THE FINAL results are in for the Bromsgrove District Council elections and the Conservatives have lost control of the authority for the first time in 24 years.
The council now has ‘no overall control’ after a roller-coaster of an afternoon, where the 30 declarations came thick and fast. At times it was hard to keep up as parties took seats off each other in and around a base of holds.
By the end, the Conservatives finished on 11 seats and remain the largest party but they are five seats short of a majority.
Labour becomes the second largest party on eight seats but to form a majority party would need to speak another group.
The Independents have seven members but have stood on an independent ticket and ‘not tied by party politics’.
The Liberal Democrats have five seats but that would not be enough for a majority.
How the seats were won and lost
Labour were the big winners on the day, holding all four of the seats they had and taking four from the Conservatives and one from the Independents.
The Lib Dems held three seats and gained three from the Conservatives but also lost one to the Conservatives
The Independents took two seats from the Conservatives but lost one to them and one to Labour.
The Conservatives had the worst result of the day – losing nine seats but clawing back two – one from the Lib Dems and one from the Independent – leaving them with a net loss of seven
Reaction to the results
Coun Karen May, who was the district council leader before today, said: “I’m very disappointed we haven’t got an overall win.
“We are still the largest party though.
“We are disappointed with the response – the electorate has spoken and we are listening.”
Coun May, who held her seat in Belbroughton and Romsley, said: “I will go away and speak with the other ten and then we’ll decide what we do next.”
Sam Ammar from the Labour Party said: “This is a brilliant result for us today – we are now the second largest opposition party again.
“People in Bromsgrove are demanding it is run in a different way.
“The Conservatives have been complacent – people want change and the Labour Party can bring about that change.
“We’ve got a strong manifesto to address the cost of living, improve the town centre and address other issues.”
When asked if she would be approaching other parties to try and form a majority she said: “I will need to go and confer with other councillors before we move forward.
“But we are a progressive party and are open to suggestions – what we need to make sure though is if we join others, they also want to make the changes in Bromsgrove that we do.”
Liberal Democrat Rob Hunter, who held his Norton seat with the highest majority of the day, said: “We gained three seats and won five in total but were disappointed not to hold onto Lickey Hills.
“Janet King has been a stalwart in our party for years and has done so much good – she has left a real strong legacy on the council.”
On whether the party would be open for talks to form some kind of coalition to get a majority group he added: “We will be open to speak to any of the others as long as we can get our priorities through – we want Artrix reopened, to protect the green belt and for traffic congestion to be looked at again – with a view to a solution, such as a Western Relief Road or straight spine road.
“I am very excited about this new-look council because over the past four years, ourselves, Labour and the Independents have all had great ideas and put them forward at meetings knowing that we had no chance of getting them through because of the Conservative whip.
“The voters have sent out a clear message they want change and they’re not happy with the way the district is being run and we want to help change that for the people of Bromsgrove.”
Coun Sue Baxter, who held onto her seat for the Independents, welcomed the result but admitted there would be challenges ahead.
“A coalition could be difficult because we, as Independents, would not be able to accept a party whip.
“The council could change from a cabinet model to a committee one with members from the different parties on the various committees and chairing them.
“We also have three new Independents we need to speak to so we can find out their views.
“I think we really do need to find a model to work for the good of the people of Bromsgrove and I think we can do that – we need a more inclusive council where more members have their say and less things are railroaded through.
“We also need to make sure villages get their fair share of the money and transport to and from the villages and town is improved.
“My main concern is that the council does nothing for the next four years and then that gives the Conservatives the chance to regain a majority.”
FINAL RESULTS
Barnt Green and Hopwood – IND HOLD
Kiran Gulia (Labour Party) – 123
Charlie Hotham (Independent) 682 – ELECTED
Amritjot Nannar (Conservative Party) – 185
Slideslow – LIB DEM GAIN
Samuel Evans (Liberal Democrats) – 637 – ELECTED
Michael Thompson (Conservative Party) – 342
Lickey Hills – CON GAIN
John Cochrane (Labour Party) – 87
Janet King (Liberal Democrats) – 332
Bakul Kumar (Conservative Party) – 522 – ELECTED
Lowes Hill – LIB DEM GAIN
Rod Laight (Conservative Party) – 233
Joshua Robinson (Liberal Democrats) – 660 – ELECTED
Rock Hill – LAB HOLD
Christopher Appleyard (Liberal Democrats) – 69
Harrison Rone-Clarke (Labour Party) – 453 – ELECTED
Lee Rowley (Green Party) – 41
Richard Williams (Conservative Party) – 170
Sanders Park – LAB GAIN
Mark Boulton (Conservative Party) – 198
Mick Marshall (Labour Party) – 347 – ELECTED
David Pardoe (Independent) – 138
Vanessa Verlinden (Liberal Democrats) – 243
Bromsgrove Central – LIB DEM HOLD
Luv Datta (Conservative Party) – 154
David Peters (Labour Party) – 118
Siobhan Robinson (Liberal Democrats) – 763 – ELECTED
Belbroughton and Romsley (two seats) – CON HOLD TWO
Ros Cooke (Labour Party) – 381
Stan Francis (Independent) – 107
Susan Jones (Independent) – 316
Karen May (Conservative Party) – 1,354 – ELECTED
Simon Nock (Conservative Party) – 1,096 – ELECTED
Gary Prescott (Independent) – 287
Hagley East – CON GAIN
Mark Gibbons (Liberal Democrats) – 105
Lorraine Johnson (Independent) – 353
Ruth Lambert (Conservative Party) – 387 – ELECTED
Catshill North – IND GAIN
Mohammed Amin (Conservative Party) – 141
Martin German (Liberal Democrats) – 29
Andrew Glanville (Labour Party) – 191
Bernard McEldowney (Independent) 203 – ELECTED
Rubery North – LAB HOLD
Andrew Beaumont (Conservative Party) – 278
Peter McDonald (Labour Party) – 518 – ELECTED
Alvechurch South – IND HOLD
Alan Bailes (Independent) – 531 – ELECTED
Eric Godfrey (Labour Party) – 131
Spencer Loades (Conservative Party) – 231
Elizabeth Nicholl (Liberal Democrats) – 34
Cofton – CON HOLD
Anita Dale (Conservative Party) – 318 – ELECTED
Jill Harvey (Green Party) – 175
Christine McDonald (Labour Party) – 277
David Nicklin (Liberal Democrats) – 68
Hill Top – LAB HOLD
Martin Connellan (Conservative Party) – 100
David Hopkins (Labour Party) – 401 – ELECTED
Chloe Leslie (Trade Unionist and Social Coalition) – 42
Sara Woodhouse (Liberal Democrats) – 55
Aston Fields – LAB GAIN
Kyle Daisley (Conservative Party) – 283
Jane Elledge (Labour Party) – 347 – ELECTED
Martine Reynolds (Liberal Democrats) – 277
Nick Trow (Green Party) – 56
Marlbrook – CON HOLD
Mason Cherrington (Reform UK) – 63
Alan Cooper (Labour Party) – 220
Peter Harvey (Green Party) – 142
Helen Jones (Conservative Party) – 439 – ELECTED
Wythall East – CON HOLD
Justin Stanley (Conservative Party) – 378 – ELECTED
Keith Yates (Independent) – 311
Norton – LIB DEM HOLD
Rob Hunter (Liberal Democrats) – 926 – ELECTED
Kumar Muniandy (Conservative Party) – 110
Hagley West – IND HOLD
Steven Colella (Independent) – 827 – ELECTED
Susan Robbins (Green Party) – 78
Jayne Willetts (Conservative Party) – 155
Avoncroft – LIB DEM GAIN
John Ellis (Labour Party) – 322
David Nicholl (Liberal Democrats) – 409 – ELECTED
Philip Thomas (Conservative Party) – 189
Hollywood – CON HOLD
Douglas Bridger (Labour Party) – 186
Derek Forsythe (Conservative Party) – 538 – ELECTED
Wythall West – IND GAIN
Geoff Denaro (Conservative Party) – 336
Stephen Peters (Independent) – 353 – ELECTED
Charford – LAB GAIN
Sam Ammar (Labour Party) – 284 – ELECTED
Gillian Bell (Liberal Democrats) – 62
Sam Johnson (Conservative Party) – 146
Sidemoor – LAB GAIN
Judi Byrne (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) – 21
James Clarke (Liberal Democrats) – 213
Henry Morris (Conservative Party) – 183
David Stewart (Labour Party) – 352 – ELECTED
Rubery South – LAB GAIN
Esther Gray (Labour Party) 465 – ELECTED
Julian Gray (Green Party) – 67
Nick Psirides (Conservative Party) – 289
Alvechurch Village – IND HOLD
Rachael Bailes (Independent) – 487 – ELECTED
Martin Ball (Green Party) – 64
Martin McLeod (Labour Party) – 166
Rebecca Stevens (Liberal Democrats) – 25
Barry Thornton (Conservative Party) – 133
Drakes Cross – IND HOLD
Sue Baxter (Independent) – 372 – ELECTED
Alan Bell (Liberal Democrats) – 43
Trevor Holman (Conservative Party) – 195
Matt Tovey (Green Party) – 48
Perryfields – CON HOLD
Anthony Maslen (Labour Party) – 175
Joanna McKenna (Liberal Democrats) – 90
Kit Taylor (Conservative Party) – 240 – ELECTED
Catshill South – CON HOLD
Barbara Murphy (Liberal Democrats) – 77
Jenny Smith (Labour Party) – 204
Shirley Webb (Conservative Party) – 300 – ELECTED
Tardebigge – CON HOLD
Valerie Clarke (Lib Dem) – 110
Sean Shannon (Lab) – 198
John Smout (Green) – 70
Peter Whittaker (Con) – 442 – ELECTED
