Christchurch Borough Council elections

For local elections in Christchurch, New Zealand, see Mayor of Christchurch.

Map showing the composition of Christchurch Borough Council after the 2015 election. Conservatives in blue, independents in grey, UK Independence Party in purple.

Christchurch Borough Council in Dorset, England, existed from 1974 to 2019, when it was abolished and subsumed into Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

Political control

The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority prior to the district coming into effect the following year. From 1973 until its abolition in 2019 political control of the council was held by the following parties:[1][2]

Party in control Years
Conservative 1973–1995
No overall control 1995–1999
Conservative 1999–2019

Leadership

The role of mayor was largely ceremonial at Christchurch Borough Council. Political leadership was instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders from 2003 until the council's abolition in 2019 were:

Councillor Party From To
Harold Cooper[3] Conservative 14 Feb 2003
Alan Griffiths[4][5] Conservative 2003 2010
John Lofts[6] Conservative Dec 2010 May 2011
Ray Nottage[7][8] Conservative 17 May 2011 20 Feb 2017
David Flagg[9] Conservative 20 Feb 2017 31 Mar 2019

Council elections

Summary of the council composition after each election; click on the year for full details of each election. Boundary changes took place for the 2003 election, reducing the number of seats by one.[10]

Year Conservative Independent UK Independence Party Liberal Democrats Notes
1995[12] 8 7 0 10 Borough boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same[13]
1999[14] 17 3 0 5
2003[10] 14 2 0 8 New ward boundaries[15]
2007[16] 17 3 0 4
2011[1] 21 2 0 1
2015[17][18] 21 2 1 0

Borough result maps

  • 2003 results map
    2003 results map
  • 2007 results map
    2007 results map
  • 2011 results map
    2011 results map
  • 2015 results map
    2015 results map

By-election results

By-elections occur when seats become vacant between council elections. Below is a summary of recent by-elections;[19] full by-election results can be found by clicking on the by-election name.

By-election Date Incumbent party Winning party
Burton 1 May 1997 Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats
Jumpers by-election 7 June 2001 Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats
Jumpers by-election 5 May 2005 Independent Liberal Democrats
Portfield by-election 5 May 2005 Conservative Liberal Democrats
Purewell and Stanpit by-election 5 May 2005 Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats
Portfield by-election 16 July 2009 Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats
Mudeford and Friars Cliff by-election 2 March 2017 Conservative Conservative

References

  1. ^ a b "England council elections". BBC News Online. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 26 November 2024. (Put "Christchurch" in search box to see specific results.)
  3. ^ "Council leader dies on market campaign". Dorset Echo. 17 February 2003. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Delighted residents win battle for CCTV cameras". Dorset Echo. 14 March 2003. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Christchurch Borough Council leader to step down". BBC News. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  6. ^ Clark, Katie (22 December 2010). ""You won't become second class citizens" pledge from council chief". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  7. ^ Clark, Katie (6 December 2024). "Conservatives have 21 of 24 seats on Christchurch council". Daily Echo. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Christchurch council leader ousted by no-confidence vote". BBC News. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Christchurch Tories suspended over merger election row". BBC News. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Local elections". BBC News Online. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  11. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Christchurch (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
  12. ^ "Complete list of results from thursday's council elections". The Times. NewsBank. 6 May 1995. p. 48.
  13. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex and Wiltshire (County Boundaries) Order 1991. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
  14. ^ "How the nations voted". The Times. NewsBank. 8 May 1999. p. 48.
  15. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Christchurch (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Christchurch". BBC News Online. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  17. ^ "Local election results for Christchurch and East Dorset". dorsetforyou.com. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 13 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  18. ^ "Elections for the North Highcliffe & Walkford ward". dorsetforyou.com. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  19. ^ "Local Authority Byelection Results". Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2015.