2010 St Albans City and District Council election

Campaign

Before the election the Liberal Democrats ran the council with exactly half of the seats, relying on the independents and the mayor's casting vote to have control. The election took place at the same time as the 2010 general election with a seat being contested in all 20 wards of the council.

Key wards were seen as being Batchwood, London Colney and Sopwell, with the Labour group leader Roma Mills defending Batchwood. The Liberal Democrats defended their record in control of the council, pointing to no increase in council tax for the previous 2 years and work on preserving the green belt, recycling and congestion. However the Conservatives felt the election provided an opportunity for them to deprive the Liberal Democrats of a majority on the back of increased turnout due to the general election.

Election result

The Liberal Democrats retained control of the council with 29 seats after gaining 2 seats, but losing another 2. They took Batchwood from Labour by 1 vote, defeating the Labour group leader Roma Mills, and also Marshalswick South from the Conservatives. Meanwhile, the Conservatives made a further 2 gains taking London Colney from Labour and Redbourn from an independent, Susan Carr, who did not contest the election. This put the Conservatives on 24 seats, while Labour held 3 and there was 1 independent.

One seat remained vacant in Ashley ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Ellis.

|seats % = 50.0 |votes % = 42.0 |plus/minus = -1.2% |seats % = 50.0 |votes % = 38.2 |plus/minus = +3.9% |seats % = 0 |votes % = 14.1 |plus/minus = +1.5% |seats % = 0 |votes % = 4.7 |plus/minus = -2.0% |seats % = 0 |votes % = 0.5 |plus/minus = +0.5% |seats % = 0 |votes % = 0.3 |plus/minus = +0.3% |seats % = 0 |votes % = 0.03 |plus/minus = -3.2%

Ward results

By-elections between 2010 and 2011

A by-election was held in Ashley ward on 3 June 2010 after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Ellis. The seat was held for the Liberal Democrats by Andy Grant with a majority of 420 votes over Labour.

References

References

1. (2009-04-19). "St Albans". BBC News.
2. (2010-05-07). "Local elections 2010". The Guardian.
3. (2010-05-07). "Nail biting wait over local elections in St Albans". St Albans & Harpenden Review.
4. (2010-04-15). "BNP runs for St Albans District Council". St Albans & Harpenden Review.
5. (January 2015). "St Albans Council power rests on a knife-edge in election". Herts 24}}{{dead link.
6. (January 2015). "Election 2010: Liberal Democrats retain control over St Albans District Council". Herts 24}}{{dead link.
7. Lewis, Alex. (7 May 2010). "Harpenden East: Conservative gain". St Albans & Harpenden Review.
8. Lewis, Alex. (7 May 2010). "Wheathampstead: Conservative gain". St Albans & Harpenden Review.
9. "District council election results 6th May 2010". St Albans City & District Council.
10. Barham, Alexandra. (4 June 2010). "Liberal Democrats retain both seats in by election". St Albans & Harpenden Review.
11. "2010-06-03 District Council Ashley Ward By-election results". St Albans City & District Council.