Tories lose control of Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Last Friday saw two recounts for Yarmouth North and the two seats went to Conservative Donna Hammond (470) and Labour’s Amy Sharp (453).

Ms Sharp beat former councillor Paul Hammond by one vote.

The makeup for Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) is now 19 Conservative councillors, 18 from Labour and two independents.

While the Conservative Party remains the largest party, they no longer have overall control.

In 2019, the council consisted of four independent councillors, 14 Labour councillors and 21 Conservative councillors, with the council leader being the Conservative Carl Smith. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

Following the result, GYBC leader Carl Smith said while the Conservatives faced some losses in the borough, “it was still an amazing result when you consider the bigger story across the country”.

Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Conservatives. The party remains the council's largest, but no longer has a majority. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

“The council has been decided by one vote,” Mr Smith said.

“I am disappointed we didn’t keep control of the council, but we’re still the largest party. And we’ve always worked together across parties. Hopefully, that will continue.

"Politics is about listening to other people's views and moving forward. And It's really important we work together.”

Inside the Town Hall during the election count on May 5. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

Regarding the two independent councillors who now have a lot of power in the hung council, Mr Smith said discussions have got to take place.

One of the independent councillors who had the biggest single victory at today’s election was Fleggburgh’s Adrian Thompson.

With a turnout of 53pc, Mr Thompson received 1,110 votes. In second place for the ward was Conservative Thomas Garrod, who received 37 votes.

Adrian Thompson has been re-elected following a landslide victory. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

After the victory, Mr Thompson said: “It was certainly a good result, and I am very pleased. I’m very thankful to the people of Fleggburgh for their support and I will continue to work on their behalf.

“More people are voting independent and I think it shows they are fed up with arguing within the main parties.”

Across the country, the Labour Party picked up some gains and in Great Yarmouth, the party added four seats to their share.

Labour's Trevor Wainwright was happy with today's result, despite Labour not gaining control of the council. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)

The town's Labour opposition leader Trevor Wainwright said this was a sign of progress.

"We're very pleased with the four gains. I'm disappointed we didn't take control of the council, but it's a step in the right direction.

"It's going to be interesting what pans out now the Tories have lost overall control."

Here are the full results and for wards in the surrounding areas outside Great Yarmouth.

Yarmouth North (two councillors): Angie Andrews (R) 74, James Dwyer-McCluskey (L) 444, Donna Hammond* (C) 470, Paul Hammond* (C) 452, Tony Harris (LD) 88, Amy Sharp (L) 453, Paul Toplass (I) 70 LAB GAIN Turnout: 31.58pc 

West Flegg (two councillors): Matt Borg (L) 467, Andy Grant* (C) 809, David Jeal (L) 458, Leslie Mogford* (C) 798 CON HOLD Turnout: 31.4pc 

Ormesby (two councillors): Malcolm Boocock (L) 366, Geoff Freeman* (C) 514, Ron Hanton* (C) 511, Justin Rundle (I) 548, Brian Walker (L) 201 CON/IND HOLD Turnout: 32 

Lothingland (two councillors): Graham Carpenter (C) 518, Euan Duffield (L) 304, Ivan Murray-Smith (C) 508, Adrian Myers* (I) 469, Chris Williamson (L) 388 CON HOLD Turnout: 29 

Fleggburgh (one councillor): Thomas Garrod (C) 37, Adrian Thompson* (I) 1,110, Claire Wardley (L) 26 IND HOLD Turnout: 53pc 

Southtown and Cobholm (two councillors): Laura Candon (C) 220, Nicholas Dyer (LD) 77, Alvin Murray (C) 191, Jennifer Newcombe (L) 402, Paula Waters-Bunn* (L) 405 LAB HOLD Turnout: 19.4pc 

Gorleston (2 cllrs): Nicola Albon (G) 101, Rebecca Durant (G) 111, Emma Flaxman-Taylor* (C) 685, Gerald Rouse (LD) 69, Gordon Smith (LD) 65, Steve Taylor (L) 508, Paul Wells* (C) 674, Michael Wemyss (L) 457 CON HOLD Turnout: 34 

Caister South (two councillors): Malcolm Bird* (C) 570, Sandy Griffiths (L) 468, Brian Lawn* (C) 604, Michael Moore (L) 374 CON HOLD Turnout: 30.27pc 

Caister North (two councillors): William Boyd (C) 582, Penny Carpenter* (C) 606, Anne Marie Killett (G) 174, Rae Williamson (L) 320, Michael Winterburn (L) 402 CON HOLD Turnout: 30.35pc 

Bradwell South and Hopton (three councillors): Carl Annison* (C) 995, Anthony Capewell (L) 738, Mark Godfrey (LD) 119, David Greggs (L) 660, Sue Hacon* (I) 207, Robert Price (C) 690, Lesley Rodin (L) 680, John Shreeve (LD) 89, Katy Stenhouse* (C) 740

LAB GAIN

Turnout: 28.6pc

Magdalen (three councillors): Tracy Cameron (C) 277, Alison Green (L) 691, Susan O'Dell (C) 323, Brian Pilkington (L) 642, Matt Smith (I) 386, Trevor Wainwright* (L) 786, Bob Whitaker (C) 349

LAB HOLD

Turnout: 25.1pc

East Flegg (two councillors): James Bensly* (C) 755, Noel Galer* (C) 573, Paul Hendry (L) 245, Kenneth Peterson (G) 206, Emma Punchard (G) 297, Colleen Walker (L) 230

CON HOLD

Turnout: 31pc

Central and Northgate (three councillors): Christopher Ashton-Barnes (LD) 153, Cathy Cordiner-Achenbach (L) 574, Oscar Houseago (C) 295, Tamsin Lodge (C) 318, Jade Martin* (L) 578, Mike Smith-Clare* (L) 596, Aurelio Spinola (C) 258, Carrie Amy Talbot* (I) 228

LAB WIN

Turnout: 19.64pc

Nelson (3 councillors): Oliver Bensly (C) 248, Michael Jeal* (L) 552, Ann Lawn (C) 221, Mick Riley (R) 118, Kerry Robinson Payne* (L) 513, Richard Stafferton (C) 200, Tony Wright* (L) 515

LAB HOLD

Turnout: 16.95pc

Claydon (three councillors): Louise Bensly (C) 362, Carol Borg* (L) 810, John Hirst (C) 363, Jeanette McMullen (L) 775, Linda Phillips (C) 403, Bernard Williamson* (L) 767

LAB HOLD

Turnout: 22.5pc

St Andrews (two councillors): Lionel O'Dell (C) 276, Alan Popham (C) 310, Ron Upton (L) 555, Barbara Wright* (L) 575

LAB HOLD

Turnout: 25.8pc

Bradwell North Ward (three councillors): James Borg (L) 728 , Daniel Candon* (C) 839, Yvonne Craig (L) 765, Graham Plant* (C) 815, Carl Smith* (C) 888, Scott Wesson (L) 756

CON HOLD

Turnout: 33.24pc

North Norfolk District Council election results: 

Hickling: Harry Blathwayt (LD) 475, Bryonie Jones (L) 62, Richard Price (C) 307.

LIB DEM HOLD

Turnout: 39.96pc

Stalham: Kevin Bayes (C) 650, Jacqui Cross (L) 206, Pauline Grove-Jones (LD) 515, Stephen Lennane (LD) 295, Michael Macartney-Filgate (G) 205, Matthew Taylor (C) 693. 

CON HOLD and GAIN

Turnout: 32.23pc

St Benet: Mike Lowenstein (L) 57, Tony Lumbard (C) 312, Adam Varley (LD) 536.

LIB DEM HOLD

Turnout: 45.33pc

Broadland District Council results:

Acle: Emma Covington (L) 357, Lana Hempsall* (C) 395, Victor Morgan (LD) 91.

CON HOLD

Turnout: 36.54pc