independent hold Swing
Chulmleigh[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sue Croft* 615 63.4 +14.9
Liberal Democrats Trudy Weston 355 36.6 +1.3
Majority 260 26.8
Turnout 991 54.55
Conservative hold Swing
Combe Martin (2)[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Yvette Gubb 1,168 65.5 +9.8
Independent Julia Clark 821 46.1 +0.6
Conservative Sue Sussex* 764 42.9 -12.1
Conservative Paul Crockett 541 30.4 -1.9
Turnout 1,821 54.18 +3.3
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Independent gain from Conservative Swing
Forches & Whiddon Valley (Barnstaple) (2)[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sue Haywood* 534 58.6 -2.0
Liberal Democrats Julie Hunt* 433 47.5 -3.8
Labour Geoff Moody 208 22.8 N/A
Green Neil Basil 200 22.0 ±0.0
TUSC Douglas Lowe 154 16.9 N/A
Turnout 966 29.50 +3.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Fremington (2)[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Frank Biederman 1,266 66.8 N/A
Independent Joanne Bell 969 51.1 N/A
Conservative Dick Jones* 382 20.2 -19.0
Conservative John Gill* 323 17.0 -20.4
Independent Tony Wood 235 12.4 N/A
Liberal Democrats Andrew Cann 184 9.7 -17.0
Liberal Democrats Joy Cann 95 5.0 -21.4
Turnout 1,934 53.95 +11.1
Independent gain from Conservative Swing
Independent gain from Conservative Swing
Georgeham & Mortehoe (2)[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Malcolm Wilkinson* 678 45.2 -2.9
Conservative Pat Barker* 597 39.8 +2.7
Liberal Democrats Lesley Slade 557 37.1 +0.3
Conservative Edward Short 416 27.7 -5.6
Green Mike Harrison 274 18.3 +2.1
Green Rosemary Brian 205 13.7 +0.5
Turnout 1,526 50.00 +8.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Heanton Punchardon[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrea Davis* 301 52.7 -18.3
Liberal Democrats Ray Shapland 139 24.3 -4.7
UKIP Steve Crowther 131 22.9 N/A
Majority 162 28.4 -13.6
Turnout 577 35.19 +3.2
Conservative hold Swing
Ilfracombe Central (2)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Crabb* 496 48.3 -10.4
Conservative Paul Yabsley* 436 42.5 -6.2
Independent Frank Pearson 381 37.1 +6.2
Independent Netti Pearson 284 27.7 N/A
Green Tim Cox 223 21.7 N/A
Turnout 1,052 29.64 -0.7
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Ilfracombe East[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Mike Edmunds* 482 55.1 +6.8
Conservative Robin Horne 312 35.7 -8.2
Labour Tony Ebert 80 9.2 N/A
Majority 170 19.5 +15.1
Turnout 891 45.01 +2.6
Independent hold Swing
Ilfracombe West (2)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Geoff Fowler 678 50.0 +7.1
Conservative Philip Webb 594 43.8 -4.2
Conservative Colin Wright* 560 41.3 -19.2
Labour Marianna Holdsworth 333 24.5 N/A
Turnout 1,378 37.93 +3.8
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Instow[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Brian Moores* 423 59.9 +6.7
Independent Stewart White 159 22.5 N/A
Independent Michaela Willis 124 17.6 N/A
Majority 264 37.4 +31.0
Turnout 721 55.75 +11.5
Conservative hold Swing
Landkey, Swimbridge & Taw (2)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Glyn Lane 1,054 48.3 +23.9
Conservative David Luggar* 973 44.6 +8.9
Liberal Democrats Richard Medland 639 29.3 -6.9
Liberal Democrats Mark Pegden 449 20.6 -14.1
Green Mark Haworth-Booth 390 17.9 +5.1
Independent Cliff Bell 341 15.6 -12.2
Turnout 2,209 54.13 +10.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Longbridge (Barnstaple) (2)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Des Brailey* 852 56.7 -3.2
Conservative Jackie Flynn 601 40.0 -4.6
Liberal Democrats Charlie Piper 529 35.2 +7.2
Liberal Democrats Malcolm Rundle 504 33.5 +12.8
Labour Mark Cann 225 15.0 N/A
Turnout 1,525 44.75
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Lynton & Lynmouth[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Julian Gurney 401 47.7 +47.7
Independent Tim Parker 220 26.2 N/A
Conservative Ian Rigby 220 26.2 N/A
Majority 181 21.5
Turnout 852 57.43
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Marwood[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Joe Tucker* 447 48.2 +0.7
Conservative Jim Pile 366 39.4 -3.2
Green Micky Darling 115 12.4 +2.5
Majority 81 8.7 +3.8
Turnout 929 59.45 +1.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Newport (Barnstaple) (2)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Mathews* 624 41.9 +2.5
Conservative Michael Harrison* 557 37.4 -2.8
Liberal Democrats Chris Haywood** 498 33.5 +1.6
Liberal Democrats Ian Roome 394 26.5 -3.8
Green Ricky Knight 353 23.7 -5.3
Green Rosie Haworth-Booth 200 13.4 -4.7
Labour Marion Mason 143 9.6 N/A
Turnout 1,525 42.24 -1.4
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Chris Haywood was a sitting councillor for Yeo Valley ward.

North Molton[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Edgell* 613 68.0 +68.0
Liberal Democrats Michael Nelson 288 32.0 N/A
Majority 325 36.1
Turnout 913 53.10
Conservative hold Swing
Pilton (Barnstaple) (2)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Brian Greenslade* 872 56.9 -2.4
Liberal Democrats Mair Manuel* 765 49.9 -6.2
Conservative David Barker 349 22.8 +1.2
Conservative Linda Wellstead 293 19.1 -0.5
Green L'Anne Knight 284 18.5 -5.4
Labour Hilary Greenfield 219 14.3 N/A
Turnout 1,553 43.72 +4.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
South Molton (2)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Moore 1,221 65.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats David Worden* 733 39.4 -10.9
Independent Tracey Lewis 682 36.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Sue Sewell* 618 33.2 -13.1
Turnout 1,879 47.69 +10.3
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Witheridge[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jeremy Yabsley* 689 71.8 +13.1
Liberal Democrats Kate Palmer 270 28.2 -13.1
Majority 419 43.7 +26.4
Turnout 983 51.57 +3.0
Conservative hold Swing
Yeo Valley (Barnstaple) (2)[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Lesley Brown 677 59.6 -4.9
Liberal Democrats Colin Payne* 600 52.9 +8.8
Conservative Silvia Harrison 253 22.3 +2.2
Green Sarah Willoughby 224 19.7 +0.5
TUSC Paul Dyer 186 16.4 +6.7
Turnout 1,171 34.24 +5.3
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

By-elections


Fremington (11 August 2011)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Chris Turner 501 46.9 -4.2
Conservative John Gill 308 28.8 +11.8
Independent Tony Wood 196 18.3 -5.9
Green Neil Basil 64 6.0 N/A
Turnout 1,073 29.99 -23.96
Independent hold Swing

References
  1. "England council elections". BBC News Online. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  2. Wilshaw, Adam (21 April 2011). "Will it be independents' day?". This is Devon. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  3. Parkinson, Justin (27 April 2011). "English local elections: Tory challenge to hold gains". BBC News Online. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  4. Land, Jon (5 May 2011). "Labour seeks resurgence in council elections". 24dash.om. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  5. "Tories lose control at NDC". This is North Devon. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  6. "Long-serving Lib Dem to stand as an independent". This is Devon. 7 April 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  7. "Tories win the Torbay mayoral vote in Devon". BBC News Online. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  8. "Conservatives lose control of North Devon council". BBC News Online. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  9. "District Elections Thursday 5 May 2011: District Elections Candidates and Results Wards B to H". North Devon Council. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  10. Keeble, Andy (6 May 2011). "Independents' day at district council elections". North Devon Gazette. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  11. "Pre-meeting deal leaves Tories out in the cold". This is North Devon. 26 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  12. "A coalition for North Devon Council". North Devon Gazette. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  13. "Coalition gives Devon council new Lib Dem leader". BBC News Online. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  14. "District Elections Thursday 5 May 2011: District Elections Candidates and Results Wards I to Y". North Devon Council. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
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