North Somerset: Tories lead but Labour and Greens gain
THE Conservatives remained the largest party on North Somerset Council but without overall control after an election that saw Labour and the Greens make gains.
The Conservatives remained on 13 seats, with seats lost equalled out with seats gained, most notably in Clevedon where the council’s divisive seafront cycle lane scheme became a key political issue.
Labour and the Greens both made key gains. Labour group leader Catherine Gibbons said: “It has been a good day for Labour,” as the party went from six seats to 10.
The Greens were also jubilant as they went from four councillors to seven. Group leader Bridget Petty said: “We have shown that Greens can win anywhere.”
The Liberal Democrats went from 10 councillors to nine.
The number of Independent councillors has also gone down, dropping from 17 to 11.
Conservative councillor Peter Crew said: “It’s strange the way it has turned out. It will make setting up the council very interesting.”
A rainbow coalition of Independents, Liberal Democrats, Labour councillors, and Greens has run the council since the Conservatives collapsed four years ago. With no party winning the 26 seats needed for a majority, another coalition is certain but there are no clear answers yet on who will take part.
Independent Steve Bridger, who leads the current governing coalition, said: “It’s worked really well
for the benefit of North Somerset for four years. [...] I would like to see that continue.”
But when Liberal Democrat cabinet member Ash Cartman said: “I think there will be [another coalition], but I don’t know who will be in it.”
He added: “It was a very stable coalition. It stuck together for four years.”
Mr Crew said: “There are new combinations that could be done for coalition.”
Average turnout across the election was 32.75%.