The 1968 Havering Council election took place on 9 May 1968 to elect members of Havering London Borough Council in London, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party gained overall control of the council for the first time.
Electoral arrangements The election was originally scheduled for 1967, but the term of members due to go out in 1967 was extended for one year to prevent the London borough council elections taking place in the same year as the Greater London Council election. The election used the twenty wards from the previous election for a second time. Councillors were elected for three years with the next election scheduled for 1971.
Polling took place on 9 May 1968.
Results General election of councillors Gaining nineteen seats, the Conservative Party won overall control of the council for the first time. The Labour Party lost twenty seats and was only able to hold on to seven councillors in the Heaton, Hilldene and Gooshays wards covering the Harold Hill estate. Nineteen seats went from Labour to the Conservatives. One of the three seats in Hylands ward went from Labour to the Independent Residents. Holding on to a further twelve seats in Cranham, Hacton, Rainham and Upminster, the Independent Residents became the second largest group on the council.
Aldermanic election In addition to the 55 elected councillors, there were nine aldermen on the council. Five aldermen elected in 1964 continued to serve until 1971 and the other four retired before the 1968 election. Four aldermen were elected by the council in 1968 to serve until 1974. All four aldermen were for the Conservative Party.
Aldermen elected in 1968, to retire in 1974: Party Alderman Evan Davies Sydney Legg Stanley Shute John Whale
The aldermen divided six to the Conservatives, two Independent and one to Labour after the aldermanic election.
Ward results Bedfords
Central
Collier Row
Cranham
Elm Park
Emerson Park
Gidea Park
Gooshays
Hacton
Harold Wood
Heath Park
Heaton
Hilldene
Hylands
Mawney
Oldchurch
Rainham
St Andrew's
South Hornchurch
Upminster
By-elections The following by-elections took place between the 1968 and 1971 elections: 1968 Bedfords by-election 1968 Gidea Park by-election 1968 St Andrew's (Havering) by-election 1969 Collier Row by-election (Labour gain from Conservative) 1969 Hilldene by-election 1970 Heath Park by-election
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