An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1931. It was preceded by the 1928 election and followed by the 1934 election.
Overview of the result
The Independent group remained the majority grouping on the Council. In the Llanelli area the potential for Labour to win further ground was complicated by the appearance of Communist Party candidates.
Boundary changes
There was one boundary change, namely the division of the existing Llandybie ward into two divisions, each of which was won by Labour.
Results
Only a minority of the 53 divisions were contested. 53 councillors were elected.
Ward results
Abergwili
Ammanford
Bettws
Caio
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)
Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)
Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)
Cenarth
Cilycwm
Conwil
Kidwelly
Laugharne
Llanarthney
Llanboidy
Llandebie North Boundary Change
Llandebie South Boundary Change
Llandilo Rural
Llandilo Urban
Llandovery
Llandyssilio
Llanedy
Llanegwad
Llanelly Division 1
Llanelly Division 2
Llanelly Division 3
Llanelly Division 4
Llanelly Division 5
Llanelly Division 6
Llanelly Division 7
Llanelly Division 8
Llanelly Rural, Berwick
Llanelly Rural, Hengoed Joe Howells stood as an Independent against the official Labour candidate and won by a very narrow margin.
Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llangadock
Llangeler
Llangendeirne
Llangennech
Llangunnor
Llanon
Llansawel
Llanstephan
Llanybyther
Myddfai
Pembrey North
Pembrey South
Quarter Bach
Rhydcymmerai
St Clears
St Ishmael
Trelech
Whitland
Election of aldermen
In addition to the 53 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the following nine aldermen were elected. Eight were retiring aldermen (some of whom had not fought an election for many years) while Joseph Roberts had been re-elected in Llanelly Division 3.
T.R. Jones, Cross Hall James Phillips, St Clears Philip Phillips, Pencraig W.R. Rogers, Closyfran Rev William Thomas, Llanboidy David Davies, Rhyblid John Thomas, Llanelli Joseph Roberts, Llanelli W.N.Jones, Ammanford
In addition, W.D. Davies, recently re-elected unopposed for the Llanegwad division, was elevated to the aldermanic bench following the death of L.N. Powell.
By-elections 1931-1934
1931 Llanegwad by-election A by-election was scheduled for March 1931 following the elevation of W.D. Davies to the aldermanic bench. B. Davies of Glancothi was elected unopposed in his place.
1931 Llanelly Division 3 by-election A by-election was held in April due to the elevation of Joseph Roberts to the aldermanic bench. Strong objections were raised in the local press to the prospect of several Independent candidates contesting the vacancy, and these fears were realised when Labour candidate Percy Evans headed the poll with around a third of the votes cast. Gomer Thomas, chosen as an official candidate by the Ratepayers' Association, polled only 89 votes.
1932 Llandissilio by-election A by-election was held in December 1932 following the elevation of Edward James to the aldermanic bench. Henry Morris, a mamber of Whitland RDC for 28 years, was elected by a narrow majority
References