Cheltenham Lib Dems keep control of borough council as 14 seats taken
THE Liberal Democrats have retained control of Cheltenham Borough Council, writes The Lib Dems had a majority of 20 seats going into Thursday’s poll where half of the council’s 40 seats were contested.
They have won 14 of the seats and will remain in control of the local authority.
But they lost the Pittville ward to the Conservatives who will be pleased with their results.
The Tories also took the independently held Leckhampton ward where Margaret Nelson won by 279 votes ahead of the Lib Dems.
In total, the Tories won five of the seats they contested while the People Against Bureaucracy group took the seat for Prestbury.
The political makeup of Cheltenham Borough Council now is 30 Liberal Democrats, seven Conservatives, two People Against Bureaucracy and one non-aligned.
The Liberal Democrat group therefore has an overall majority of 20 at the Municipal Offices.
Liberal Democrat council leader Rowena Hay, who retained her Oakley ward seat, said it is always “absolutely nerve wracking” standing for election.
“My biggest thank you goes to all the people in Oakley ward and Lynworth and Priors that have supported me over the years and have given me that mandate to come back again,” she said.
“Everybody thanks all of the officers and everybody here but actually I see that as team Cheltenham doing what we do.”
For full results visit cheltenhamlive.co.uk
Everybody thanks all of the officers and everybody here but actually I see that as team Cheltenham doing what we do.
Council leader Rowena Hay