2012 North Hertfordshire District Council election

2012 North Hertfordshire District Council election | <- 2011 | 3 May 2012 (2012-05-03) | 2014 ->

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15 of 49 seats on North Hertfordshire District Council
25 seats needed for a majority
|  | First party  | Second party  | Third party

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Con

Lab

Leader  | Lynda Needham  | David Billing  | Steve Jarvis
Party  | Conservative | Labour | Liberal Democrats
Seats before  | 34  | 7  | 8
Seats after  | 33  | 10  | 6
Seat change  | 1  | 3  | 2
Popular vote  | 9,972  | 6,729  | 3,386
Percentage  | 42.4%  | 28.6%  | 14.4%

* * *

| Leader before election

Lynda Needham
Conservative

| Leader after election

Lynda Needham
Conservative

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The 2012 North Hertfordshire Council election was held on 3 May 2012, at the same time as other local elections across England, Scotland and Wales. Of the 49 seats on North Hertfordshire District Council, 15 were up for election.[1][2]

Labour gained three seats from the Conservatives, whilst the Conservatives gained two seats from the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives retained overall control of the council, whilst Labour overtook the Liberal Democrats to become the second largest party.[2]

## Overall results[edit]

The overall results were as follows:[3]

2012 North Hertfordshire District Council election

Party  | This election  | Full council  | This election
Seats  | Net  | Seats %  | Other | Total  | Total %  | Votes  | Votes %  | +/−
| Conservative | 9  |  1  | 60.0  | 24  | 33 | 67.3  | 9,972  | 42.4  | -6.0
| Labour | 5  |  3  | 33.3  | 5  | 10 | 20.4  | 6,729  | 28.6  | +5.7
| Liberal Democrats | 1  |  2  | 6.7  | 5  | 6 | 12.2  | 3,386  | 14.4  | -3.2
| Green | 0  |  | 0.0  | 0  | 0 | 0.0  | 2,341  | 10.0  | +1.8
| UKIP | 0  |  | 0.0  | 0  | 0 | 0.0  | 850  | 3.6  | +1.7
| English Democrat | 0  |  | 0.0  | 0  | 0 | 0.0  | 238  | 1.0  | +0.8

## Ward results[edit]

The results for each ward were as follows. Where the previous incumbent was standing for re-election they are marked with an asterisk(*). A double dagger (‡) indicates a sitting councillor contesting a different ward.[4][5]

Baldock East  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Conservative | John Harris  | 475  | 46.8  | +2.3
| Liberal Democrats | Marilyn Kirkland*  | 392  | 38.7  | -13.1
| Labour | Vaughan West  | 86  | 8.5  | n/a
| Green | Sylvia Hutchinson  | 54  | 5.3  | +1.7
Majority  | 83  | 8.2  |
Turnout | 1,014  | 45.19  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +7.8  |
Baldock Town  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Conservative | Michael Edwin Weeks*  | 828  | 54.7  | -3.3
| Labour | Ken Garland  | 308  | 20.3  | -2.3
| Green | Arwen Jane Tapping  | 221  | 14.6  | +5.5
| Liberal Democrats | Richard Winter  | 147  | 9.7  | +0.5
Majority  | 520  | 34.3  |
Turnout | 1,514  | 26.1  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -0.5  |
Chesfield  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Liberal Democrats | Sally Margaret Jarvis  | 685  | 43.9  | +9.0
| Conservative | James Henry  | 534  | 34.2  | -7.3
| Labour | Bhavna Joshi  | 280  | 17.9  | -0.5
| Green | Felicity Ann Power  | 59  | 3.8  | -0.8
Majority  | 151  | 9.7  |
Turnout | 1,562  | 29.9  |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +8.2  |
Hitchin Bearton  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Labour | Deborah Segalini  | 1,041  | 52.7  | +2.4
| Conservative | Alex Stoner  | 536  | 27.1  | -3.5
| Green | Gavin Nicholson  | 216  | 10.9  | +2.4
| Liberal Democrats | Michael John Lott  | 175  | 8.9  | -1.0
Majority  | 505  | 25.6  |
Turnout | 1,976  | 31.7  |
| Labour hold | Swing | +3.0  |
Hitchin Highbury  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Conservative | David Leal-Bennett  | 906  | 39.7  | +5.1
| Liberal Democrats | Clare Body*  | 877  | 38.4  | -1.4
| Labour | Peter Anthony Mardell  | 301  | 13.2  | +2.3
| Green | Jackie Greatorex  | 187  | 8.2  | +2.4
Majority  | 29  | 1.3  |
Turnout | 2,283  | 37.9  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +3.3  |
Hitchin Oughton  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Labour | Joan Irene Kirby*  | 638  | 60.4  | +21.7
| Conservative | Faye Barnard  | 258  | 24.4  | -10.2
| Green | Alan Brookman  | 103  | 9.8  | +3.7
| Liberal Democrats | Rob Lambie  | 50  | 4.7  | -15.3
Majority  | 380  | 36.0  |
Turnout | 1,056  | 29.3  |
| Labour hold | Swing | +16.0  |
Hitchin Priory  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Conservative | Richard Thake*  | 696  | 49.0  | -7.6
| Labour | Nafisa Sayany  | 228  | 16.1  | +7.5
| UKIP | Adrianne Smyth  | 228  | 16.1  | n/a
| Liberal Democrats | Liz Willoughby  | 146  | 10.3  | -17.9
| Green | Ann De Bock  | 117  | 8.2  | +2.3
Majority  | 468  | 33.0  |
Turnout | 1,419  | 39.6  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -7.5  |
Hitchin Walsworth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Conservative | Ray Shakespeare-Smith*  | 759  | 38.9  | -1.7
| Labour | Derek Nigel Sheard  | 756  | 38.7  | +8.6
| Green | Mario May  | 299  | 15.3  | +3.2
| Liberal Democrats | Andrew Ircha  | 127  | 6.5  | -1.1
Majority  | 3  | 0.2  |
Turnout | 1,952  | 32.1  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -5.2  |
Hitchwood, Offa & Hoo  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Conservative | Claire Patricia Strong*  | 1,230  | 63.7  | -2.6
| Labour | Louise Helen Chinnery  | 325  | 16.8  | +1.4
| Green | George Winston Howe  | 213  | 11.0  | +3.4
| Liberal Democrats | Peter Donald Johnson  | 147  | 7.6  | -2.5
Majority  | 905  | 46.9  |
Turnout | 1,931  | 34.6  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -2.0  |
Knebworth  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Conservative | Alan Bardett*  | 741  | 57.4  | -4.4
| Labour | Jonathan Holman  | 251  | 19.4  | +2.7
| UKIP | Andrew Scuoler  | 147  | 11.4  | n/a
| Green | Harold Bland  | 142  | 11.0  | +6.8
Majority  | 490  | 37.9  |
Turnout | 1,292  | 31.3  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -3.5  |
Letchworth East  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Labour | Ian Mantle  | 472  | 40.2  | +1.2
| Conservative | Michael Paterson*  | 383  | 32.6  | -4.3
| UKIP | John Barry  | 108  | 9.2  | -0.4
| Green | Eric Morris Blakeley  | 97  | 8.3  | -5.1
| Liberal Democrats | Mertsi Fisher  | 73  | 6.2  | n/a
| English Democrat | Tim Vickers  | 36  | 3.1  | n/a
Majority  | 89  | 7.6  |
Turnout | 1,174  | 27.6  |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.7  |
Letchworth Grange  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Labour | Clare Helen Billing  | 721  | 43.1  | +1.4
| Conservative | Paul Marment*  | 487  | 29.1  | -6.5
| English Democrat | Charles Vickers  | 202  | 12.1  | +9.3
| Green | Rosemary Bland  | 131  | 7.8  | +2.2
| Liberal Democrats | Martin Geoffrey Penny  | 123  | 7.3  | +0.2
Majority  | 234  | 14.0  |
Turnout | 1,674  | 29.1  |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.9  |
Letchworth South East  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Conservative | David Charles Levett*  | 627  | 38.8  | -9.1
| Labour | Nicholas Kissen  | 487  | 30.1  | +3.7
| UKIP | Philip Martin Stevens  | 235  | 14.5  | +5.7
| Liberal Democrats | John Winder  | 132  | 8.2  | -0.5
| Green | James Drew  | 124  | 7.7  | +0.5
Majority  | 140  | 8.7  |
Turnout | 1,617  | 28.6  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -6.4  |
Letchworth South West  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Conservative | Terry Hone*  | 1,097  | 53.8  | -2.1
| Labour | Jean Andrews  | 403  | 19.8  | +3.8
| Liberal Democrats | John Paul Winder  | 274  | 13.4  | -1.0
| Green | Rebecca Leek  | 257  | 12.6  | -0.4
Majority  | 694  | 34.0  |
Turnout | 2,039  | 34.0  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -3.0  |
Letchworth Wilbury  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Labour | Deepak Singh Sangha ‡  | 432  | 37.7  | -9.5
| Conservative | Andy Frankland  | 415  | 36.2  | +1.8
| UKIP | Michael Rodgers  | 132  | 11.5  | n/a
| Green | Jonathan Guy Hart  | 121  | 10.5  | -1.6
| Liberal Democrats | John Stephen White  | 38  | 3.3  | n/a
Majority  | 17  | 1.5  |
Turnout | 1,147  | 27.8  |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | -5.7  |

## Changes 2012–2014[edit]

Immediately after the 2012 elections, Robert Inwood, who had been elected as a Liberal Democrat for the Royston Palace ward in 2010, defected to Labour.[6]

Two by-elections were held on 15 November 2012. The by-election in Hitchwood, Offa and Hoo ward was triggered by the death of Conservative councillor David Miller, who had been most recently elected in 2010. The by-election in Letchworth South East ward was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Richard Harman, who had been elected in 2011, after being charged with various offences; he was subsequently convicted of burglary.[7][8] Neither seat changed party at the resulting by-elections.[9]

Hitchwood, Offa and Hoo ward by-election, 15 November 2012  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Conservative | Faye Susan Barnard  | 774  | 56.5  | -7.2
| UKIP | Peter Robbins  | 217  | 15.8  | n/a
| Labour | Jackie McDonald  | 189  | 13.8  | -3.0
| Liberal Democrats | Peter Donald Johnson  | 110  | 8.0  | +0.4
| Green | George Winston Howe  | 72  | 5.3  | -5.8
Majority  | 557  | 40.7  |
Turnout | 1,370  | 24.6  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | n/a  |
Letchworth South East ward by election, 15 November 2012  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Conservative | Julian Michael Cunningham  | 761  | 50.9  | +12.1
| Labour | Martin Stears-Handscomb  | 399  | 26.7  | -3.4
| UKIP | John Finbarr Barry  | 184  | 12.3  | -2.2
| Liberal Democrats | Margaret Anne Higbid  | 88  | 5.9  | -2.3
| Green | Mario Alexander May  | 51  | 3.4  | -4.3
Majority  | 362  | 24.2  |
Turnout | 1,496  | 26.5  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +7.8  |

A by-election in Hitchin Oughton ward was held on 12 September 2013 following the death of Labour councillor David Billing, who was also the party's leader on the council, and had most recently been elected in 2010. Labour retained the seat.[10][11]

Hitchin Oughton ward by election, 12 September 2013  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Labour | Frank Radcliffe  | 361  | 48.0  | -12.4
| Conservative | Mara MacSeoinin  | 180  | 23.9  | -0.5
| UKIP | Peter Croft  | 148  | 19.7  | n/a
| Green | Jacqueline Greatorex  | 32  | 4.3  | -5.5
| Liberal Democrats | Clare Body  | 31  | 4.1  | -0.6
Majority  | 181  | 24.1  |
Turnout |  | 20.8  |
| Labour hold | Swing | -6.0  |

## References[edit]

1. ^ "The District of North Hertfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2006", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2006/3112, retrieved 4 March 2023
2. ^ a b "Vote 2012: North Hertfordshire". BBC News. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
3. ^ Andrew, Teale. "Local Election Results 2012: North Hertfordshire". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
4. ^ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "North Hertfordshire District Council Election Results 1973–2012" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Plymouth University. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
5. ^ "Election Results 2012". North Hertfordshire District Council. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
6. ^ Foskett, Ewan (17 May 2012). "Former mayor and district councillor defects to Labour from Lib Dems". Royston Crow. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
7. ^ Burge, Laura (5 October 2012). "By-election to be held after councillor accused of rape". The Comet. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
8. ^ Tanna, Chandni (4 November 2013). "Former Letchworth councillor guilty of burglary". The Comet. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
9. ^ "Election Results November 2012". North Hertfordshire District Council. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
10. ^ Tanna, Chandni (13 September 2013). "Labour wins in Hitchin by-election". The Comet. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
11. ^ Teale, Andrew. "Hitchin Oughton Ward - North Hertfordshire". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 6 March 2023.

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