Christchurch Borough Council elections

Local government elections in Dorset, England

For local elections in Christchurch, New Zealand, see Mayor of Christchurch.

Map showing the composition of Christchurch Borough Council after the 2015 election. Conservatives in blue, independents in grey, UK Independence Party in purple.

Christchurch Borough Council in Dorset, England, existed from 1974 to 2019, when it was abolished and subsumed into Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

## Political control

[edit]

The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority prior to the district coming into effect the following year. From 1973 until its abolition in 2019 political control of the council was held by the following parties:[1][2]

Party in control | Years

|

| Conservative | 1973–1995
| No overall control | 1995–1999
| Conservative | 1999–2019

### Leadership

[edit]

The role of mayor was largely ceremonial at Christchurch Borough Council. Political leadership was instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders from 2003 until the council's abolition in 2019 were:

Councillor | Party | From | To

|
|
|

Harold Cooper[3] |  | Conservative |  | 14 Feb 2003
Alan Griffiths[4][5] |  | Conservative | 2003 | 2010
John Lofts[6] |  | Conservative | Dec 2010 | May 2011
Ray Nottage[7][8] |  | Conservative | 17 May 2011 | 20 Feb 2017
David Flagg[9] |  | Conservative | 20 Feb 2017 | 31 Mar 2019

## Council elections

[edit]

Summary of the council composition after each election; click on the year for full details of each election. Boundary changes took place for the 2003 election, reducing the number of seats by one.[10]

* 1973 Christchurch Borough Council election
* 1976 Christchurch Borough Council election
* 1979 Christchurch Borough Council election (New ward boundaries)[11]
* 1983 Christchurch Borough Council election
* 1987 Christchurch Borough Council election
* 1991 Christchurch Borough Council election

Year  | Conservative | Independent | UK Independence Party | Liberal Democrats | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |
1995[12] | 8  | 7  | 0  | 10  | Borough boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same[13]
1999[14] | 17  | 3  | 0  | 5  |
2003[10] | 14  | 2  | 0  | 8  | New ward boundaries[15]
2007[16] | 17  | 3  | 0  | 4  |
2011[1] | 21  | 2  | 0  | 1  |
2015[17][18] | 21  | 2  | 1  | 0  |
|  |  |  |  |

## Borough result maps

[edit]

* 2003 results map

* 2007 results map

* 2011 results map

* 2015 results map

## By-election results

[edit]

By-elections occur when seats become vacant between council elections. Below is a summary of recent by-elections;[19] full by-election results can be found by clicking on the by-election name.

By-election | Date | Incumbent party | Winning party

|
|
|

Burton  | 1 May 1997  |  | Liberal Democrats |  | Liberal Democrats
Jumpers by-election | 7 June 2001  |  | Liberal Democrats |  | Liberal Democrats
Jumpers by-election | 5 May 2005  |  | Independent |  | Liberal Democrats
Portfield by-election | 5 May 2005  |  | Conservative |  | Liberal Democrats
Purewell and Stanpit by-election | 5 May 2005  |  | Liberal Democrats |  | Liberal Democrats
Portfield by-election | 16 July 2009  |  | Liberal Democrats |  | Liberal Democrats
Mudeford and Friars Cliff by-election | 2 March 2017  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "England council elections". BBC News Online. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
2. ^ "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 26 November 2024. (Put "Christchurch" in search box to see specific results.)
3. ^ "Council leader dies on market campaign". Dorset Echo. 17 February 2003. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
4. ^ "Delighted residents win battle for CCTV cameras". Dorset Echo. 14 March 2003. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
5. ^ "Christchurch Borough Council leader to step down". BBC News. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
6. ^ Clark, Katie (22 December 2010). ""You won't become second class citizens" pledge from council chief". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
7. ^ Clark, Katie (6 December 2024). "Conservatives have 21 of 24 seats on Christchurch council". Daily Echo. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
8. ^ "Christchurch council leader ousted by no-confidence vote". BBC News. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
9. ^ "Christchurch Tories suspended over merger election row". BBC News. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
10. ^ a b "Local elections". BBC News Online. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
11. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Christchurch (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
12. ^ "Complete list of results from thursday's council elections". The Times. NewsBank. 6 May 1995. p. 48.
13. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex and Wiltshire (County Boundaries) Order 1991. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
14. ^ "How the nations voted". The Times. NewsBank. 8 May 1999. p. 48.
15. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Christchurch (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
16. ^ "Christchurch". BBC News Online. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
17. ^ "Local election results for Christchurch and East Dorset". dorsetforyou.com. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 13 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
18. ^ "Elections for the North Highcliffe & Walkford ward". dorsetforyou.com. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
19. ^ "Local Authority Byelection Results". Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* Dorsetforyou.com

* v
* t
* e

Council elections in Dorset

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council|

* 2019
* 2023

Dorset Council|

* 2019
* 2024

Dorset County Council|

* 1889
* 1892
* 1895
* 1898
* 1901
* 1904
* 1907
* 1910
* 1913
* 1919
* 1922
* 1925
* 1928
* 1931
* 1934
* 1937
* 1946
* 1949
* 1952
* 1955
* 1958
* 1961
* 1964
* 1967
* 1970
* 1973
* 1977
* 1981
* 1985
* 1989
* 1993
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* Abolished

Bournemouth Borough Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* Abolished

Christchurch Borough Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* Abolished

East Dorset District Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* Abolished

North Dorset District Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* Abolished

Poole Borough Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* Abolished

Purbeck District Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1980
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2014
* 2015
* Abolished

West Dorset District Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* Abolished

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1980
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* Abolished

* See also: Wards
* Boundary changes

* v
* t
* e

Christchurch, Dorset

* See also: History of Christchurch
* Listed buildings in Christchurch

Areas|

* Blackwater
* Burton
* Christchurch Harbour
* Fairmile
* Friars Cliff
* Highcliffe
* Hoburne Park
* Hurn
* Jumpers Common
* Mudeford
* Portfield
* Purewell
* Somerford
* Stanpit
* Town Centre
* Walkford
* Winkton

Rivers|

* River Avon
* Bure Brook
* River Mude
* River Stour

Attractions|

* Avon Beach
* Christchurch Castle
* Christchurch Harbour
* Christchurch Priory
* Highcliffe Castle
* Knapp Mill
* Mudeford Quay
* The Museum of Electricity
* The Town Hall
* The Red House Museum
* Stanpit Marsh
* Tucktonia

Schools|

* Burton CE Primary
* Christchurch Infants
* Christchurch Junior
* Highcliffe
* Mudeford Infants
* Mudeford Junior
* The Priory CE Primary
* Somerford Primary
* The Grange
* Twynham

Railway
stations|

* Christchurch (original)
* Christchurch
* Hurn

Air travel|

* Bournemouth Airport
* Christchurch Airfield
* RAF Christchurch
* RAF Hurn

Hospital|

* Christchurch

Politics|

* Christchurch (UK Parliament constituency)
* New Forest and Christchurch (UK Parliament constituency)
* Christchurch and Lymington (UK Parliament constituency)
* Bournemouth East and Christchurch (UK Parliament constituency)
* 1993 Christchurch by-election
* 1844 Christchurch by-election
* Christchurch Borough Council elections
* 2019 BCP election

History|

* Battle of Mudeford
* Christchurch Rural District

Football club|

* Christchurch F.C.

Wards|

* Burton and Grange
* Christchurch Town
* Commons
* Highcliffe and Walkford
* Mudeford, Stanpit and West Highcliffe

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