Knutsford Town Council

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 last full council elections were held in May 2023, four wards were uncontested whilst a poll was held in the fifth. The elections saw the Conservatives lose control of the council with 10 Independent councillors elected and five Conservatives. The council is split into five wards, Nether (3), Norbury Booths (3), St John's Wood (3), Cross Town (3) and Bexton and Town Centre (3).[1]

Knutsford Town Council
Whole council elected every four years
Coat of arms
Type
Type
History
Founded1974
Preceded byKnutsford Urban District Council
Leadership
Town Mayor
Cllr Mike Houghton
Deputy Mayor
Cllr Peter Coan
Town Clerk
Adam Keppel-Green FSLCC
Structure
Seats15 councillors [1]
Independent
10 / 15
5 / 15
Elections
Last election
2023
Next election
2027
Motto
Looking to the Past, the Present and the Future
Meeting place
Knutsford Council Offices
Website
www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

In 2021, Town Clerk to Knutsford Town Council, Adam Keppel-Green, was named Clerk of the Year in the NALC Star Council Awards.[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 Makers' Market of artisan and local producers. The Town Council operates public toilets, a cemetery and chapel, and Allotments and is seeking to take ownership of the Council Offices and certain open spaces from Cheshire East Council. The Town Council delivers a programme of community events and undertakes a range of initiatives to support the town centre.[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 Mike Houghton who took office in May 2022. The Mayor acts a Leader/Chairman of the Town Council and also undertakes an important ambassadorial role, 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

2023 Election

Elections are due to be held on 4 May 2023 for the four wards of the Town Council on the same day as elections to Cheshire East Council. These are the first elections following a community governance review which changes the town boundary and modifies the number of wards.[8] Four wards were uncontested returning councillors unopposed, Cross Town ward is contested and a poll will be held on 4 May 2023. The election sees the end of a Conservative majority. [9]

Bexton and Town Centre Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stewart Gardiner unopposed
Independent April Johnson unopposed
Independent Gus Watson unopposed
Cross Town Ward (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Peter Coan 393 23.25%
Independent Lesley Dalzell 473 27.99%
Independent Rex Mears 484 28.64%
Conservative Tim Regan 340 20.12%

 

Nether Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Bryan Hartley unopposed
Independent Scott Lowe unopposed
Independent Matthew Wood unopposed

 

Norbury Booths Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Gray unopposed
Conservative Matthew Robertson unopposed
Independent Su Russell unopposed

 

St John’s Wood Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Colin Banks unopposed
Independent James McCulloch unopposed
Conservative Jennifer Forrest unopposed

By-Elections 2019-2023

Two by-elections were held in May 2021.[10] A by-election for Nether Ward was triggered in April 2020 following the resignation of Katherine Fletcher who had been elected as an MP in December 2019 whilst a by-election for Bexton Ward was triggered following the death of Cllr Barbara Hamilton Coan in November 2020. Both elections had been on hold until May 2021 due to the moratorium on elections under the Coronavirus Act 2020. In February 2023, Cllr Jan Nicholson resigned as Deputy Town Mayor and councillor, the vacancy was left unfilled until the May 2023 elections.[11]

Bexton Ward - By-election 2021
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Amy Rosalind Hobson 394 48.28
Conservative Millie Morris 422 elected 51.72
Nether Ward - By-election 2021
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Annie Greer 319 37.09
Independent Scott Lowe 379 elected 44.07
Liberal Democrats Bill Tenger 162 18.84

2019 Election

Elections were held for all four wards in May 2019. All elections were uncontested and one vacancy was left on Over Ward which was filled by co-option with Conservative Elizabeth Beswick.

Bexton Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barbara Hamilton Coan unopposed
Conservative Mike Houghton unopposed
Conservative James Power unopposed
Nether Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Katherine Fletcher unopposed
Conservative Christopher Gray unopposed
Conservative Stewart Gardiner unopposed
Norbury Booths Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Quentin Abel unopposed
Conservative Jan Nicholson unopposed
Conservative Matthew Robertson unopposed
Over Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Coan unopposed
Independent Lesley Dalzell unopposed
Conservative Neil Forbes unopposed
Conservative James McCulloch unopposed
Independent Andrew Malloy unopposed
Uncontested

By-Elections 2015-2019

A by-election was held for Norbury Booths ward on 5 April 2018 following the resignation of incumbent Independent Councillor Charlotte Greenstein[12]

Norbruy Booths Ward - By-election 2018
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Quentin Abel 233 32.15
Conservative Elizabeth Beswick 496 elected 67.85

A by-election was held for Over ward on 4 May 2017 following the resignation of incumbent Independent Councillor Yvonne Bancroft [13]

Over Ward - By-election 2017
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 24.25
Conservative Stewart Gardiner 855 elected 30.05
Conservative James Power 650 elected 22.85
Independent Julie Tempest 650 22.85
Norbury Booths Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Charlotte Greenstein 802 elected 23.55
Conservative Janet Nicholson 970 elected 28.48
Conservative Hayley Wells-Bradshaw 870 elected 25.54
Conservative Jon Wells-Bradshaw 764 22.43
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 15.70
Conservative Peter Coan 886 elected 11.51
Conservative Jonathan Farber 905 elected 11.75
Conservative Neil Forbes 921 elected 11.96
Conservative Jane Froehlich 819 10.64
Conservative Julian Goodrich 871 elected 11.31
Conservative Michael Houghton 811 10.53
Independent Andrew Malloy 1278 elected 16.60

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.[14]

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.[15]

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 Democrats Caroline Aldhouse 341 19.92
Liberal Democrats Francis Aldhouse 338 19.74
Liberal Democrats Barbara Austin 454 26.52
Conservative Tony Dean 579 elected 33.82
Conservative Michael Houghton 568 elected 33.18
Conservative Simon Hutchence 501 elected 29.26
Bexton Ward 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barbara Coan 686 elected 11.49
Conservative Peter Coan 691 elected 11.58
Conservative Bernadette Emmett 771 elected 12.92
Conservative Neil Forbes 696 elected 11.66
Conservative Julian Goodrich 698 elected 11.69
Independent David Heffernan 645 10.81
Liberal Democrats Barbara Kay 477 7.99
Independent Andrew Malloy 665 elected 11.14
Conservative Charles Mountain 640 10.72
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. "2023 Election Results « Knutsford Town Council". Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  2. "NALC announces the Star Council Awards 2021 winners".
  3. "History of the Council | Knutsford Town Council".
  4. F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 23.
  5. "Agendas & Minutes « Knutsford Town Council". Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  6. "Current Projects « Knutsford Town Council". Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  7. "Town Mayor | Knutsford Town Council".
  8. https://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/changes-to-town-council-wards
  9. https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/voting_and_elections/elections/parish-council-election-2023/kettleshulme-to-nantwich/kettleshulme-to-nantwich.aspx
  10. "New Knutsford councillors raring to go after election victory".
  11. "By-Election Results | Knutsford Town Council"..
  12. "Norbury Booths By-Election Results – Knutsford Town Council". Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  13. "Over ward by-election results – Knutsford Town Council". Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  14. "Nether Ward Election Results « Knutsford Town Council". Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  15. "Knutsford Town Council Election- over Ward". Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
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