Yahoo News Full list of Gloucester City Council councillors as voters say 'yes to Lib Dems and no to Tories'
The Conservatives have lost control of Gloucester City Council with the Liberal Democrats becoming the largest party and looking set to lead the authority. The Lib Dems took 17 of the 39 seats on offer, the Tories held 11 seats while Labour and the Independents took seven and four respectively.
The Liberal Democrats were “mildly optimistic” ahead of the results while the Tories were fearing an almost complete wipeout. Some were expecting the results to be so bad they had already booked flights to the south of France for next week.
Lib Dem group leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) said it’s the best results the Lib Dems have had in Gloucester. On the other side of the county, Lib Dems extended their dominance on Cheltenham Borough Council as the Tories were wiped out.
“We are clearly the largest group on the council and the Tories have lost control,” he said. “There’s a lot of work to do over the next few days and weeks to make Gloucester City Council better and provide better services.
“The Conservatives have let the city down. The public has said no to you and yes to the Liberal Democrats.”
Cllr Hilton said the Lib Dems will have a group meeting and talk to all three groups equally and fairly to see how they can “run the City Council the best they can for Gloucester”.
Conservative councillor Andy Lewis (C, Quedgeley Severn Vale), who held onto his seat, will lead his group. He said it was a disappointing night for his party.
His main aim will be to try and bring his group together and hold the new council leadership to account.
“We will rebound,” he said. “There’s a place for us on the council to hold the next administration to account for the betterment of Gloucester.”
Labour group leader Terry Pullen who held his Moreland seat was pleased with the gains his party made. He said his group saw the largest gains across the city and it provides them a good platform to work to win the constituency seat in the general election.
Independent group leader Alastair Chambers (I, Matson, Robinswood and White City) has ruled out doing any deals with the other groups.
He says his group will run “mini-polls on Facebook” and vote according to the public’s wishes in Matson, Robinswood and White City. “We are here for the public,” he said. “Not for the political parties. We will be the true voice for the community.”
Going into the elections, the political make-up of the council is 21 Conservatives, 14 Liberal Democrats, two Labour councillors and a couple of Community Independents.
Gloucester City Council newly elected councillors
Abbeydale
Gravells, Andrew - Conservative Party
Walker, Louise Ann - Conservative Party
Abbeymead
Brooker, Laura - Conservative Party
Hyland, Kate - Conservative Party
Barnwood
Bowkett, Ashley James - Liberal Democrat
Taylor, Joshua Luke - Liberal Democrat
Barton and Tredworth
Bhaimia, Usman Gani - Liberal Democrat
Marshall, Roseanna Louise - Labour Party
Patel, Sajid - Conservative Party
Coney Hill
Millard, Tracy Sharon - Labour and Co-operative Party
Elmbridge
Norledge, Vicky - Liberal Democrat
Radley, Anne Marie Clare - Liberal Democrat
Grange
Bell, Andrew - Independent
Evans, Sylvia - Conservative Party
Hucclecote
Wiederhold, Alwin Ferenc - Liberal Democrat
Wilson, Declan Michael Hilary - Liberal Democrat
Kingsholm and Wotton
Conder, Angela Margaret - Liberal Democrat
Hilton, Jeremy Eric - Liberal Democrat
Kingsway
James, Karen Louise - Labour and Co-operative Party
Jones, John - Labour and Co-operative Party
Longlevens
Castle, Linda Sudan - Liberal Democrat
Sawyer, Sarah Dawn - Liberal Democrat
Shervey, Luke Samuel - Liberal Democrat
Matson, Robinswood and White City
Chambers, Alastair - Independent
Graham, Adrian - Independent
O’Donnell, Brendon Sean - Independent
Moreland
Chambers-Dubus, Tree - Labour and Co-operative Party
Pullen, Terry - Labour and Co-operative Party
Simms, Valerie - Labour and Co-operative Party
Podsmead
Field, Sebastian Richard - Liberal Democrat
Quedgeley Fieldcourt
Chambers, Stephanie - Conservative Party
Miller, Victoria Janes - Conservative Party
Quedgeley Severn Vale
Harries, Liam John - Liberal Democrat
Lewis, Andy - Conservative Party
Tuffley
Campbell, Lorraine Joan - Conservative Party
Courtney, Caroline Catherine - Liberal Democrat
Westgate
Hyman, Howard - Liberal Democrat
Tracey, Pam - Conservative Party
Trimnell, Rebecca Jane - Liberal Democrat
