Reading Borough Council elections

Reading Borough Council is the council for the unitary authority of Reading in Berkshire, England. Until 1 April 1998 it was a non-metropolitan district. Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 48 councillors representing 16 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) being elected each time for a four-year term.[1]

Council elections

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Non-metropolitan district elections

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Unitary authority elections

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Borough result maps

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By-election results

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By-elections are listed on the pages of the last council-wide election prior to the by-election, with the exception of the 1977 by-election below which was due to a boundary change and increase in number of councillors rather than needing to fill a vacancy on the council.

By-election Date Incumbent party Winning party
Abbey 6 May 1999 Labour Labour
Church 15 June 2000 Labour Labour
Redlands 2 May 2002 Labour Labour
Southcote 4 May 2006 Labour Labour
Thames Conservative Conservative
Tilehurst 16 November 2006 Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats
Church 3 May 2007 Labour Conservative
Southcote Labour Labour
Park 22 May 2014 Green Green
Southcote 24 July 2014 Labour Labour
Southcote 21 July 2016 Labour Labour
Kentwood 12 December 2019 Conservative Conservative
Norcot 3 August 2023 Labour Labour

Thames by-election April 1977

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On 1 April 1977 the borough was enlarged by the addition of parts of the parishes of Eye and Dunsden, Kidmore End and Mapledurham, all from South Oxfordshire. The number of councillors on Reading Borough Council was increased from 46 to 49 as a result. The two South Oxfordshire district councillors representing much of the transferred area automatically became Reading borough councillors without needing to be re-elected, representing a new ward of Caversham Park. These two were Geoff Lowe and Harold Stoddart, both Liberals (although Lowe later defected to the Conservatives in 1978).[6] Reading's existing Thames and Caversham wards were also enlarged, and the increase in the size of Thames ward justified a fifth councillor being elected for that ward, for which a by-election was held on 21 April 1977, which was won by the Conservatives. After the by-election and two transfers, the balance of the council was 23 Conservatives, 13 Labour and 13 Liberals.[2][7][8]

Thames By-Election 21 April 1977
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Brian Fowles 2,619 75.3
Liberal Katherine Gwinnell 485 13.9
Labour Pat Mander 373 10.7
Majority 2,134 61.4
Turnout 3,477 33
Conservative win (new seat)

References

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  1. ^ "The Reading (Electoral Changes) Order 2021", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2021/108, retrieved 28 June 2023
  2. ^ a b legislation.gov.uk - The Berkshire and Oxfordshire (Areas) Order 1977. Retrieved on 18 November 2015.
  3. ^ The Berkshire and Oxfordshire (Areas) (Amendment) Order 1977
  4. ^ The Borough of Reading (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979
  5. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Reading (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Tories welcome new council convert". Evening Post. Reading. 4 May 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Reading prepared for its 8,000 'migrants'". Evening Post. Reading. 23 March 1977. p. 4. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Tory wins in Thames ward". Evening Post. Reading. 22 April 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
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