Conservatives buck the national trend: Newark and Sherwood District Council and Newark Town Council election results explained
Conservative councillors have tightened their grip on control of Newark and Sherwood District Council but look set to lose control of Newark Town Council, despite being the biggest single party or group represented.
In the district election the Tories reversed the national trend of big losses by gaining three seats to reach 27.
Labour lost three to go down to seven, Independents stayed on three and the Lib Dems won two seats, having had no representation at district level before the elections.
The casualties included deputy mayor Roy Williams, who was due to take over as Mayor on Sunday.
Conservative leader on both town and district council David Lloyd said he hoped to work with other groups at town level.
“I am delighted that we have not only retained control of the district council but also increased our majority. Albeit I am saddened to have lost seats, and colleagues, in Southwell and Newark Devon, to have retained all other wards and made such strident gains in the Sherwood area is testament to the hard work of colleagues and the positive agenda we put before people.
“ I am, however, disappointed not to have retained as many councillors on Southwell and Newark town councils. In both cases, I hope that we can reach out to other parties to sustain the progress made in recent years to empower local communities and invigorate localism.”
Labour gained three town council seats in Newark to take their total to five, with Independents winning four and the Greens gaining two seats for the first time. An alliance between the three smaller groupings would see an 11-strong coalition wresting control of the town from the Tories.
Labour councillor Dennis Jones failed to retain his district seat in Devon ward but was re-elected to the town council.
This week he was leading the efforts to join forces with other parties to choose a leader, a mayor and a deputy mayor in time for Sunday’s mayor-making.
Mr Jones said: “Support for the Labour Party was very disappointing. I think we got the blame for things that were not our fault, over Brexit, when people should have been concentrating on local issues.
“It was disappointed not to be re-elected to the district council. The up side is that we have got more councillors on the town council. We are talking with the Independents and the Greens and this could actually give us a majority on the town council.
“The Independents are quite happy to have made to them.”
Mr Jones said he hoped to be leader of the council, with Independent Irene Brown the leading contender for mayor.
Labour’s Laurence Goff was also re-elected to Newark Town Council and gained a district seat in the same ward, Devon, finally succeeding after four previous attempts. He first stood as a district council candidate in 1999.
Mr Goff said: “It was a surprise and an honour to be elected to represent the town on the district council for the first time.
“I think it was down to my campaigning on local issues like potholes, pavements and bus services.”
Leading Independent councillor Gill Dawn said since the election she had received a lot of critical phone messages asking why there weren’t more independents standing.
She said: “It’s not up to us independents to recruit other independents, but if anyone out there is interested they can contact us via social media.”
In Southwell, Liberal Democrat Peter Harris topped the poll in the district election to return to the council. He was joined by fellow Lib Dem Malcolm Brock and Conservative Penny Rainbow.
On Southwell Town Council, the Lib Dems have control with eight councillors with Conservatives on four and three Independents.
To see the district council results in full, click HERE.
To see the results from Newark Town Council and Southwell Town Council, click HERE.
