Folkestone and Hythe District Council is the local authority for the Folkestone and Hythe District in Kent, England. The district was called Shepway prior to 2018. The council is elected every four years. Since the last boundary changes in 2015, 30 councillors have been elected from 13 wards.[1]

Political control

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1973 has been held by the following parties:[2]

Party in control Years
Conservative 1973–1987
No overall control 1987–1991
Liberal Democrats 1991–1995
No overall control 1995–1999
Conservative 1999–2003
Liberal Democrats 2003–2004
No overall control 2004–2007
Conservative 2007–2019
No overall control 2019–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1999 have been:[3]

Councillor Party From To
Rory Love Conservative 12 May 1999 14 May 2003
Linda Cufley[4] Liberal Democrats 14 May 2003 5 Aug 2004
Robert Bliss Conservative 5 Aug 2004 15 May 2013
David Monk Conservative 15 May 2013 7 May 2023
Jim Martin Green 24 May 2023

Council elections

Results maps

By-election results

1995-1999

St Mary in the Marsh By-Election 22 August 1996
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour 593 47.9
Conservative 429 34.7
Liberal Democrats 215 17.4
Majority 164 13.2
Turnout 1,237 54.8
Labour hold Swing
Folkestone Central By-Election 4 September 1997
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour 278 42.2 +12.2
Conservative 222 33.7 +5.1
Liberal Democrats 158 24.0 -17.1
Majority 56 8.5
Turnout 658 20.8
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

1999-2003

Harbour By-Election 22 February 2001
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats 387 43.0 +8.2
Labour 273 30.4 -14.3
Conservative 239 26.6 +6.1
Majority 114 12.6
Turnout 899 26.5
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing
Hythe North By-Election 22 February 2001
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative 480 51.9 -12.6
Liberal Democrats 369 39.9 +17.0
Labour 75 8.1 -4.5
Majority 111 12.0
Turnout 924 38.6
Conservative hold Swing
Morehall By-Election 22 February 2001
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Gary George 424 36.3 +0.5
Conservative Dick Pascoe 407 34.8 +4.0
Labour 339 29.0 -4.5
Majority 17 1.5
Turnout 1,170 32.7
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing
Hawkinge and Paddlesworth By-Election 5 April 2001
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Peter Smith 598 57.0 +57.0
Conservative 451 43.0 -27.8
Majority 147 14.0
Turnout 1,049 34.7
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Folkestone Central By-Election 7 February 2002
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hugh Barker 358 61.5 +25.7
Labour 224 38.5 +0.7
Majority 134 23.0
Turnout 582 19.6
Conservative hold Swing
Folkestone Park By-Election 27 June 2002[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats 1,003 58.3 +14.8
Conservative Edwina Boyt 653 37.9 -5.6
Labour 65 3.8 -9.3
Majority 350 20.4
Turnout 1,721 36.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
St Mary's in the Marsh By-Election 24 October 2002
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Julie White 401 37.4 +17.4
Conservative 365 34.0 -1.6
Labour 262 24.4 +0.0
UKIP 44 4.1 +4.1
Majority 36 3.4
Turnout 1,072 46.5
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing

2003-2007

New Romney Coast By-Election 2 October 2003[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ann Birchmore 550 48.1 +15.4
Conservative Derek Morgan 502 43.9 -9.5
Labour Albert Ryder 91 8.0 -5.9
Majority 48 4.2
Turnout 1,143 41.8
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Romney Marsh By-Election 2 October 2003[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Ashworth 349 50.6 -5.6
Liberal Democrats Sylvia Oiller 273 39.6 +15.3
Labour Adrian Cirket 68 9.9 -9.6
Majority 76 11.0
Turnout 690 40.7
Conservative hold Swing
Folkestone East By-Election 22 April 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative 575 52.5 +33.9
Liberal Democrats 352 32.1 -30.9
Labour 169 15.4 -3.0
Majority 223 20.4
Turnout 1,096 37.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
New Romney Town By-Election 29 September 2005[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Stephenson 560 66.2 +19.0
Labour 175 20.7 -18.1
Liberal Democrats 111 13.1 -0.8
Majority 385 45.5
Turnout 846 33.5
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Folkestone Harvey Central By-Election 13 October 2005[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Martin 409 53.4 +16.7
Labour 237 30.9 +8.5
Liberal Democrats 120 15.7 -21.8
Majority 172 22.5
Turnout 766 23.7
Conservative gain from Green Swing

2007-2011

Hythe West By-Election 4 June 2009[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Neil Matthews 589 39.6 +22.1
Conservative Paul Peacock 483 32.5 -26.4
UKIP Barbara Johnson 255 17.2 +5.9
BNP Harry Williams 94 6.3 +6.3
Shepway Independents Colin Tearle 65 4.4 +4.4
Majority 106 7.1
Turnout 1,486 46.1
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Romney Marsh By-Election 4 June 2009[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Toby Clifton-Holt 430 58.7 -10.3
Shepway Independents Graham Snell 121 16.5 +16.5
Liberal Democrats Sally Matthews 114 15.6 -0.9
Labour Douglas Suckling 68 9.3 -5.3
Majority 309 42.2
Turnout 733 41.0
Conservative hold Swing
New Romney Coast By-Election 12 November 2009[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Shane Lawrence 452 51.4 +2.2
Liberal Democrats Brian Wright 333 37.9 -12.9
UKIP Wendy Nevard 94 10.7 +10.7
Majority 119 13.5
Turnout 879 30.7
Conservative hold Swing
Lydd By-Election 10 February 2011[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tony Hills 591 49.3 -0.8
Labour Donald Russell 247 20.6 +20.6
Liberal Democrats Ted Last 184 15.3 -7.7
Independent Rochelle Saunders 177 14.8 +14.8
Majority 344 28.7
Turnout 1,199
Conservative hold Swing

2011-2015

Folkestone Park By-Election 29 November 2012[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Lynne Beaumont 461 36.2 +12.2
Conservative Leo Griggs 320 25.1 -15.7
People First Party Patricia Copping 200 15.7 +1.5
UKIP Hod Birkby 153 12.0 +2.8
Labour Nicola Keen 111 8.7 +8.7
Green Derek Moran 29 2.3 +2.3
Majority 141 11.1
Turnout 1,274
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Folkestone Harvey Central By-Election 4 September 2014[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UKIP David Callahan 287 27.9 +27.9
Conservative Rodica Wheeler 224 21.7 -17.4
Liberal Democrats Tom McNeice 198 19.2 +2.3
Labour Wendy Mitchell 196 19.0 -9.1
Green David Horton 96 9.3 +9.3
TUSC Seth Cruse 29 2.8 +2.8
Majority 63 6.1
Turnout 1,030
UKIP gain from Conservative Swing
Folkestone Harvey West By-Election 23 October 2014[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Helen Barker 385 36.4 -18.8
UKIP Stephen Jardine 293 27.7 +27.7
Liberal Democrats Hugh Robertson-Ritchie 262 24.8 +3.4
Green Jasmine Heywood 61 5.8 +5.8
Labour Nicola Keen 57 5.4 -18.0
Majority 92 8.7
Turnout 1,058
Conservative hold Swing

2015-2019

New Romney By-Election 20 July 2017[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Russell Tillson 566 35.4 +6.4
Labour John Cramp 523 32.7 +21.7
Independent David Wimble 431 27.0 +27.0
Liberal Democrats Val Loseby 77 4.8 -3.7
Majority 43 2.7
Turnout 1,597
Conservative hold Swing

2023-2027

Romney Marsh By-Election 22 February 2024[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tony Hills 375 24.2 -7.4
Green Malcolm Watkinson 332 21.4 +3.9
Labour Chrissie Cooper 295 19.0 -4.5
Reform UK Kim Wye 237 15.3 +15.3
Independent Paul Peacock 155 10.0 +10.0
Independent Dave Evans 62 4.0 +4.0
Independent Ian Meyers 51 3.3 -18.8
No description Dougie Young 31 2.0 -0.9
Liberal Democrats Matt Horrox 11 0.7 -7.2
Majority 43 2.8
Turnout 1,555 26.5 -7.9
Conservative hold Swing

References

  1. ^ "The Shepway (Electoral Changes) Order 2014", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2014/1908, retrieved 27 July 2022
  2. ^ "Shepway". BBC News Online. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  3. ^ "Council minutes". Folkestone and Hythe District Council. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Council leader in quit shock". Kent Online. 29 July 2004. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  5. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The District of Shepway (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
  6. ^ The Canterbury and Shepway (Areas) Order 1985
  7. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Kent (District Boundaries) Order 1987. Retrieved on 6 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Local elections". BBC News Online. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  9. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The District of Shepway (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  10. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Shepway (Electoral Changes) Order 2014. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
  11. ^ "East Enders desert BNP". guardian.co.uk. 28 June 2002. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  12. ^ a b "Shepway by-election". Hawkinge Gazette. 3 October 2003. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  13. ^ "SNP triumphs in Fife". guardian.co.uk. 30 September 2005. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  14. ^ "Tories boosted in local byelections". guardian.co.uk. 14 October 2005. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  15. ^ a b "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Hythe Town Council. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  16. ^ "Conservatives win New Romney Coast by-election". The Romney Marsh Times. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  17. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Lydd Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Folkestone Park Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  19. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Folkestone Harvey Central Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  20. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Folkestone Harvey West Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  21. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — New Romney Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  22. ^ "Election of Councillor to Folkestone & Hythe District Council for the Romney Marsh Ward". Retrieved 23 February 2024.