Harrogate Borough Council election, 2004

The 2004 Harrogate Council election took place on 10 June 2004 to elect members of Harrogate Borough Council in North Yorkshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.^[1]

After the election, the composition of the council was

• Conservative 29
• Liberal Democrat 21
• Independent 4^[2]

Campaign

Before the election the Conservatives ran the council with 28 seats, while the Liberal Democrats had 21 seats and there were 4 independents.^[3] The Conservatives had gained a majority after 2 Liberal Democrats defected to the Conservatives in autumn 2003.^[4] 16 seats were contested in the election, all from the rural areas of the council.^[5] The candidates in the election were 16 Conservatives, 16 Liberal Democrats, 2 independents and 1 candidate from the British National Party.^[5] The election was held under all postal voting,^[5] for the first time in Harrogate.^[6]

A significant issue in the election was the future of the Royal Hall in Harrogate.^[5] The Conservative administration refused to fund the restoration of the building and said they would consider financing other projects elsewhere in the council area from the money saved.^[5] However the Liberal Democrats would have put 2.6 million pounds towards restoring it, as they said future generations would have to spend even more if the council did not take action.^[5]

Election result

The results saw the Conservatives stay in control, with no change in the party composition of the council.^[4] The Conservatives gained Lower Nidderdale from the Liberal Democrats, but Conservative cabinet member Brian Lumsden was defeated in Boroughbridge by Liberal Democrat Peter Phillips,^[4] in what had been considered a safe seat.^[7] The Conservatives won 62.5% of the vote, compared to 34.2% for the Liberal Democrats.^[4] As a result the Conservatives remained on 29 seats, the Liberal Democrats on 21 and 4 independents.^[8]

Meanwhile the British National Party came in last in the only seat they contested in Nidd Valley with 131 votes,^[4] with Leslie Ellington holding the seat for the Conservatives, after having defected from the Liberal Democrats since the 2003 election.^[9] Overall turnout in the election was 55.2%,^[4] an increase on the 34.7% in the 2003 election and the 38.7% at the 2002 election.^[10]

Ward results

References

Council elections in North Yorkshire North Yorkshire County Council 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 City of York Council 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Craven 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 Hambleton District Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Harrogate Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 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 Middlesbrough Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Richmondshire District Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Ryedale District Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Scarborough Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Selby District Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2005 2007 2011 2015 Cleveland County Council 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 Abolished York City Council 1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 Abolished See also: Wards Boundary changes

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