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Taunton Deane Borough Council elections

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Taunton Deane Borough Council in Somerset, England was elected every four years. The first elections to the council were held in 1973, ahead of it coming into being in 1974. The last election was held in 2015. The council was abolished in 2019 when the district merged with neighbouring West Somerset district to become Somerset West and Taunton.

Political control

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From the first election to the council in 1973 until its abolition in 2019, political control of the council was held by the following parties:[1]

Party in control Years
No overall control 1973–1976
Conservative 1976–1991
Liberal Democrats 1991–1999
No overall control 1999–2003
Conservative 2003–2007
No overall control 2007–2015
Conservative 2015–2019

Leadership

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The leaders of the council from 1974 to 2019 were:[2][3]

Councillor Party From To
John Meikle Conservative 1974 1991
Jefferson Horsley Liberal Democrats 1991 4 May 2003
John Williams Conservative 14 May 2003 16 May 2007
Ross Henley Liberal Democrats 16 May 2007 13 May 2010
John Williams Conservative 13 May 2010 31 Mar 2019

John Williams also served as leader of the shadow authority for Somerset West and Taunton during 2018–2019 ahead of the new council coming into force, but was unsuccessful in securing a seat on the new council at its first elections in May 2019.[4]

Council elections

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District result maps

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By-election results

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1995-1999

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Lynford By-Election 1 May 1997
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats 1,191 44.0 +15.2
Labour 981 36.6 −21.6
Conservative 530 19.6 +6.2
Majority 2,172 7.4
Turnout 2,702
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing
Taunton Halcon By-Election 1 May 1997
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats 1,100 43.9 +0.8
Labour 826 33.0 −12.5
Conservative 578 23.1 +11.6
Majority 274 10.9
Turnout 2,504
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Bishops Lydeard By-Election 10 July 1997
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative 395 49.6 +35.7
Liberal Democrats 338 42.5 −4.0
Labour 63 7.9 −7.8
Majority 57 7.1
Turnout 796 36.8
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

1999-2003

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Monument By-Election 21 March 2002[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Chris Tolchard 430 65.3 −0.5
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey Henley 228 34.7 +10.0
Majority 202 30.6
Turnout 658 40.0
Conservative hold Swing
Ruishton and Creech By-Election 14 November 2002[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Kim Cooper 576 40.3 −1.7
Conservative 518 36.3 −0.4
Independent 334 23.4 +2.1
Majority 58 4.0
Turnout 1,428 44.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

2003-2007

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Taunton Eastgate By-Election 5 May 2005[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Simon Coles 1,030 51.5 +9.0
Conservative Roger Ryan 621 31.1 +0.6
Labour Martin Peters 347 17.4 +1.6
Majority 409 20.4
Turnout 1,998 58.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Taunton Monument By-Election 5 May 2005[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Hill 701 58.8 −13.3
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey Henley 491 41.2 +13.3
Majority 210 17.6
Turnout 1,192 72.4
Conservative hold Swing
Wellington Rockwell Green and West By-Election 5 May 2005[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Clark 1,157 38.5 +10.5
Liberal Democrats Vivienne Stock-Williams 1,132 37.7 +7.6
Labour David Mitton 717 23.9 +8.1
Majority 25 0.8
Turnout 3,006 71.4
Conservative hold Swing
Taunton Blackbrook & Holway By-Election 4 May 2006[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Peter Smith 1,326 75.3 +26.8
Conservative Martin Seamark 436 24.7 −9.9
Majority 890 50.9
Turnout 1,762 35.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

2007-2011

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Comeytrowe By-Election 1 May 2008[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Mollie Floyd 1,362 60.1 +4.0
Conservative Wendy Skene 778 34.3 −1.3
UKIP Dorothy Baker 127 5.6 +5.6
Majority 584 25.8
Turnout 2,267 50.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Ruishton and Creech By-Election 2 October 2008[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kelly Durdan 902 56.3 +6.8
Liberal Democrats Cilla Owen 700 43.7 +3.2
Majority 202 12.6
Turnout 1,602
Conservative hold Swing
Lyngford By-Election 15 October 2009[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nicci Court 523 51.0 +6.6
Conservative Tonia White 274 26.7 −1.2
Labour Martin Jevon 164 16.0 −11.6
UKIP Stephanie Lukins 64 6.2 +6.2
Majority 249 24.3
Turnout 1,025 25.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Lyngford By-Election 28 January 2010[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ben Swaine 390 43.7 −0.7
Conservative John Gage 253 28.4 +0.4
Labour Martin Jevon 190 21.3 −6.3
UKIP Charlene Sheriff 59 6.6 +6.6
Majority 137 15.3
Turnout 892 22.3
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

2011-2019

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Blackdown by-election 15 December 2016
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ross Henley 440 71.2 +49.9
Conservative Giuseppe Farschini 164 22.5 −30.4
Independent Carl Bennyworth 39 6.3 N/A
Majority 276 48.7
Turnout
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

References

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  1. ^ a b "Taunton Deane". BBC News Online. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Council minutes". Somerset West and Taunton Council. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Leaders' names". What do they know?. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  4. ^ Mumby, Daniel (3 May 2019). "Local Elections 2019: Conservative leader of Somerset West and Taunton Council John Williams 'disappointed' at losing seat in 'Battle of the Blackdowns'". Somerset Live. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  5. ^ The Borough of Taunton Deane (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976
  6. ^ The Borough of Taunton Deane (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1986
  7. ^ The Sedgemoor and Taunton Deane (Areas) Order 1984
  8. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Taunton Deane (Electoral Changes) Order 1998. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  9. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Taunton Deane (Electoral Changes) (Amendment) Order 2000. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  10. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Taunton Deane (Electoral Changes) Order 2007. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Lib Dems drop bombshell on Blair's doorstep". guardian.co.uk. 22 March 2002. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  12. ^ "Labour makes only gain". guardian.co.uk. 15 November 2002. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  13. ^ a b c "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Taunton Deane Borough Council. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  14. ^ "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Taunton Deane Borough Council. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  15. ^ "Widow wins husband's seat on council". Somerset County Gazette. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  16. ^ "Conservatives by-election win". Somerset County Gazette. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  17. ^ "Victory for Nicci in Lyngford by-election". Somerset County Gazette. 16 October 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  18. ^ "Lib Dems win Lyngford by-election". thisisthewestcounty.co.uk. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
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