This month’s Local Election results produced several NOC results, some of which left plenty of negotiation to take place. Forming new administrations either happens within a matter of days or is thrashed out at council AGMs in the weeks after an election. Here’s an update on various NOC councils up and down the country and where Lib Dems stand in them:
Cambridgeshire
This went to NOC after the Conservatives lost eight seats, while the Conservatives remain the largest single party, the Lib Dems were able to form an administration in partnership with Labour and both sets of independents.
New Lib Dem council leader: Cllr Lucy Nethsingha
Oxfordshire
Already an NOC council previously run by a Conservative/Independent coalition, the Conservatives lost 10 seats. Lib Dem gains mean both parties are level pegging on 21 (due to an admin cock up the Conservatives were erroneously awarded a division in Banbury Ruscote which will be reallocated to Labour). This is the Lib Dems’ best ever result since the council was formed in 1973 and we’ve now formed an administration with Labour and the Greens.
New Lib Dem council leader: Cllr Liz Leffman
County Durham
One of the biggest shocks of the Local Elections was Labour losing control of Durham after 100 years in charge. It’s also a surprise not to see a Lib-Lab coalition being formed as was widely-assumed after the result. Instead a rainbow coalition of Independents, Conservatives and Lib Dems have formed a new administration.
New Lib Dem council leader: Cllr Amanda Hopgood
Portsmouth
Portsmouth has had a Lib Dem-led NOC administration since 2018 and has implemented a succession of clean energy and clean transport innovations since taking power. Despite losing two seats this year it remains the largest single party and continues in power with the support of Labour and the Progressive Portsmouth People Group.
Milton Keynes
Previously a Lib Dem run council just after the millennium, gains in the 2019 election re-established the party here. While we ticked down in seats this year, the Lib Dems have joined a Labour-led NOC administration.
Burnley
Whilst the Lib Dems were on the wrong end of several tight results in surrounding Lancashire there was better news in Burnley, where we joined an NOC administration led by Labour.
Elmbridge
Surrey is a county where the Conservatives have surprisingly little power at district council level and Elmbridge is one of several NOC councils within it. The Lib Dems are part of an administration along with a well-established Residents Association grouping and independents
Woking
Lib Dems have been gaining seats steadily in Woking having taken it to NOC a few years ago. The Conservatives currently run a minority admin. Since the election local Lib Dems have stated they won’t run the council until they’re the largest single party – the Conservatives are on 13 and Lib Dems are on 12.
Maidstone
Our saddest loss across the home counties, the Lib Dems had run a NOC administration since 2014 (impressively swimming against the national tide of local election results during the coalition years). A gain of five seats means the Conservatives now narrowly hold the council outright.
Tunbridge Wells
In contrast to Maidstone, a minor political earthquake has been taking place on the Weald in recent years. Local elections have boosted the number of non-Conservative councillors from five to 24, leaving the council deadlocked at Conservatives 24 : 24 The Rest. The rest consisting of Lib Dems, Labour and the Tunbridge Wells Alliance. During the council’s AGM, the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells exercised his casting vote to return a Conservative administration (which must be living on borrowed time).
Sheffield
Formerly a Labour majority, this city council went to NOC. Sheffield Labour has made headlines in recent years with a very unpopular roadside tree-felling programme and an extremely high-handed response to criticism of its operations. Either the Lib Dems or the Greens were going to join in coalition with Labour, and the Greens made the choice to join the administration. The Lib Dems remain the second largest party on the council and now form the main opposition.
Stockport
Stockport has been NOC since the Lib Dems lost its majority in 2016 and this established a convention of the largest single party leading the council. Controversially Stockport Labour refused to relinquish power to the Lib Dems, who became the largest single party after this year’s elections. A legal challenge by Manchester Evening News made sure the council’s AGM wasn’t held in secret, and after fiery exchanges by all parties involved, a Labour and Conservative administration was formed. The Lib Dems now form the main opposition.
Colchester
There was only a minor exchange of seats between the parties in Colchester but a realignment has led to a change of administration. Formerly a Lib-Lab coalition, a net loss of one Lib Dem seat, and a transference of affections from the Highwoods Independents has resulted in a Conservative/Independent coalition. Amazingly Colchester has been NOC since 1998, and had been run by a Lib-Lab administration since 2008.
Stroud
Stroud has been NOC since 2011. While the Lib Dems ticked up slightly, Labour and the Greens had enough councillors to continue in a joint administration by themselves, however the Lib Dems were invited to join a coalition. A magnanimous gesture on the part of the other parties, this also illustrates how difficult life is with a wafer-thin majority, and neutralises any attempts by the Conservatives to vote a progressive alliance out of office.
Southend
The Conservatives lost control of Southend as part of their 2019 bloodbath. This led to a Lib-Lab-Independent coalition. While the Conservatives made some gains from the Independents this year it left them short of the winning post, so a rainbow coalition continues.
Hart
Part of the affluent consultancy belt to the South West of London, Hart is officially the least deprived district in England and its council has been NOC since 2012. The Lib Dems form a joint administration with localists known as Community Campaign (Hart). The main exchange of seats was between CC and other independents so the Lib Dems will continue to lead an NOC admin with the Conservatives as the main opposition
North Hertfordshire
The Lib Dems made huge gains in Hitchin and Harpenden constituency at the 2019 General Election and have established themselves in across the West and North of the county. North Herts is NOC and despite a small Conservative uptick it continues with a Lib-Lab administration that’s been in place since 2019.
Spelthorne
In a move not related to the local elections, Spelthorne District Council, on the Surrey/West London border appointed its first ever Lib Dems leader, Lawrence Nichols, this week. Like other councils in Surrey, Spelthorne is a three-way toss up between the Conservatives, Lib Dems and localists. Last Summer six Conservatives left the party and formed a new local group called United Spelthorne. This has tipped council into NOC, with the former Conservatives comfortable with the transference of power to a Lib Dem-led coalition.
New Lib Dem council leader: Lawrence Nichols
returnoftheliberal 