Wokingham Council election, 2008
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Wokingham Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Wokingham Unitary
Council in Berkshire
, England
. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party
stayed in overall control of the council.
After the election, the composition of the council was
, United Kingdom Independence Party
, Green Party
and British National Party
standing. The leader of the council, Conservative councillor
Frank Browne, was one of a number of councillors who stood down at the election. The Conservatives were defending 14 seats compared to 4 for the Liberal Democrats.
The Conservatives defended their record in running the council and committed themselves to keeping a weekly bin collection
, fight to keep down the number of new houses being built in the council area and continue investing in services. Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats criticised cuts in adult social care services
and school maintenance funds and attacked a lack of democracy over proposed developments. Other issues raised in the election included crime and council tax
increases.
had seen the former Liberal Democrat councillor, Alan Spratling, step down at the election and he was succeeded by Conservative Pauline Jorgensen, wife of another councillor for Hillside, Norman Jorgensen. The election also saw the United Kingdom Independence Party overtake Labour in the number of votes won across the council to win the third most number of votes. Overall turnout
in the election was 38.23%.
Following the election David Lee was elected as the new leader of the council to replace Frank Browne after he had stood down at the election.
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
Council in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, 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 Conservative party
Conservative 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...
stayed in overall control of the council.
After the election, the composition of the council was
- 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...
44 - Liberal Democrat 10
Campaign
18 seats were contested in the election with candidates from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, 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...
, United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
, 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...
and British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
standing. The leader of the council, 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:...
Frank Browne, was one of a number of councillors who stood down at the election. The Conservatives were defending 14 seats compared to 4 for the Liberal Democrats.
The Conservatives defended their record in running the council and committed themselves to keeping a weekly bin collection
Waste collection
Waste collection is the component of waste management which results in the passage of a waste material from the source of production to either the point of treatment or final disposal...
, fight to keep down the number of new houses being built in the council area and continue investing in services. Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats criticised cuts in adult social care services
Social care in the United Kingdom
Social care is defined as the provision of social work, personal care, protection or social support services to children or adults in need or at risk, or adults with needs arising from illness, disability, old age or poverty and their families and carers...
and school maintenance funds and attacked a lack of democracy over proposed developments. Other issues raised in the election included crime and council tax
Council tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
increases.
Election result
The election saw only one seat change hands with the Conservatives gaining Hillside from the Liberal Democrats to remain in control of the council with 44 of the 54 seats. Hillside wardWards 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:...
had seen the former Liberal Democrat councillor, Alan Spratling, step down at the election and he was succeeded by Conservative Pauline Jorgensen, wife of another councillor for Hillside, Norman Jorgensen. The election also saw the United Kingdom Independence Party overtake Labour in the number of votes won across the council to win the third most number of votes. 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...
in the election was 38.23%.
Following the election David Lee was elected as the new leader of the council to replace Frank Browne after he had stood down at the election.