North Devon Council election, 2011

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

      The 2011 North Devon 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]

      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]

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      Election result

      The results saw the Conservative lose their majortiy on the council, dropping to 18 seats after sufering a net loss of 4 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 Democrat 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]

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      Ward results

      Bickington & Roundswell (2)[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Independent Rodney Cann 850
      Independent Brian Hockin 570
      Liberal Democrat Carol McCormack-Hole 411
      Liberal Democrat Jerry Hole 281
      Conservative Serena Thomas 278
      Conservative Jason Ritterband-Fulcher 272
      Labour Jean Smalley 163
      Turnout 2,825 43.4 +8.5
      Independent hold Swing
      Independent gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
      Bishops Nympton[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Independent Eric Ley unopposed
      Independent hold Swing
      Bratton Fleming[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Independent Malcolm Prowse 544 54.1 +54.1
      Conservative Gordon Cumming 315 31.3 +10.2
      Green Ian Godfrey 147 14.6 +14.6
      Majority 229 22.8
      Turnout 1,006 62.8 +6.2
      Independent gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
      Braunton East (2)[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Conservative Roy Lucas 621
      Liberal Democrat Derrick Spear 517
      Liberal Democrat Elizabeth Spear 495
      Conservative Sally Smith 489
      Green Mary Breeds 276
      Green Andy Leat 191
      Labour Valerie Cann 173
      Turnout 2,762 47.0 +6.4
      Conservative hold Swing
      Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative Swing
      Braunton West (2)[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Conservative Caroline Chugg 753
      Conservative Jasmine Chesters 677
      Liberal Democrat Marguerite Shapland 478
      Liberal Democrat Carol Woodford 342
      Green Liz Wood 218
      Labour Steven Holden 206
      Green Mary Clay 174
      Turnout 2,848 47.6 +4.2
      Conservative hold Swing
      Conservative hold Swing
      Central Town (Barnstaple) (2)[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Liberal Democrat Faye Webber 593
      Liberal Democrat Adam Bradford 550
      Conservative Simon Harvey 459
      Labour Danny Neary 235
      Conservative Deborah Lewis 201
      Communist Gerrard Sables 90
      Turnout 2,128 33.9 +0.4
      Liberal Democrat hold Swing
      Liberal Democrat hold Swing
      Chittlehampton[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Independent Walter White unopposed
      Independent hold Swing
      Chulmleigh[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Conservative Sue Croft 615 63.4
      Liberal Democrat Trudy Weston 355 36.6
      Majority 260 26.8
      Turnout 970 54.6
      Conservative hold Swing
      Combe Martin (2)[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Independent Yvette Gubb 1,168
      Independent Julia Clark 821
      Conservative Sue Sussex 764
      Conservative Paul Crockett 541
      Turnout 3,294 54.2 +3.3
      Independent gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
      Independent gain from Conservative Swing
      Forches & Whiddon Valley (Barnstaple) (2)[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Liberal Democrat Sue Haywood 534
      Liberal Democrat Julie Hunt 433
      Labour Geoff Moody 208
      Green Neil Basil 200
      TUSC Douglas Lowe 154
      Turnout 1,529 29.5 +3.4
      Liberal Democrat hold Swing
      Liberal Democrat hold Swing
      Fremington (2)[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Independent Frank Biederman 1,266
      Independent Joanne Bell 969
      Conservative Dick Jones 382
      Conservative John Gill 323
      Independent Tony Wood 235
      Liberal Democrat Andrew Cann 184
      Liberal Democrat Joy Cann 95
      Turnout 3,454 54.0 +11.1
      Independent gain from Conservative Swing
      Independent gain from Conservative Swing
      Georgeham & Mortehoe (2)[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Liberal Democrat Malcolm Wilkinson 678
      Conservative Pat Barker 597
      Liberal Democrat Lesley Slade 557
      Conservative Edward Short 416
      Green Mike Harrison 274
      Green Rosemary Brian 205
      Turnout 2,727 50.0 +8.9
      Liberal Democrat hold Swing
      Conservative hold Swing
      Heanton Punchardon[9]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Conservative Andrea Davis 301 52.7 -18.3
      Liberal Democrat Ray Shapland 139 24.3 -4.7
      UKIP Steve Crowther 131 22.9 +22.9
      Majority 162 28.4 -13.6
      Turnout 571 35.2 +3.2
      Conservative hold Swing
      Ilfracombe Central (2)[14]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Conservative Paul Crabb 496
      Conservative Paul Yabsley 436
      Independent Frank Pearson 381
      Independent Netti Pearson 284
      Green Tim Cox 223
      Turnout 1,820 29.6 -0.7
      Conservative hold 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 +9.2
      Majority 170 19.5 +15.1
      Turnout 874 45.0 +2.6
      Independent hold Swing
      Ilfracombe West (2)[14]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Liberal Democrat Geoff Fowler 678
      Conservative Philip Webb 594
      Conservative Colin Wright 560
      Labour Marianna Holdsworth 333
      Turnout 2,165 37.9 +3.8
      Liberal Democrat 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 +22.5
      Independent Michaela Willis 124 17.6 +17.6
      Majority 264 37.4 +31.0
      Turnout 706 55.8 +11.5
      Conservative hold Swing
      Landkey, Swimbridge & Taw (2)[14]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Conservative Glyn Lane 1,054
      Conservative David Luggar 973
      Liberal Democrat Richard Medland 639
      Liberal Democrat Mark Pegden 449
      Green Mark Haworth-Booth 390
      Independent Cliff Bell 341
      Turnout 3,846 54.1 +10.2
      Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
      Conservative hold Swing
      Longbridge (Barnstaple) (2)[14]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Conservative Des Brailey 852
      Conservative Jackie Flynn 601
      Liberal Democrat Charlie Piper 529
      Liberal Democrat Malcolm Rundle 504
      Labour Mark Cann 225
      Turnout 2,711 44.8
      Conservative hold Swing
      Conservative hold Swing
      Lynton & Lynmouth[14]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Liberal Democrat Julian Gurney 401 47.7
      Independent Tim Parker 220 26.2
      Conservative Ian Rigby 220 26.2
      Majority 181 21.5
      Turnout 841 57.4
      Liberal Democrat hold Swing
      Marwood[14]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Liberal Democrat 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 928 59.5 +1.5
      Liberal Democrat hold Swing
      Newport (Barnstaple) (2)[14]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Conservative John Mathews 624
      Conservative Michael Harrison 557
      Liberal Democrat Chris Haywood 498
      Liberal Democrat Ian Roome 394
      Green Ricky Knight 353
      Green Rosie Haworth-Booth 200
      Labour Marion Mason 143
      Turnout 2,769 42.2 -1.4
      Conservative hold Swing
      Conservative hold Swing
      North Molton[14]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Conservative Richard Edgell 613 68.0
      Liberal Democrat Michael Nelson 288 32.0
      Majority 325 36.1
      Turnout 901 53.1
      Conservative hold Swing
      Pilton (Barnstaple) (2)[14]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Liberal Democrat Brian Greenslade 872
      Liberal Democrat Mair Manuel 765
      Conservative David Barker 349
      Conservative Linda Wellstead 293
      Green L'Anne Knight 284
      Labour Hilary Greenfield 219
      Turnout 2,782 43.7 +4.0
      Liberal Democrat hold Swing
      Liberal Democrat hold Swing
      South Molton (2)[14]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Independent John Moore 1,221
      Liberal Democrat David Worden 733
      Independent Tracey Lewis 682
      Liberal Democrat Sue Sewell 618
      Turnout 3,254 47.7 +10.3
      Independent gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
      Liberal Democrat hold Swing
      Witheridge[14]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Conservative Jeremy Yabsley 689 71.8 +13.1
      Liberal Democrat Kate Palmer 270 28.2 -13.1
      Majority 419 43.7 +26.4
      Turnout 959 51.6 +3.0
      Conservative hold Swing
      Yeo Valley (Barnstaple) (2)[14]
      Party Candidate Votes % ±%
      Liberal Democrat Lesley Brown 677
      Liberal Democrat Colin Payne 600
      Conservative Silvia Harrison 253
      Green Sarah Willoughby 224
      TUSC Paul Dyer 186
      Turnout 1,940 34.2 +5.3
      Liberal Democrat hold Swing
      Liberal Democrat hold Swing
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      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. 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. ^ a b c d "Tories lose control at NDC". This is North Devon. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011. 
      6. ^ "Long-serving Lib Dem to stand as an independent". This is Devon. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011. 
      7. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "District Elections Thursday 5 May 2011: District Elections Candidates and Results Wards B to H". North Devon Council. Retrieved 2 August 2011. 
      10. ^ Keeble, Andy (6 May 2011). "Independents’ day at district council elections". North Devon Gazette. Retrieved 3 August 2011. 
      11. ^ a b "Pre-meeting deal leaves Tories out in the cold". This is North Devon. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011. 
      12. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "District Elections Thursday 5 May 2011: District Elections Candidates and Results Wards I to Y". North Devon Council. Retrieved 2 August 2011. 


      Preceded by
      North Devon Council election, 2007      		 North Devon local elections Succeeded by
      North Devon Council election, 2015
       
       
       
       
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      Last modified on 14 June 2012, at 12:18