2011 City of York Council election explained

Election Name:City of York Council Election, 2011
Country:York
Type:Parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Party Colour:yes
Previous Election:2007 York Council election
Previous Year:2007
Next Election:2015 City of York Council election
Next Year:2015
Seats For Election:All 47 seats to City of York Council
Election Date:5 May 2011
Leader1:James Alexander
Leader Since1:2010
Party1:Labour Party (UK)
Leaders Seat1:Holgate
Last Election1:18
Seats Before1:18
Seats1:26
Seat Change1:8
Popular Vote1:55,563
Percentage1:37.6%
Swing1:10.7%
Leader2:Ian Gillies
Leader Since2:2007
Party2:Conservative Party (UK)
Leaders Seat2:Rural West
Last Election2:8
Seats Before2:7
Seats2:10
Seat Change2:2
Popular Vote2:32,958
Percentage2:22.3%
Swing2:4.9%
Leader3:Andrew Waller
Leader Since3:2008
Party3:Liberal Democrats (UK)
Leaders Seat3:Westfield
(defeated)
Last Election3:19
Seats Before3:20
Seats3:8
Seat Change3:11
Popular Vote3:39,077
Percentage3:26.4%
Swing3:5.5%
Map Size:325px
Leader of the Council
Posttitle:Leader of the Council after election
Before Election:Andrew Waller
Before Party:Liberal Democrats (UK)
After Election:James Alexander
After Party:Labour Party (UK)
Majority Seats:24

Elections to City of York Council were held on Thursday 5 May 2011. The whole council was up for election. The vote took place alongside the 2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum.

The Labour Party gained overall control of the council from no overall control. Labour had previously won a majority of seats on the new York unitary council in 1995 and again in 1999. The Liberal Democrats had controlled the council outright since 2003 and led a minority administration since the 2007 election.

Andrew Waller, leader of the Liberal Democrats group and former leader of the council, was not reelected.[1] Councillor Carol Runciman became leader of the Liberal Democrats group but stepped down in May 2013 and was replaced by Councillor Keith Aspden.[2] Councillor Chris Steward became leader of the Conservative group in January 2014, succeeding Councillor Ian Gillies.[3] Councillor James Alexander resigned as leader of the Labour Group and leader of the Council in November 2014,[4] with Councillor Dafydd Williams taking on both of these roles.[5] [6]

In August 2012, Lynn Jeffries, a Labour councillor resigned the whip in protest at the council's cuts to social care, bringing the number of Independent Councillors to two;[7] she subsequently joined the Liberal Democrat group.[8] Labour Councillor Brian Watson became an independent councillor in May 2014 after being deselected in Guildhall ward.[9] In September 2014, Councillor Helen Douglas resigned from the Labour group and joined the Conservatives leading to Labour losing overall control of the council.[10] Councillors Ken King and David Scott resigned from the Labour group in October 2014.[11] One seat was vacant following the death of councillor Lynn Jeffries in August 2014.[12] The subsequent by-election held in October 2014 was won by Liberal Democrat former Council leader Andrew Waller.[13] Conservative councillor Joe Watt left the Conservatives group in January 2015 after falling out with party leader Chris Steward.[14]

Ward results

Acomb ward

* Represented the Acomb ward of York City Council, 1986-1996,[15] and the Acomb ward of City of York Council, 1995-2011 [16] [17] [18] [19]

Represented the Acomb ward of City of York Council, 1999-2011 [17] [18] [19]

Bishopthorpe ward

The parishes of Acaster Malbis and Bishopthorpe

* Represented the Copmanthorpe ward of City of York Council, 1999-2003,[17] and the Bishopthorpe ward of City of York Council, 2007-2011 [19]

Clifton ward

* Represented the Clifton ward of City of York Council, 2007-2011 [19]

Represented the Bootham ward of York City Council, 1982-1996,[15] the Fishergate division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1985-1989,[20] the Bootham ward of City of York Council, 1995-2003,[16] [17] and the Clifton ward of City of York Council, 2003-2011 [18] [19]

Represented the Clifton ward of City of York Council, 2003-2011 [18] [19]

Derwent ward

The parishes of Dunnington, Holtby, and Kexby

* Represented the Derwent ward of City of York Council, 2007-2011 [19]

Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward

* Represented the Foxwood ward of York City Council, 1990-1996,[15] the Foxwood ward of City of York Council, 1995-2003,[16] [17] and the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward of City of York Council, 2003-2011 [18] [19]

Represented the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward of City of York Council, 2003-2011 [18] [19]

Fishergate ward

* Represented the Fishergate ward of City of York Council, 2003-2011 [18] [19]

Represented the Fishergate ward of City of York Council, 2007-2011 [19]

Fulford ward

The parish of Fulford

* Represented the Fulford ward of City of York Council, 2003-2011 [18] [19]

Guildhall ward

* Represented the Guildhall division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1985-1996,[20] and the Guildhall ward of City of York Council, 1995-2011 [16] [17] [18] [19]

Represented the Acomb ward of York City Council, 1979-1984, the Guildhall ward of York City Council, 1988-1996,[15] the Acomb division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1981-1989,[20] and the Guildhall ward of City of York Council, 1995-2011 [16] [17] [18] [19]

Haxby and Wigginton ward

The parishes of Haxby and Wigginton

* Represented the Haxby and Wigginton ward of City of York Council, 2007-2011 [19]

Represented the Strensall ward of City of York Council, 2003-2007 [18]

Heslington ward

The parish of Heslington

Heworth ward

* Represented the Heworth ward of City of York Council, 2009-2011 [21]

Represented the Beckfield ward of City of York Council, 1999-2003,[17] and the Heworth ward of City of York Council, 2003-2011 [18] [19]

Represented the Heworth ward of City of York Council, 2007-2011 [19]

Heworth Without ward

The parish of Heworth Without

Election result compared with City of York Council election in May 2007. [19]

* Represented the Heworth Without ward of City of York Council, 2007-2011 [22]

Holgate ward

* Represented the Holgate ward of City of York Council, 2007-2011 [19]

Represented the Holgate ward of City of York Council, 2003-2007 [18]

Huntington and New Earswick ward

The parishes of Huntington and New Earswick

* Represented the Huntington and New Earswick ward of City of York Council, 2003-2011 [18] [19]

Represented the Huntington and New Earswick ward of City of York Council, 1999-2011 [17] [18] [19]

Micklegate ward

* Represented the Micklegate ward of City of York Council, 2007-2011 [19]

Represented the Micklegate ward of City of York Council, 2003-2011 [18] [19]

Represented the Bishophill ward of York City Council, 1982-1996,[15] the Bishophill ward of City of York Council, 1995-2003,[16] [17] and the Micklegate ward of City of York Council, 2003-2011 [18] [19]

Osbaldwick ward

The parishes of Murton and Osbaldwick

* Represented the Osbaldwick / Heworth division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1985-1996,[20] and the Osbaldwick ward of City of York Council, 1999-2011 [17] [18] [19]

Represented the Fishergate division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1989-1993 [20]

Rural West York ward

The parishes of Askham Bryan, Askham Richard, Copmanthorpe, Hessay, Nether Poppleton, Rufforth with Knapton, and Upper Poppleton

* Represented the Rural West York ward of City of York Council, 2007-2011 [19]

Represented the Rural West York ward of City of York Council, 2003-2007 [18]

Represented the Upper Poppleton ward of City of York Council, 1995-2003,[16] [17] and the Rural West York ward of City of York Council, 2003-2007 [18]

Skelton, Rawcliffe, and Clifton Without ward

The parishes of Clifton Without, Rawcliffe, and Skelton

* Represented the Skelton, Rawcliffe, and Clifton Without ward of City of York Council, 2007-2011 [19]

Strensall ward

The parishes of Earswick, Stockton-on-the-Forest, and Strensall with Towthorpe

* Represented the Strensall ward of City of York Council, 2007-2011 [19]

Represented the Skelton ward of Ryedale District Council, 1991-1996,[23] and the Strensall ward of City of York Council, 1996-2011 [17] [18] [19]

Westfield ward

* Represented the Westfield ward of York City Council, 1994-1996,[15] and the Westfield ward of City of York Council, 1999-2011 [17] [18] [19]

Represented the Westfield ward of York City Council, 1979-1996,[15] the Westfield division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1993-1996,[20] and the Westfield ward of City of York Council, 1995-2011 [16] [17] [18] [19]

Represented the Rawcliffe and Skelton ward of City of York Council, 1999-2003,[17] and the Skelton, Rawcliffe, and Clifton Without ward of City of York Council, 2003-2007 [18]

Wheldrake ward

The parishes of Deighton, Elvington, Naburn, and Wheldrake

* Represented the Wheldrake ward of City of York Council, 2003-2011 [18] [19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stead. Mark. YORK ELECTION: Waller and Galloway lose seats as Labour crush Lib Dems. York Press. 21 January 2015. 7 May 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150121034837/http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/archive/2011/05/07/9013970.YORK_ELECTION__Waller_and_Galloway_lose_seats_as_Labour_crush_Lib_Dems/. 21 January 2015. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: Aitchison. Gavin. Keith Aspden named as new leader of York's Liberal Democrats . York Press. 21 January 2015. 13 May 2013.
  3. Web site: Stead. Mark. York Conservatives' new chief Chris Steward relishing the challenge. York Press . 21 January 2015. 27 January 2014.
  4. Web site: James Alexander quits as council leader . York Press. 21 January 2015. 19 November 2014.
  5. Web site: Bean. Dan. New leader for City of York Council's Labour group . York Press . 21 January 2015 . 29 November 2014.
  6. Web site: New council leader pledges no more personal attacks. York Press. 21 January 2015. 11 December 2014.
  7. Web site: Labour faces 'dissent' after shock resignation of Coun Lynn Jeffries. The Press. York . Mark. Stead. 3 November 2012. 25 August 2012.
  8. Web site: Stead. Mark. Ex-Labour councillor Lynn Jeffries joins Liberal Democrats. York Press. 21 January 2015. 17 May 2013.
  9. Web site: Aitchison. Gavin. Sheriff of York Brian Watson axed by Labour. York Press. 20 January 2015. 8 May 2014.
  10. Web site: Aitchison. Gavin. Labour loses majority in York as councillor quits and joins Conservatives . York Press. 20 January 2015. 10 September 2014.
  11. Web site: Prest. Victoria. 2 more York Labour councillors quit . York Press . 20 January 2015. 10 October 2014.
  12. Web site: Ross. Alex. Campaigner Lynn Jeffries found dead at home . York Press . 20 January 2015. 25 August 2014.
  13. Web site: Aitchison. Gavin. Andrew Waller wins York by-election . York Press . 20 January 2015. 16 October 2014.
  14. Web site: Ross. Alex. Election row sees Tory councillor Joe Watt leave party. York Press. 22 January 2015. 2 January 2015.
  15. Rallings. Colin. Thrasher. Michael. 2015. York City Council election results 1973–1994. The Elections Centre, Nuffield College, Oxford.
  16. Rallings. Colin. Thrasher. Michael. 2015. City of York Council election results 1995–2011. The Elections Centre, Nuffield College, Oxford.
  17. Web site: Election '99 - results. 1999. City of York Council. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20010816045005/http://www.york.gov.uk/council/elections.html. 16 August 2001.
  18. Web site: Election results May 2003. 2003. City of York Council. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20031011085131/http://www.york.gov.uk/elections/results.html. 11 October 2003.
  19. Web site: Election results May 2007. 2007. City of York Council. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014011734/http://www.york.gov.uk/council/Elections_and_democracy/elections/Elections_results/Election_results/. 14 October 2007.
  20. Rallings. Colin. Thrasher. Michael. 2015. North Yorkshire County Council election results 1973-2009. The Elections Centre, Nuffield College, Oxford.
  21. Web site: Triumph for Labour's Barbara Boyce in Heworth by-election. 2009. The York Press.
  22. Web site: Heworth Without ward by-election. 2007. City of York Council. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20071202054741/http://www.york.gov.uk/council/Elections_and_democracy/elections/local_elections/Statementofpersonsnominated/. 2 December 2007.
  23. Rallings. Colin. Thrasher. Michael. 2015. Ryedale District Council election results 1973-2011. The Elections Centre, Nuffield College, Oxford.