Richmondshire District Council election, 2003

Map of the results of the 2003 Richmondshire District Council election. Conservatives in blue, independents in light grey, Liberal Democrats in yellow, Richmondshire Independents in white and Social Democratic Party in purple.

The 2003 Richmondshire District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Richmondshire District Council in North Yorkshire, England. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 1999.^[1] The council stayed under no overall control.^[2]

Background

Before the election the council was run by the independents with support from the Conservatives, while the Liberal Democrats formed the opposition.^[3] The independents were divided into two groups after the Richmondshire Independent Group split from the Richmondshire Association of Independent Councillors in 2001.^[4]

Almost a third of the councillors stood down at the 2003 election, including a former chairperson of the council, Jane Metcalfe, and the Liberal Democrat group leader, Richard Good.^[5] Other councillors who stood down included Alison Appleton, Colin Bailey, Grace Buckle, Sylvia Golding, Mike Graham, Terry Jones, Andrea Robson and Nigel Watson.^[5]

A total of 56 candidates stood in 2003, with several being elected without opposition, however there were no candidates from the Labour party.^[5] The two groups of independents stood against each in several wards including Colburn, Hornby Castle and Melsonby.^[5] Meanwhile the leader of the council, John Blackie, contested the election as a Conservative after having previously led the Richmondshire Association of Independent Councillors.^[5]

Election result

The Conservatives became the largest group on the council with 11 councillors, after gaining four seats, but without a majority.^[6] Nine independents were elected, a gain of four, while the Liberal Democrats dropped two to have eight councillors.^[6]

The council leader John Blackie held his seat in Hawes as a Conservative, while councillors who were defeated included Liberal Democrat Patrick Brennan in Catterick, Richmondshire Independent Helen Grant and Katherine Kerr in Richmond Central.^[3][7] Overall turnout at the election was 37.69%, down from 40.22% in 1999.^[8]

Following the election Yvonne Peacock became leader of the Conservative group, Richard Dunn leader of the Richmondshire Association of Independent Councillors, John Harris leader of the Liberal Democrat group and Paul Cullen leader of the Richmondshire Independent Group.^[4] Conservative John Blackie continued as leader of the council, defeating a challenge from the Liberal Democrat group leader John Harris.^[9]

Ward results

By-elections between 2003 and 2007

A by-election was held in Gilling West on 2 November 2006 after the resignation of independent councillor John Cronin.^[11] The seat was won by independent William Heslop with a majority of 116 votes over Conservative candidate Margaret Turnbull.^[11]

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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