St Albans Council election, 2007
Encyclopedia
The 2007 St Albans Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of St Albans
District
Council in Hertfordshire
, England
. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats lost overall control of the council to no overall control
.
After the election, the composition of the council was
, Labour
and Green Party
stood in the election. Each party contested every ward
, apart from in London Colney
where the Green candidate was disqualified due to an incorrect nomination. Each ward had a seat up for election apart from in Harpenden
West where 2 seats were contested as a Conservative councillor
stood down early due to illness. The other parties needed to gain 3 seats from the Liberal Democrats to remove them from power, with a 2 seat drop meaning the Liberal Democrats would depend on the mayor's casting vote
to remain in power. After the Conservatives won the most votes in the previous 2006 election
they were hoping to make gains, with Harpenden East, Marshalswick
South, Verulam and Wheathampstead
seen as being possible gains.
The Liberal Democrats defended their record in running the council during the election. They called for St Albans to be Hertfordshires' "premier community" and pointed to the Audit Commission
rating the council as one of the 10 most improving in the country.
wards, while there was no change elsewhere. Overall turnout
was just under 42%.
Following the election the Liberal Democrats remained in control of the council after one of the independent
councillors abstained on the vote to decide the composition of the cabinet
.
City and District of St Albans
The City of St Albans , also known as the City and District of St Albans or District of St Albans, is a local government district, in Hertfordshire, England. It was created in 1974 and since then has held the status of non-metropolitan district and city. The local authority is St Albans City Council...
District
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
Council in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats lost overall control of the council to no overall control
No overall control
Within the context of local councils of the United Kingdom, the term No Overall Control refers to a situation in which no single party achieves a majority of seats and is analogous to a hung parliament...
.
After the election, the composition of the council was
- Liberal Democrat 29
- ConservativeConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
19 - LabourLabour Party (UK)The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
8 - IndependentIndependent (politician)In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
2
Campaign
A total of 83 candidates from the Liberal Democrats, ConservativesConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and Green Party
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
stood in the election. Each party contested every ward
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
, apart from in London Colney
London Colney
London Colney is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England. It is located to the north of London, at Junction 22 of the M25 motorway....
where the Green candidate was disqualified due to an incorrect nomination. Each ward had a seat up for election apart from in Harpenden
Harpenden
Harpenden is a town in Hertfordshire, England.The town's total population is just under 30,000.-Geography and administration:There are two civil parishes: Harpenden and Harpenden Rural....
West where 2 seats were contested as a Conservative councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
stood down early due to illness. The other parties needed to gain 3 seats from the Liberal Democrats to remove them from power, with a 2 seat drop meaning the Liberal Democrats would depend on the mayor's casting vote
Casting vote
A casting vote is a vote given to the presiding officer of a council or legislative body to resolve a deadlock and which can be exercised only when such a deadlock exists...
to remain in power. After the Conservatives won the most votes in the previous 2006 election
St Albans Council election, 2006
The 2006 St Albans Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of St Albans District Council in Hertfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats gained overall control of the council from no overall control.After the election, the...
they were hoping to make gains, with Harpenden East, Marshalswick
Marshalswick
Marshalswick is a district of St Albans, in Hertfordshire, England around 1.5 miles North East of the city centre. Marshalswick borders on Jersey Farm, Fleetville and Bernards Heath and historically fell within the bounds of Sandridge Parish to the North....
South, Verulam and Wheathampstead
Wheathampstead
Wheathampstead is a village and civil parish in the City and District of St Albans, in Hertfordshire, England. It is north of St Albans and in the Hitchin and Harpenden parliamentary constituency....
seen as being possible gains.
The Liberal Democrats defended their record in running the council during the election. They called for St Albans to be Hertfordshires' "premier community" and pointed to the Audit Commission
Audit Commission
The Audit Commission is a public corporation in the United Kingdom.The Commission’s primary objective is to improve economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local government, housing and the health service, directly through the audit and inspection process and also through value for money...
rating the council as one of the 10 most improving in the country.
Election result
The results saw the Liberal Democrats lose their overall majority but remain the largest party on the council. The Conservatives made 2 gains from the Liberal Democrats in Harpenden East and RedbournRedbourn
Redbourn is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, lying on Watling Street, 3 miles from Harpenden, 4 miles from St Albans and 5 miles from Hemel Hempstead. It has a population of around 6,000.-History:...
wards, while there was no change elsewhere. Overall turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
was just under 42%.
Following the election the Liberal Democrats remained in control of the council after one of the independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
councillors abstained on the vote to decide the composition of the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
.