North West Leicestershire District Council elections are held every four years. North West Leicestershire District Council is the local authority for the non-metropolitan district of North West Leicestershire in Leicestershire, England. Since the last boundary changes in 2015, 38 councillors are elected from 38 wards.
Political control The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1973 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:
Party in control Years 1973–1976 1976–1979 1979–1983 1983–1991 1991–2007 2007–2023 2023–present
Following the 2023 election, the council's composition is:
+ ↓ 17 5 4 12 Labour LDem Ind Conservative
Leadership The leaders of the council since 2003 have been:
Councillor Party From To Frank Straw pre-2003 6 May 2007 Richard Blunt 15 May 2007
Elections and results Overall control Labour Conservative Lib Dem BNP Green Independent2023 NOC 17 12 5 - - 4 2019 Conservative 10 20 4 - 1 3 2015 Conservative 10 25 1 0 0 2 Ward boundary changeslegislation.gov.uk - The North West Leicestershire (Electoral Changes) Order 2014. Retrieved on 3 November 2015. 2011 Conservative 16 21 1 0 0 0 2007 Conservative 5 27 3 2 - 1 2003 Labour 20 12 4 - - 2 Ward boundary changes; seats reduced from 40 to 38legislation.gov.uk - The District of North West Leicestershire (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015. 1999 Labour 31 8 0 - - 1 1995 Labour 35 3 0 - - 2 1991 Labour 26 13 0 - - 1 Ward boundary changeslegislation.gov.uk - The Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire (County Boundaries) Order 1991. Retrieved on 5 November 2015. 1987 NOC - - - - - - Ward boundary changesThe Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire (County and District Boundaries) Order 1985 1983 NOC - - - - - - Ward boundary changes; number of seats changedThe District of North West Leicestershire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980 1979 Labour - - - - - - 1976 NOC 19 13 0 - - 10 1973 Labour 25 8 0 - - 10
A dash indicates that the results for a particular election are not available, or that a party did not stand in an election.
District result maps
Ward details Below is a summary of each ward in the District of North West Leicestershire. For each ward, a brief description is given along with a table showing its electoral history. In two or three member wards, the swings shown are based upon the average votes received by all candidates from a party.
Appleby The Appleby ward covers several small, rural villages in the far south of the District. It has been represented by Richard Blunt since 2003; Blunt has also been the Leader of the Council since 2007. Like several of the District's geographically large rural wards, it is a safe seat for the Conservatives; it was, however, held by Labour for one term after their landslide victory in 1995.
Election Party Councillor Margin Swing 2011 Conservative Richard Blunt 28.9% 24.3% from Con to Ind 2007 55.0% 5.2% from Lab to Con 2003 Edward Blunt 44.6% 1995 Labour J. Lewis 20.0%
Ashby Castle The Ashby Castle ward is one of three wards that cover the Ashby-de-la-Zouch area. It has been represented by John Coxon since 2003. Geographically, it is the smallest of Ashby's wards and contains the 15th century Ashby Castle from which the ward takes its name. It is a very safe seat for the Conservatives who have consistently achieved a majority of between 40% and 50%, however, in 1995 they came in third place behind a Labour candidate and a victorious Independent.
Election Party Councillor Margin Swing 2011 Conservative John Coxon 43.0% 3.0% from Con to Lab 2007 49.0% 1.4% from Lab to Con 2003 46.2% 1995 Independent G. Orme 13.5%
Ashby Holywell Another of Ashby-de-la-Zouch's three wards, the Ashby Holywell ward elects two councillors. It has been represented by two Conservatives, Roger Bayliss and Graham Allman, since 2003. This ward leans toward the Conservatives although it has been held by Labour in the past and saw a pro-Labour swing at the last election
Election Party First Councillor Party Second Councillor Swing 2011 Conservative Roger Bayliss Conservative Graham Allman 1.7% from Con to Lab 2007 4.4% from Lab to Con 2003 Labour Gordon Tacey 1995 Labour L. Whetton J. Fisher
Ashby Ivanhoe The Ashby Ivanhoe ward is the last of Ashby-de-la-Zouch's three wards; it also elects two councillors. It has been represented by two Conservatives, James Hoult and Geraint Jones, since 2007. Ivanhoe is a key marginal ward between Labour and the Conservatives. It could be considered to be a bellwether ward because it has returned two councillors for the victorious party at every election.
Election Party First Councillor Party Second Councillor Swing 2011 Conservative James Hoult Conservative Geraint Jones 2.5% from Con to Lab 2007 8.0% from Lab to Con 2003 Labour David Whetton Labour Sean Sheahan 1995 B. Mitchell J. Roberts
Bardon The Bardon ward is situated in the greater Coalville area and contains the headquarters of Bardon Aggregates as well as a large quarry managed by the company. It has been represented by Michael Specht since 2011. It has been consecutively held by the Conservatives since its creation in 2003, however, it is now a three-way marginal after the Conservatives, the Lib Dems and Labour received 33.4%, 31.2% and 27.6% respectively at the last election.
Election Party Councillor Margin Swing 2011 Conservative Michael Specht 2.2% 18.5% from Con to Lib Dem 2007 Ted Purver 32.1% 4.4% from Lab to Con 2003 23.4% 1995 Ward did not exist
Ibstock and Heather The Ibstock and Heather ward covers the village of Ibstock, which is situated approximately 2.5 miles south of Coalville, and the small village of Heather (pronounced HEE-ther); it elects three councillors. It has been represented by two Labour councillors and one Conservative since 2011. Three by-elections* have taken place in this ward since 2008; the first two of which, both in 2008, were narrowly won by Labour and the Conservatives respectively, despite a strong challenge from the BNP; the third was fairly comfortably won by Labour despite a good result for the Liberal Democrats. This ward has generally favoured Labour but has also elected Conservatives more recently.
Election Party First Councillor Party Second Councillor Party Third Councillor Swing 2012* Labour Dave De Lacy 8.9% from Con to Lab 2011 Stacy Harris Labour Janet Ruff Conservative Virge Richichi 0.5% from Con to Lab 2008* 21.2% from Con to BNP 2008* Labour Felix Fenning 18.3% from Lab to BNP 2007 Dai Male Conservative Craig Bowley Conservative Ted Blunt 7.1% from Lab to Con 2003 Labour Felix Fenning Labour Alison Harrop 1995 Labour D. Costello Labour A. Smith
Thringstone The Thringstone ward covers the northwestern portion of Coalville and was formed after boundary changes in 2003. It has been represented by two Labour councillors since its creation. Thringstone is the safest Labour seat in the District as it is the only ward which has always returned Labour councillors; its predecessor, Holly Hayes, was also a very safe Labour seat.
Election Party First Councillor Party Second Councillor Swing 2011 Labour Leon Spence Labour Dave Everitt 4.0% from Con to Lab 2007 Pam Clayfield 12.2% from Lab to Con 2003 Roderick Evans 1995 Ward did not exist
By-elections Overview By-election Date Incumbent party ResultHolly Hayes19 August 1999 Ibstock and Heather10 January 2008 18 December 2008 16 February 2012 Measham South4 February 2016 Ibstock East 6 May 2021 Worthington and Breedon Snibston South2 May 2024
2023 - 2027
2019 - 2023
2015 - 2019
2011 - 2015
2007 - 2011
1999 - 2003
References
External links North West Leicestershire District Council