The 2019 Bassetlaw District Council election took place on 2 May 2019 to elect all 48 members of Bassetlaw District Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections.
The election resulted in the Labour Party retaining its control of the council with an increased majority. The Conservative Party suffered its worst defeat in Bassetlaw since 1973, winning only 5 seats of the 12 seats it was defending. Both Independents and Labour gained seats from the Conservatives. The Liberal Democrats gained a seat from Labour in East Retford West, the first Liberal Democrat elected in Bassetlaw since 2006.
Background
Bassetlaw is a shire district in Nottinghamshire, England. It is predominantly rural, with two towns: Worksop and Retford. The district was formed in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972. Local Government in Nottinghamshire is organised on a two-tier basis, with local district councils responsible for local services such as housing, local planning and refuse collection and Nottinghamshire County Council responsible for "wide-area" services, including education, social services and public transport. Bassetlaw District Council has been controlled by Labour for most of its existence, except for a brief period from 2006 to 2011 when it was controlled by the Conservatives.
Bassetlaw District Council held local elections on 2 May 2019 along with other councils in England as part of the 2019 local elections. Bassetlaw is divided into 25 wards for electoral purposes, with each ward electing between one and three councillors. Until 2015, the council was elected by thirds, with district elections being held every year except the year in which elections to Nottinghamshire County Council took place. The council resolved in 2014 to hold all-out elections from 2015 onwards, with all 48 councillors elected in all-out elections every four years. Councillors defending their seats in this election were previously elected in 2015. At that election, Labour won a majority of seats and retained its control of the council, which it has controlled since 2011.
Result The election resulted in the Labour Party retaining its control of the council
Ward results Asterisks denote incumbent Councillors seeking re-election.
Beckingham
Blyth
Carlton
Clayworth
East Markham
East Retford East
East Retford North
East Retford South
East Retford West
Everton
Harworth
Langold
Misterton
Rampton
Ranskill
Sturton
Sutton
Tuxford and Trent
Welbeck
Worksop East
Worksop North
Worksop North East
Worksop North West
Worksop South
Worksop South East
† Colin Barton was expelled from the Conservative Party in April 2019, however he remained a nominated Conservative candidate in this election as the deadline for withdrawals had passed.
Changes 2019–2023 In late 2022, Ranskill councillor Gerald Bowers left the Conservative group to sit as an independent.
By-elections
Ranskill
The Ranskill by-election followed the resignation of Labour councillor Paul Nicholls.
Sutton (May 2021)
The Sutton by-election followed the resignation of independent councillor Rob Boeuf.
Tuxford and Trent
The Tuxford and Trent by-election followed the resignation of Conservative councillor Keith Isard.
East Retford South
The East Retford South by-election followed the resignation of Labour councillor Helen Richards in protest against proposed housing development in the ward. Richards contested the by-election as an independent.
Sutton (November 2022)
The Sutton by-election followed the resignation of Conservative councillor Denise Depledge because of ill health.
References