Dorset Council elections

Local government elections in Dorset, England

This article is about elections to the Dorset Council created in 2019. For elections to the predecessor county council, see Dorset County Council elections.

Dorset Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of Dorset in England. There are 82 councillors, elected every five years until 2029, after which elections will be held every four years.

## Political control

[edit]

The council was created on 1 April 2019, when Dorset County Council and five of its six district councils merged to form a unitary authority. A "shadow authority" was created in 2018 to oversee the transition, comprising all the existing district and county councillors representing the area of the new authority.[1] The first election to the new council was held in May 2019. Political control of the council has been held by the following parties:[2]

Party in control | Years

|

| Conservative | 2019–2024
| Liberal Democrats | 2024–present

### Leadership

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During the shadow period 2018–2019, Rebecca Knox, Conservative leader of the outgoing Dorset County Council served as leader of the shadow authority.[3] At the first formal meeting of the new Dorset Council after its elections, Spencer Flower was appointed leader of the council. He had been the last leader of the former East Dorset District Council.[4]

Councillor | Party | From | To

|
|
|

Spencer Flower |  | Conservative | 16 May 2019 | 16 May 2024
Nick Ireland[5] |  | Liberal Democrats | 16 May 2024 |

## Council elections

[edit]

Year  | Conservative | Liberal Democrats | Green | Independent | Labour | Council control
after election

|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |
2019 | 43  | 29  | 4  | 4  | 2  |  | Conservative
2024 | 30  | 42  | 4  | 4  | 2  |  | Liberal Democrats

The next election is due in 2029, five years after the 2024 elections. After the 2029 elections have been held, elections will revert back to being held in every fourth year.[1]

## District result maps

[edit]

* 2019 results map

* 2024 results map

## By-election results

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### 2019-2025

[edit]

Lyme and Charmouth by-election 7 April 2022[6] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Green | Belinda Bawden  | 594  | 43.8  | +27.0
| Conservative | Vicci Stocqueler  | 359  | 26.5  | −13.6
| Independent | Cheryl Reynolds  | 320  | 23.6  | −6.7
| Labour | David Hart  | 82  | 6.1  | −6.6
Majority | 235  | 17.3  |
Turnout | 1,355  |  |
| Green gain from Conservative | Swing |  |
Sherborne West by-election 29 June 2023[7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Richard Crabb  | 589  | 50.8  | −2.8
| Conservative | Becky Burns  | 489  | 42.2  | +4.2
| Labour | Nick Boothroyd  | 81  | 7.0  | +7.0
Majority | 100  | 8.6  |
Turnout | 1,159  |  |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |  |
Littlemoor and Preston by-election 11 January 2024[8] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Dickenson  | 1,237  | 53.7  | +24.3
| Liberal Democrats | Simon Clifford  | 833  | 36.2  | +19.1
| Labour | Stephen Brown  | 232  | 10.1  | −9.5
Majority | 404  | 17.5  |
Turnout | 2,302  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2018/648, retrieved 30 June 2022
2. ^ "Dorset Council Election Results 2019 - All results". Dorset Council. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
3. ^ "Shadow Executive minutes, 18 June 2018". Dorset Council. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
4. ^ Bevins, Trevor (7 May 2021). "No change in senior roles at Dorset Council". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
5. ^ Jones, Paul (20 May 2024). "New leadership revealed for Dorset Council after Lib Dems' election win". Purbeck Gazette. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
6. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Lyme and Charmouth Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
7. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Sherborne West Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
8. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Littlemoor and Preston Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2024.

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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

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