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Could council elections see power changes in Herts?

Martin HeathHertfordshire political reporter
News imageGetty Images Two women leaving a polling station, which is in a brick-built building with a small window to the left, a light behind a grill and two vents. There are black railings outside the building. One of the women is carrying a bag over her shoulder and is holding an object, possibly a phone.Getty Images
Voters in more than 80 wards get the chance to choose their councillors in May

The ballot boxes will be dusted down and the polling station signs erected in six districts and boroughs in Hertfordshire on Thursday, 7 May.

But none of those areas will see all of its seats being contested, with voting taking place for a third of the places on each council.

It is mathematically possible for political control of some councils to change this year, but impossible in other districts, although opposition parties could strengthen their hands.

Where are elections taking place?

Elections will be taking place for a third of the seats on:

  • Broxbourne Borough Council
  • St Albans City & District Council
  • Stevenage Borough Council
  • Three Rivers District Council
  • Watford
  • Welwyn Hatfield District Council

Each ward usually has two or three council seats - and one of them will be up for grabs. Voters in Watford will also get a chance to elect a mayor.

Elections are taking place against the backdrop of local government reorganisation - where the drive in Hertfordshire is to replace the current two-tier district and county council system with a one-tier unitary council system.

Where could control change?

News imageBrian Farmer/BBC A brown sign showing a picture of a formal garden above the words "Welcome to Welwyn Garden City, a marriage of town and country" in white letters. It is set in a bed of shrubs surrounded by grass with a tree-lined path on one side and a road with double yellow lines on the other.Brian Farmer/BBC
Will Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council's Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition still be in charge after polling day?

Things have not been going well in Welwyn Hatfield recently.

The Liberal Democrats threatened to scratch their coalition agreement with Labour over two major decisions - whether elections be scrapped this year and how many new unitary councils there should be.

Labour cabinet members went against the wishes of full council.

After much discussion, the leader resigned and the coalition survived, but the issue may have an impact on voters.

Labour goes into this election with 17 seats, the Liberal Democrats have 15, while the Conservatives have 11.

Ten of the seats up for grabs this year are held by Labour and Liberal Democrats, so it is theoretically possible for the Conservatives to end up as the biggest party with the Greens and Independents, with four seats between them, possibly holding the balance of power.

Rickmansworth-based Three Rivers District Council is run by the Liberal Democrats, on 19 seats, but the other parties have 20 between them.

Eight Liberal Democrat seats are being contested, so it is mathematically possible for a change of power to occur.

What about the other elections in Hertfordshire?

News imageBen Schofield/BBC Bronze joyride statue in Stevenage showing a woman holding a baby up prior to putting it in a pram. It is set on small grey slabs, in an area surrounded by black railings. Shops in the centre of Stevenage are visible beyond.Ben Schofield/BBC
Stevenage will still be Labour-controlled after polling day

Labour will keep control of Stevenage whatever happens.

The party's councillors hold 30 of the 39 seats, mostly under the Labour and Co-operative banner, although Reform have gained two since the last election and will be looking to add to that total.

The borough is unlikely to repeat the nail-biting finish of the 2024 local elections, when two candidates in one ward had 571 votes each and lots had to be drawn to pick a winner.

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The Conservatives will retain control of Cheshunt-based Broxbourne Borough Council after the election

Broxbourne Borough Council, based in Cheshunt, is controlled by the Conservatives who have over 80% of the seats.

Reform will be trying to add to the two seats they have.

In St Albans, the Liberal Democrats have 46 of the 56 seats on the council and cannot lose control. The Green party is currently the third largest in the council chamber, and will be looking to build on the three seats they have.

News imageGoogle Timber-framed three-storey building in the centre of Watford. Further shops are to the left. There is a large tree in the foreground on the left, and a road passing by on which a cyclist wearing a light-coloured cap is riding. A man is sitting cross-legged on a small seat by the road.Google
All voters in Watford will get a chance to elect a mayor and about a third will also select councillors

In Watford, the only opposition party with seats, Labour, cannot stop the Liberal Democrats keeping control.

The borough will also be electing its mayor, a post that has been held by a Liberal Democrat ever since the first election in 2002.

Candidates from other parties would have to overturn a majority of more than 2,000 to take the job.

While there are no district council elections in North Hertfordshire, the area is taking part in a pilot scheme for parish council polls which will allow people to vote during the weekend before polling day.

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