Darwen Town Council
Darwen Town Council | |
---|---|
![]() Logo | |
Type | |
Type | |
History | |
Founded | 2 April 2009[1] |
Leadership | |
Stephanie Brookfield | |
Leader | Jonathan Hamer |
Rebecca Hay | |
Structure | |
Seats | 13 councillors |
![]() | |
Political groups | Labour Party: 12 seats
Conservative Party: 1 seat |
Length of term | Whole council elected every four years |
Elections | |
First-past-the-post | |
Last election | 2 May 2024 |
Next election | TBA |
Meeting place | |
![]() | |
Darwen Town Hall | |
Website | |
darwen-council |
Darwen Town Council is the parish council covering the town of Darwen, England. It serves 27,200 residents.[2] The council has its headquarters at Darwen Town Hall.
History
[edit]On 16 October 2008 a referendum was held in Darwen on the creation of a town council. Of the 20,495 electors eligible to vote, a total of 4,198 took part in the referendum. The result of the referendum was as follows: 2,378 voted yes, 1,725 (8.42%) voted no, 95 ballot papers were rejected and turnout was 20.49%.[3]
In December, following the referendum Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council approved the creation of the council.[4] the council was created on 2 April 2009 with the first election in June.[1]
Responsibilities
[edit]The town council receives funding by levying a "precept" on the council tax paid by the residents of the civil parish. The council runs events and projects to promote Darwen and also provide funding in the community for projects and parks.
Political control
[edit]Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
For Darwen | 2009–2012 | |
Labour | 2012–2021 | |
No overall control | 2021–2024 | |
Labour | 2024–present |
At the first elections to the council in June 2009, the For Darwen Party took control, winning 7 seats, the Liberal Democrats won 4 and the Conservative Party and Labour Party won one each.[4] At the second election in May 2012 For Darwen lost all their seats with Labour taking control with 8 seats to the Lib Dems 5.[4] In the 2016 elections Labour won 7, Lib Dems 4 and Conservatives 2.[5]
In the 6 May 2021 election seats were as follows; 5 Labour, 4, Conservative and 4 Lib Dem.[6]
On the 2 May 2024 elections, Labour took back firm control by winning 12 of the 13 seats with the Conservatives winning the other remaining seat.[7]
Wards and Councillors
[edit]Since 2009, Darwen is served by a Town Council, which since 2018 is divided into 4 Wards, 3 of which are represented by four town councillors and the other by one town councillor.[8]
Current town council | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ward | Councillor | Party | |
Darwen East Ward | Julie Dugan | Labour | |
Matt Gibson | Labour | ||
Martin McCaughran | Labour | ||
Mark Westall | Labour | ||
Darwen South Ward | Liam Dobson | Labour | |
Paul O'Garr | Labour | ||
Anthony Shaw | Labour | ||
Sue Skipper | Labour | ||
Darwen South Rural Ward | Steve Duncan | Conservative | |
Darwen West Ward | Stephanie Brookfield | Labour | |
Jonathon Hamer | Labour | ||
Dave Smith | Labour | ||
Brian Taylor | Labour |
Elections
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/UK_Darwen_Town_Council_2024.svg/220px-UK_Darwen_Town_Council_2024.svg.png)
2024
[edit]Darwen East
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Martin McCaughran | 771 | |||
Labour | Julie Dugan | 719 | |||
Labour | Matt Gibson | 688 | |||
Labour | Mark Westall | 645 | |||
Independent | Paul Browne | 477 | |||
Independent | Mark Davies | 422 | |||
Conservative | Ryan Slater | 302 | |||
Spoilt Ballots | — | 6 | — | — | |
Turnout | 4,030 | 20.96 | |||
Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing |
Darwen South
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Anthony Shaw | 947 | |||
Labour | Sue Skipper | 883 | |||
Labour | Liam Dobson | 870 | |||
Labour | Paul O'Garr | 862 | |||
Conservative | Kevin Connor | 786 | |||
Conservative | Neil Slater | 753 | |||
Conservative | Lilian Salton | 729 | |||
Conservative | Joan Hepple | 689 | |||
Spoilt Ballots | — | 28 | — | — | |
Turnout | 6,547 | 28.58 | |||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
Darwen South Rural
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Steve Duncan | 263 | |||
Labour | Simon Charlesworth | 188 | |||
Spoilt Ballots | — | 13 | — | — | |
Turnout | 464 | 31.52 | |||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing |
Darwen West
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Smith | 1,212 | |||
Labour | Brian Taylor | 1,212 | |||
Labour | Stephanie Brookfield | 1,029 | |||
Labour | Jonathon Hamer | 984 | |||
Conservative | Jacqueline Slater | 419 | |||
Spoilt Ballots | — | 12 | — | — | |
Turnout | 4,868 | 28.50 | |||
Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/UK_Darwen_Town_Council_2021.svg/220px-UK_Darwen_Town_Council_2021.svg.png)
2021
[edit]Darwen East
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Eileen Entwistle | 853 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Roy Davies | 838 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Paul Browne | 688 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Mark Davies | 666 | |||
Labour | Martin McCaughran | 663 | |||
Labour | Liz Johnson | 569 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Simon Huggill | 558 | |||
Labour | Steven Johnson | 550 | |||
Spoilt Ballots | — | 44 | — | — | |
Turnout | 5,524 | 26.78 | |||
Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | |||||
Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | |||||
Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |
Darwen South
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Kevin Connor | 1,026 | |||
Conservative | Neil Slater | 1,003 | |||
Conservative | Lilian Salton | 988 | |||
Conservative | Andrew Walker | 975 | |||
Labour | Sarah Rose | 586 | |||
Labour | Matt Gibson | 572 | |||
Labour | Laura Higab | 518 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Joan Hepple | 426 | |||
Labour | Jude Rowley | 404 | |||
Spoilt Ballots | — | 15 | — | — | |
Turnout | 6,513 | 31.30 | |||
Conservative win (new seat) | |||||
Conservative win (new seat) | |||||
Conservative win (new seat) | |||||
Conservative win (new seat) |
Darwen South Rural
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | John East | 425 | |||
Labour | Matt Jackson | 94 | |||
Spoilt Ballots | — | 21 | — | — | |
Turnout | 540 | 36.50 | |||
Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |
Darwen West
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | David Smith | 1,171 | |||
Labour | Brian Taylor | 1,113 | |||
Labour | Stephanie Brookfield | 990 | |||
Labour | Jonathon Hamer | 923 | |||
Conservative | Lynn Perkins | 735 | |||
Conservative | Janine Crook | 883 | |||
Conservative | Rob Toner | 669 | |||
Conservative | Ryan Slater | 664 | |||
Spoilt Ballots | — | 18 | — | — | |
Turnout | 7,166 | 33.90 | |||
Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Labour win (new seat) | |||||
Labour win (new seat) |
Mayors
[edit]List of mayors of Darwen | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Tenure | Name | Party | Notes | |
2009–2012 | Paul Browne | Liberal Democrats | [10] | |
2012–2016 | Eileen Entwistle | Labour | [11] | |
2016–2017 | Brian Taylor | Labour | [5][12] | |
2017-2019 | Roy Davies | Liberal Democrats | [13] | |
2019–2022 | Lillian Salton | Conservative | ||
2022–present | Stephanie Brookfield | Labour | [14] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Pye, Catherine (2 April 2009). "Darwen Town Council formed". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "People". Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Logon". www.blackburn.gov.uk. 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Clough, Dan (2 January 2013). "Experts reflect on four years of Darwen Town Council". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ a b Brawn, Stephanie (12 May 2016). "New mayor of Darwen hails 'one of his proudest moments' of his life". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Parish Election Results". 6 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Jacobs, Bill (6 May 2024). "Darwen Town Council: Labour sweep the poll results in election". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Parish and Town Council election results Thursday 2 May". www.blackburn.gov.uk. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. 2 May 2024. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Parish election results: 6 May 2021". www.blackburn.gov.uk. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. 6 May 2021. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Row as Paul Browne becomes Darwen mayor". Lancashire Telegraph. 23 July 2009.
- ^ "Darwen's new mayor is named". Lancashire Telegraph. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "New town mayor elected out of 'spite'". Lancashire Telegraph. 12 May 2017.
- ^ "Departing Mayor gifts hundreds to town's primary schools". Lancashire Telegraph. 10 June 2019.
- ^ "Who is new mayor of town?". Lancashire Telegraph. 30 May 2022.