1976 North Hertfordshire District Council election

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1976 North Hertfordshire District Council election
← 1973 6 May 1976 (1976-05-06) 1979 →
All 48 seats on North Hertfordshire District Council
25 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Con
Lab
Leader Bob Flatman John Goldsmith
Party Conservative Labour
Seats before 23 17
Seats after 30 11
Seat change Increase7 Decrease6
  Third party Fourth party
 
Ind
RA
Leader Ken Logan
Party Independent Ratepayers
Seats before 7 1
Seats after 5 2
Seat change Decrease2 Increase1
Leader before election

Bob Flatman
Conservative
No overall control

Leader after election

Bob Flatman
Conservative

The 1976 North Hertfordshire District Council election was held on 6 May 1976, at the same time as other local elections across England and Wales. All 48 seats on North Hertfordshire District Council were up for election.

The election saw the Conservatives take a majority of the seats on the council, which had previously been under no overall control, being led by a Conservative minority administration. The Conservative group leader, Bob Flatman, continued to serve as leader of the council after the election.[1] The Labour group leader, John Goldsmith, lost his seat and was replaced as group leader by Bill Miller.[2]

Overall results[edit]

The overall results were as follows:[3]

North Hertfordshire District Council Election, 1976
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 30 7 0 +7 62.5 49.8 19,994 +7.1
  Labour 11 0 6 -6 22.9 28.8 11,566 -4.0
  Independent 5 0 2 -2 10.4 12.3 4,938 -7.3
  Ratepayers 2 1 0 +1 4.2 5.2 2,082 +2.1
  Liberal 0 0.0 3.9 1,545 +2.1

Ward results[edit]

The results for each ward were as follows. An asterisk(*) indicates a sitting councillor standing for re-election. A double dagger (‡) indicates a sitting councillor contesting a different ward.[3][4]

Ward 1: Baldock
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Nora Burgess* 1,240 40.3 -0.1
Conservative Roger Gazely 873 28.4 +2.7
Conservative John Barton* 839
Labour George York* 716 23.3 -3.8
Labour Stanley Watson 628
Labour Roger McFall 607
Conservative Alfred Bickell 511
Liberal Ronald Littleford
(Ron Littleford) 		248 8.1 +1.2
Turnout 46.4
Registered electors 6,631
Independent hold Swing -1.4
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Ward 2: Hitchin Oughton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Audrey Carss* 1,038 55.2 +2.4
Labour Jim Reilly* 957
Labour David Kendall 902
Conservative Raymond Shanks 841 44.8 +18.6
Conservative John Wallace 836
Conservative Andree Boddington 714
Turnout 49.0
Registered electors 3,835
Labour hold Swing -8.1
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Ward 3: Hitchin Bearton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Ingram 1,063 64.0 +7.0
Conservative David Roberts 1,048
Labour Keith Ruff 450 27.1 -15.9
Labour Brian Abrahams 408
Liberal George Fisher 148 8.9 +8.9
Liberal Christopher Freel 115
Turnout 47.0
Registered electors 3,534
Conservative hold Swing +11.5
Conservative hold Swing
Ward 4: Hitchin Priory
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Stanley Flatman*
(Bob Flatman) 		1,372 74.3 +14.8
Conservative Derek Alfred Doel* 1,272
Conservative Michael John Frederick Hillman ‡ 1,212
Labour William Edward Harmer 322 17.4 +1.0
Labour Doris Marian Reilly 311
Labour Crystal Anne Toleman 294
Liberal Jane Elizabeth Brine 152 8.2 -15.8
Liberal Handel Thomas Robert Leonard 152
Turnout 41.9
Registered electors 4,406
Conservative hold Swing +6.9
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Ward 5: Hitchin Walsworth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ratepayers Kenneth William Logan*
(Ken Logan) 		1,555 42.5 +10.4
Ratepayers Brian Robert Worbey 1,276
Labour Frederick George Peacock
(Fred Peacock) 		1,106 30.2 -6.5
Conservative Frederick Stanley Scott
(Fred Scott) 		1,001 27.3 -3.9
Labour John Henry Goldsmith* 812
Labour Martin John Stears 726
Turnout 57.4
Registered electors 6,380
Ratepayers hold Swing +8.5
Ratepayers gain from Labour Swing
Labour hold Swing
Ward 6: Hitchin Highbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Beryl Faith Wearmouth* 1,726 80.2 +26.9
Conservative Stephen Arthur Whaley 1,597
Conservative Betty May Goble 1,594
Labour Walter Patrick Guymer 425 19.8 +7.7
Labour Stewart Patrick Faulkner 360
Labour Harold Alexander Smith 336
Turnout 52.0
Registered electors 4,137
Conservative hold Swing +9.6
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Ward 7: Letchworth Norton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bill Miller* 1,467 47.1 -15.7
Labour David Evans 1,461
Labour Donald Kitchiner*
(Don Kitchiner) 		1,458
Labour Rodney Playford 1,435
Conservative William Charles Bifield
(Charles Bifield) 		1,288 41.4 +4.2
Conservative Walter Gurney 1,276
Conservative Barry Jackson 1,196
Conservative Dominic Alphonsus Murphy 1,091
Independent Roger Leach 358 11.5 +11.5
Turnout 48.9
Registered electors 6,366
Labour hold Swing -10.0
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Ward 8: Letchworth Pixmore
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ernest Brown*
(Ernie Brown) 		1,374 67.5 -7.8
Labour David Arthur Griffiths* 1,322
Labour Reginald Hall* 1,301
Conservative Jean May Sherwood 662 32.5 +7.8
Conservative Pauline Margaret Wood 637
Conservative Richard Edward Markiewicz 619
Turnout 44.9
Registered electors 4,535
Labour hold Swing -7.8
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Ward 9: Letchworth Wilbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Raynor Bloxham
(Ray Bloxham) 		1,182 53.2 +12.7
Conservative Roland Baker 1,156
Conservative Paul Shipman 1,136
Labour Mamie Briercliffe* 1,041 46.8 -12.7
Labour David Gallard* 1,020
Labour Ian Mantle* 933
Turnout 57.8
Registered electors 3,846
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +12.7
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Ward 10: Letchworth Westbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Clifford John Marshall* 1,011 65.5 +11.0
Conservative Geoffrey Peter Woods
(Geoff Woods) 		921
Labour Headley Valentine Parkins 533 34.5 -11.0
Labour Ormond Paul Simpson 517
Turnout 66.8
Registered electors 2,311
Conservative hold Swing +11.0
Conservative hold Swing
Ward 11: Letchworth Central and Willian
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anthony Gregory Burrows 1,786 83.0 +23.1
Conservative Robert Saunders*
(Bob Saunders) 		1,742
Labour Henry Fuller 366 17.0 +2.9
Turnout 55.1
Registered electors 3,906
Conservative hold Swing +10.1
Conservative hold Swing
Ward 12: Royston
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis John Smith*
(John Smith) 		1,998 39.2 +2.6
Independent George William Stevens* 1,673 32.8 -9.9
Independent Patricia Rule*
(Pat Rule) 		1,672
Independent Phillip Leslie Gray* 1,350
Conservative Terence Botfield 1,258
Conservative Christopher McMichael 1,124
Conservative Howard Marshall 1,095
Labour Robert Douglas Beckwith 815 16.0 -4.8
Labour Alan Evans 767
Labour Peter Ball 675
Liberal Hazel Priscilla Lord 615 12.1 +12.1
Labour Michael William Kernaghan 603
Liberal Anthony Perkins 406
Turnout 52.8
Registered electors 9,661
Conservative hold Swing +6.3
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Ward 13: Ashwell, Bygrave, Caldecote, Clothall, Graveley, Hinxworth, Newnham, Radwell and Weston
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Evans* 950 69.3 +34.9
Conservative John Stapleton 926
Labour John Schofield 420 30.7 +16.6
Labour John Summers 307
Turnout 53.2
Registered electors 2,575
Conservative hold Swing +9.2
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Ward 14: Barkway, Barley, Kelshall, Nuthampstead, Reed, Rushden, Sandon, Therfield and Wallington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Esther Brookes* 781 55.1 -0.4
Conservative Ian Rose* 662
Independent Fraser William Field 511 36.1 +3.7
Labour Nigel Pratt 125 8.8 -3.3
Labour Anthony Pettit
(Tony Pettit) 		108
Turnout 55.0
Registered electors 2,576
Conservative hold Swing -2.1
Conservative hold Swing
Ward 15: Ippollitts, Kimpton, Langley, Preston, St Paul's Walden and Wymondley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Gilbert 1,542 76.8 -0.7
Conservative Leslie Rabbitts 1,523
Conservative John Raffell* 1,523
Labour Pauline Oakley 466 23.2 +0.7
Labour Frances Mary Polly 464
Labour Jennifer Fitzpatrick 387
Turnout 49.5
Registered electors 4,057
Conservative hold Swing -0.7
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Ward 16: Codicote
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Denis Wallace Charles Winch* unopposed
Registered electors 2,052
Conservative hold Swing
Ward 17: Knebworth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gordon Cartwright Dumelow* 727 48.0 +7.8
Conservative Alfred James Grosse* 555
Ratepayers Anthony Tomlinson 527 34.8 +14.7
Ratepayers Ronald Charles Gilbert 309
Labour Martin Harvey Lisles 262 17.3 -4.3
Turnout 53.6
Registered electors 2,828
Conservative hold Swing -3.5
Conservative hold Swing
Ward 18: Hexton, Holwell, Ickleford, King's Walden, Lilley, Offley and Pirton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Brian Feaver 1,191 35.4 +7.9
Independent Ronald Alfred Lodge*
(Ron Lodge) 		1,156 34.3 -3.3
Conservative John Charles Jackson 1,038
Conservative Mary Middleton 972
Labour Raymond Cousins 640 19.0 -16.0
Labour Clive Hugh Godfrey 549
Labour Anthony James Brown 518
Liberal Sarah Ann Lowe 382 11.3 +11.3
Turnout 53.6
Registered electors 6,285
Conservative gain from Independent Swing +5.6
Independent hold Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Changes 1976–1979[edit]

Five by-elections were held on 6 April 1978, following the simultaneous resignations of five Conservative councillors on 13 February 1978. All five seats were retained by the Conservatives.[5][6][7]

Ward 3: Hitchin Bearton by-election, 6 April 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Fred Scott 787 48.9 -15.1
Labour Martin Stears 659 40.9 +13.8
National Party Bob Aylott 63 3.9 +3.9
Liberal Sarah Low 55 3.4 -5.5
Ratepayers Jack Swain 46 2.9 +2.9
Turnout 46.3
Conservative hold Swing -14.5

The Hitchin Bearton by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor David Ingram, citing business reasons.

Ward 6: Hitchin Highbury by-election, 6 April 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stuart Grantham 1,036 59.0 -21.3
Ratepayers Bert Moore 448 25.5 +25.5
Labour John Joshua 273 15.5 -4.2
Turnout 41.8
Conservative hold Swing -23.4

The Hitchin Highbury by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Stephen Arthur Whaley, who had moved away from the district.

Ward 9: Letchworth Wilbury by-election, 6 April 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Keith Emsall 1,091 48.7 -4.4
Labour Ian Mantle 1,039 46.4 -0.4
Liberal Ian McGinlay 109 4.9 +4.9
Turnout 54.9
Conservative hold Swing -2.0

The Letchworth Wilbury by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Roland Baker, who also resigned from the party citing disillusionment with Conservative party policy.

Ward 13: Ashwell, Bygrave, Caldecote, Clothall, Graveley, Hinxworth, Newnham, Radwell and Weston by-election, 6 April 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Sheldrick 841 74.8 +5.5
Labour John Schofield 283 25.2 -5.5
Turnout 40.1
Conservative hold Swing +5.5

The Ward 13 by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor John Stapleton, who had moved away from the district.

Ward 14: Barkway, Barley, Kelshall, Nuthampstead, Reed, Rushden, Sandon, Therfield and Wallington by-election, 6 April 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bob Wilkerson 922 89.6 +34.5
Labour Peter Ball 107 10.4 +1.6
Turnout 46.5
Conservative hold Swing +16.5

The Ward 14 by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Ian Rose, citing business reasons.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hogg, Andrew (13 May 1976). "Tories take charge of North Herts!". The Comet. Hitchin. p. 5.
  2. ^ "Labour's leader loses seat". The Comet. Hitchin. 13 May 1976. p. 1.
  3. ^ a b Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "North Hertfordshire District Council Election Results 1973–2012" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Plymouth University. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Your future council". Letchworth and Baldock Citizen Gazette. 29 April 1976. p. 12.
  5. ^ "Guns open up in council elections". Letchworth and Baldock Citizen Gazette. 16 February 1978. p. 1.
  6. ^ "Five to resign from council". Letchworth and Baldock Citizen Gazette. 9 February 1978. p. 1.
  7. ^ "Tories hold all five seats in by-election". Letchworth and Baldock Citizen Gazette. 13 April 1978. p. 21.
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