The Conservatives retain their majority following the North Herts District Council elections, despite losing two seats – including that of council chairman Ray Shakespeare-Smith.
A little less than a third of the council – 15 seats out of 49 – was up for election yesterday, with the results announced at about lunchtime today.
The composition beforehand was 36 for the Conservatives, 11 for Labour and two for the Liberal Democrats.
After Labour and the Lib Dems each gained a Hitchin seat from the Conservatives, there are now 34 Conservative district councillors, with Labour and the Lib Dems having 12 and three respectively.
The results mean a hung Hitchin area committee, split between six Conservative and six Labour councillors – with the Liberal Democrats’ Paul Clark filling the final spot.
The potential significance of Mr Clark’s victory over the Conservatives’ David Leal-Bennett in Hitchin Highbury was not lost on the Labour contingent at the count.
Long-serving Labour councillor Judi Billing beamed as she told the Comet: “We’re jolly pleased.”
Councillor Frank Radcliffe also expressed satisfaction, but stressed that a lot will depend on what happens on May 27 – when a new council chairman is due to be elected to replace Mr Shakespeare-Smith.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here