Sedgefield Borough Council elections
Sedgefield Borough Council elections were generally held every four years between the council's creation in 1974 and its abolition in 2009. Sedgefield was a non-metropolitan district in County Durham, England. On 1 April 2009 the council's functions passed to Durham County Council, which became a unitary authority.
Political control
[edit]The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Throughout the council's existence from 1974 to 2009, Labour held a majority of the seats on the council.[1]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1974–2009 | |
Leadership
[edit]The leaders of the council were:[2]
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren McCourt[3] | Labour | 1974 | 1986 | |
| Brian Stephens[4][5] | Labour | 1986 | May 2003 | |
| Bob Fleming[6][7] | Labour | 16 May 2003 | 2007 | |
| Agnes Armstrong[8][9] | Labour | 18 May 2007 | 31 Mar 2009 | |
Council elections
[edit]| Election | Labour | Liberal Democrat[a] | Conservative | Independent | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973[10] | 40 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 53 | |
| 1976[11] | 36 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 53 | District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same[12] |
| 1979[13] | 40 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 53 | |
| 1983[14] | 40 | 4[b] | 2 | 3 | 49 | New ward boundaries & district boundary changes also took place[15][16] |
| 1987[17] | 37 | 7[c] | 2 | 3[d] | 49 | District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same[18] |
| 1991[19] | 33 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 49 | District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same[20] |
| 1995[21] | 44 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 49[e] | |
| 1999[22] | 43 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 49 | |
| 2003[23] | 35 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 50 | New ward boundaries[24] |
| 2007[25] | 28 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 50 | |
Results maps
[edit]-
2003 results map -
2007 results map
By-election results
[edit]The following is an incomplete list of by-elections to Sedgefield Borough Council.
1995-1999
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | 425 | 55.8 | |||
| Independent | 216 | 28.4 | |||
| Liberal Democrats | Benjamin May Ord | 88 | 11.6 | ||
| Conservative | 32 | 4.2 | |||
| Majority | 209 | 27.4 | |||
| Turnout | 761 | 28 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
1999-2003
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Agnes Armstrong | 373 | 60.2 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | Martin Jones | 247 | 39.8 | ||
| Majority | 126 | 20.4 | |||
| Turnout | 620 | 23 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1,129 | 52.2 | +5.2 | ||
| Independent | 1,033 | 47.8 | −5.2 | ||
| Majority | 96 | 4.4 | |||
| Turnout | 2,162 | ||||
| Labour gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Kevin Thompson | 528 | 51.7 | +21.4 | |
| Labour | 493 | 48.3 | −21.4 | ||
| Majority | 35 | 3.4 | |||
| Turnout | 1,021 | ||||
| Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | ||||
Notes
[edit]- ^ Liberal Party prior to 1983, SDP-Liberal Alliance in 1983 and 1987.
- ^ 0 Liberal, 4 SDP
- ^ 1 Liberal, 6 SDP
- ^ Including three Independent Labour
- ^ 3 vacant after election
References
[edit]- ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Sedgefield" in search box to see specific results.)
- ^ "Council minutes". Durham County Council. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Councillors join celebration as couple mark golden anniversary". Northern Echo. 14 February 2005. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Sedgefield". Hartlepool Mail. 2 May 2003. p. 4. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
Brian Stephens, 62, leader of Sedgefield council since 1986...
- ^ "Council chief loses as party clings to power". Northern Echo. 3 May 2003. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "Council minutes, 16 May 2003". Sedgefield Borough Council. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "History made as council agrees to capital spend". Northern Echo. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "Council minutes, 18 May 2007". Sedgefield Borough Council. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "Council bestows Honorary Aldermen title on 22 members". Northern Echo. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "Liberals capture Eastbourne and exceed ambition to win 1,000 loval government seats". The Times. 9 June 1973.
- ^ "Heavy Labour losses in district polls". The Times. 8 May 1976.
- ^ The Darlington and Sedgefield (Areas) Order 1976
- ^ Local elections in Britain: a statistical digest, edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher. 1993
- ^ "How votes were cast in local government elections". The Times. 7 May 1983. p. 4.
- ^ The District of Sedgefield (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979
- ^ The Cleveland and Durham (Areas) Order 1982
- ^ "Results in Thursday's local elections". The Times. 9 May 1987.
- ^ The Durham (District Boundaries) Order 1986
- ^ "Complete round-up of results from Thursday's local council elections". The Times. 4 May 1991.
- ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Cleveland and Durham (County Boundaries) Order 1988. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
- ^ "Complete list of results from Thursday's council elections". The Times. 6 May 1995. p. 10.
- ^ "Sedgefield". BBC News. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ^ "Sedgefield". BBC News. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Sedgefield (Electoral Changes) Order 1999. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
- ^ "Sedgefield". BBC News. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
