The 2019 Somerset West and Taunton District Council election took place on 2 May 2019 to elect members of Somerset West and Taunton District Council in Somerset, England. This was the first election since the West Somerset District Council and Taunton Deane merged, with the whole council being up for election.
Overall election result
Results by ward
Alcombe
Blackbrook & Holway
Comeytrowe & Bishop's Hull
Cotford St Luke & Oake
Creech St Michael
Dulverton & District
Exmoor
Halcon & Lane
Hatch & Blackdown
Manor & Tangier
Milverton & District
Minehead Central
Minehead North
Monument
North Curry & Ruishton
North Town
Norton Fitzwarren & Staplegrove
Old Cleeve & District
Periton & Woodcombe
Porlock & District
Priorswood
Quantock Vale
Rockwell Green
South Quantock
Trull, Pitminster & Corfe
Victoria
Vivary
Watchet & Williton
Wellington East
Wellington North
Wellington South
Wellsprings & Rowbarton
West Monkton & Cheddon Fitzpaine
Wilton & Sherford
Wiveliscombe & District
Changes 2019–2023 In 2020, Sue Buller left the Liberal Democrat group and sat as an independent councillor. In February 2021, Marcus Barr, who had been elected as an independent, rejoined the Conservatives. In May 2021, Marcus Kravis left the Liberal Democrat group to sit as a non-aligned councillor. He had rejoined the Liberal Democrats by October 2021. In April 2022, Chris Morgan left the Conservatives to sit as a non-aligned councillor. He returned to the party in September 2022. On 28 October 2022, Conservative councillor Anthony Trollope-Bellew died after falling from a vehicle on his land at the edge of the Quantock Hills. No by-election was held because the council was to be abolished in April 2023. On 1 December 2022, Liberal Democrat councillor Danny Wedderkopp resigned from the council; his seat was also left vacant until abolition. By February 2023, Martin Peters had left the Liberal Democrat group and joined Labour. On 1 April 2023, Somerset West and Taunton District Council was abolished and its functions passed to the new unitary Somerset Council.
By-elections
Vivary
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Catherine Herbert, who stood down for personal reasons.
Norton Fitzwarren & Staplegrove
The death of independent councillor Jean Adkins caused this by-election.
Trull, Pitminster & Corfe
Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Hill's resignation led to this by-election.
Old Cleeve & District
This by-election was held after Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Pilkington resigned for personal reasons.
North Curry & Ruishton
The by-election was called following the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Philip Stone, who left in protest at the way the council's leadership was organised.
Wilton & Sherford
The death of Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Wedderkopp, at the age of 89, triggered this by-election.
Alcombe
Independent councillor Paul Bolton was disqualified after the council said he had not attended a meeting for six months, leading to this by-election.
References