Knutsford Town Council

Knutsford Town Council
Whole council elected every four years

Coat of arms
Type
Type
History
Founded 1974
Preceded by Knutsford Urban District Council
Leadership
Town Mayor
Cllr Neil Forbes
Deputy Mayor
Cllr Peter Coan
Town Clerk
Adam Keppel-Garner
Structure
Seats 15 councillors [1]
13 / 15
Independent
2 / 15
Elections
Last election
 2015
Next election
 2019
Motto
Looking to the Past, the Present and the Future
Meeting place
Knutsford Council Offices
Website
www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

Knutsford Town Council is the town council for the Cheshire Market Town of Knutsford. It was established in 1974 as a successor council to the Knutsford Urban District Council. The Council last elections were held in May 2015 which saw the Conservative Party win 13 of the 15 seats. The Council is split into four wards, Nether (3), Norbury Booths (3), Over (6) and Bexton (3).[2]

Precursor

The Knutsford Urban District Council was an Urban District Council for the town of Knutsford, Cheshire from 1895 to 1974.[3] It was established in 1895 following the establishment and dissolution of parish councils created under the Local Government Act 1894 for Nether Knutsford and Over Knutsford.[4] The Urban District Council was dissolved in 1974 upon the creation of the Knutsford Town Council.

Powers and functions

The Town Council derives the bulk of its powers from the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent legislation. The Council adopted the General Power of Competence in 2013[5] giving it a greater range of powers in line with the Localism Act 2011. The Town Council is a Market Authority, operating an Indoor Market Hall and licensing other markets within its boundary, including a monthly Maker's Market of artisan and local producers. The Town Council operates public toilets and Allotments and is seeking to take ownership of the Council Offices and certain open spaces from Cheshire East Council[6]

Town Mayor

At its inception the newly formed Town Council resolved that the Chairman be styled Town Mayor.[7] The Mayor is elected annually at the Annual Council Meeting in May. The incumbent is Cllr Jan Nicholson who took office on May 31, 2016 and is supported by Deputy Town Mayor Cllr Neil Forbes. The Mayor's role is largely ambassadorial, attending community events, opening shops and businesses and acting as a representative of the town in neighbouring areas. The Mayor also hosts a number of fundraising events throughout the year raising money for chosen charities.

Elections

2017 By-Election

Yvonne Bancroft resigned from the Town Council in February 2017, triggering a by-election which will take place on May 4th.[8]

Nether Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Rebecca O’Rourke 364 30.30
Labour David Stephenson 305 25.40
Conservative Jon Wells Bradshaw 532 elected 44.30

2015 Election

Elections were held on 7 May 2015 for the four wards of the Town Council on the same day as elections to Cheshire East Council and Tatton (UK Parliament constituency) Parliamentary seat. Bexton Ward was not contested with the three candidates being elected unopposed. Nether Ward ended in a dead heat between two candidates, settled by the drawing of lots.

Nether Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Christopher Gray 690 elected
Conservative Stewart Gardiner 855 elected
Conservative James Power 650 elected
Independent Julie Tempest 650
Norbury Booths Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Charlotte Greenstein 802 elected
Conservative Janet Nicholson 970 elected
Conservative Hayley Wells-Bradshaw 870 elected
Conservative Jon Wells-Bradshaw 764
Bexton Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Tony Dean unopposed
Conservative Christine Gray unopposed
Conservative Simon Hutchence unopposed
Over Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Yvonne Bancroft 1209 elected
Conservative Peter Coan 886 elected
Conservative Jonathan Farber 905 elected
Conservative Neil Forbes 921 elected
Conservative Jane Froehlich 819
Conservative Julian Goodrich 871 elected
Conservative Michael Houghton 811
Independent Andrew Malloy 1278 elected

By-Elections 2011-2015

A by-election was held for Nether Ward on 13 November 2014 following the death of incumbent Conservative Councillor, Clive Nicholson.[9]

Nether Ward - By-election 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Christopher Gray 271 elected 55.96
Independent Julie Tempest 160 32.45
Labour Graeme Webster 62 12.57

A by-election was held for Over Ward on 7 February following the resignation of incumbent Conservative Councillor Bernadette Emmett.[10]

Over Ward - By-election 2013
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Yvonne Bancroft 368 elected 50.69
Conservative Paul Hamilton 258 35.54
UKIP Gerald Norden 100 13.77

2011 Election

Elections were held on 5 May 2011. Both Norbury Booths and Nether Wards were uncontested, returning three Conservative councillors each.

Bexton Ward 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrat Caroline Aldhouse 341
Liberal Democrat Francis Aldhouse 338
Liberal Democrat Barbara Austin 454
Conservative Tony Dean 579 elected
Conservative Michael Houghton 568 elected
Conservative Simon Hutchence 501 elected
Bexton Ward 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Barbara Coan 686 elected
Conservative Peter Coan 691 elected
Conservative Bernadette Emmett 771 elected
Conservative Neil Forbes 696 elected
Conservative Julian Goodrich 698 elected
Independent David Heffernan 645
Liberal Democrat Barbara Kay 477
Independent Andrew Malloy 665 elected
Conservative Charles Mountain 640
Nether Ward 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Vivien Davies unopposed
Conservative Stewart Gardiner unopposed
Conservative Clive Nicholson unopposed
Norbury Booths Ward 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Gary Lasham unopposed
Conservative Janet Nicholson unopposed
Conservative Peter Raynes unopposed

References

  1. ↑ http://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/2015-election-results
  2. ↑ http://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/2015-election-results
  3. ↑ http://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/council/history-of-the-council
  4. ↑ F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 23.
  5. ↑ http://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/council/agendas-minutes
  6. ↑ http://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/services/current-projects
  7. ↑ http://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/council/town-mayor
  8. ↑ http://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/elections
  9. ↑ http://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/nether-ward-election-results
  10. ↑ http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/voting_and_elections/elections/town_and_parish_elections/knutsford_town_-_over_ward.aspx
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