Conservatives lose control of Melton Borough Council in dramatic local elections

The Conservatives have lost control of Melton Borough Council following today's local election results.

There was a good outcome for the independents who won 10 seats over all, most notably first time councillor Sharon Butcher (Previously Brown) being elected in Melton's Craven Ward and new independent candidate Leigh Higgins getting a seat on Melton's Somerby Ward.

Votes were counted throughout Friday at Melton Sport VIllage. Photo: NEMM

Labour have five new councillors with Melton's Egerton Ward gaining two new Labour councillors. Pip Alnatt and Mike Brown both winning this seat with 278 and 260 votes respectively. Conservative Peter Faulkner who was on the ward after winning with 226 votes in 2019 lost out this time around with 176 votes and his wife, Elaine, with 175 votes.

Melton Craven's new councillors Ian Atherton (CON) and Sharon Butcher (IND).Photo: NEMM

The Conservatives have just 11 seats after previously winning 23 in 2019. The results were not enough for the Tories to have overall control of the council. The first time this has happened since 2003.

Melton Borough Council's current leader Joe Orson (Conservative) was re-elected to the Old Dalby Ward with 349 votes against Independent candidates Elaine Holmes (179) and Steven Cliff (88).

12,938 voters headed to the polls on Thursday, a turnout of 30.8%. Photo: NEMM

The turnout of the election was 30.8% with 12,938 electors heading to the polls yesterday.

It was the first year that ID was required in order to vote at polling stations with those without ID able to apply for a voting ID before election day.

Jeanne Douglas (CON), Sharon Butcher (IND) and Ian Atherton (CON) await the announcement on Friday. Photo: NEMM

In total the conservatives now have 11 seats, independents have 10, Labour have 5, Green have 1 and Liberal Democrats have 1.

Returning Officer and Chief Executive of Melton Borough Council, Edd De Coverly, announces some of the results on Friday lunchtime. Photo: NEMM

A full breakdown of results is below.

Waltham on the Wolds Ward

SHARP, Richard Stuart – Independent – 323 *ELECTED*

TOWNLEY, Ben – Conservative – 196

Croxton Kerrial Ward

HEWSON, Alan Henry – Independent – 289 *ELECTED*

SMITH, Jack – Conservative - 231

Frisby on the Wreake Ward

BROWN Eric Gordon John – Independent – 103

BROWNE, Ronan William Joseph – Conservative – 465 *ELECTED*

Clay, Margaret – Labour – 139

Wymondham Ward

BETT, Graham - Labour Party – 119

GRAHAM, Malise Charles Richard Conservative – 302 *ELECTED*

Somerby Ward

HIGGINS, Leigh - Independent - 398 *ELECTED*

MCAULEY, Hamish Joseph Cameron - Lib Dems - 113

TARUVNGA, Vimbi - Conservative - 200

Gaddesby Ward

CHILD, Bob - Conservative - 431 *ELECTED*

HOLLAND, ADRIENNE - Labour - 146

Old Dalby Ward

CLIFF, Steven James - Independent - 88

HOLMES, Elaine - Independent - 179

ORSON, Joe - Conservative - 349 *ELECTED*

Melton Craven Ward

ATHERTON, Ian - Conservative - 250 *ELECTED*

BUTCHER (Prev BROWN), Sharon Elizabeth - 277 *ELECTED*

DOUGLAS, Jeanne - Conservative - 237

FREER, Lee Thomas - Independent - 239

LITT, Tim - Labour - 229

Bottesford Ward

KILBURN, Morgan Lawrence Platts - Conservative - 447

MASON James Miles - Labour - 506 *ELECTED*

PRITCHETT, Donald James - Conservative - 602 *ELECTED*

Asfordby Ward

CARTER, Steven John - Independent - 454 *ELECTED*

DE BURLE, Ronald Anthony - Conservative - 239

PITT MILLER, Charlie - Green - 299 *ELECTED*

PUTNAM, Nick - Conservative - 218

Melton Warwick Ward

ELLIS, Sam - Conservative - 337

FREER, Alison Jacqueline - Conservative - 360 *ELECTED*

HAMMOND, Susan Caroline - Labour - 327

THWAITES, Allen - Independent - 345 *ELECTED*

Melton Sysonby

ADCOCK, Jim - Liberal Democrats - 461 *ELECTED*

ATHERTON, Siggy - Conservative - 438 *ELECTED*

CLIFF, Helen Louise - Labour - 457 *ELECTED*

DIGBY, Craig William - Independent - 240

GODBER, Rachel - Independent - 261

ILLINGWORTH, John - Conservative - 423

PANTER, Ken - Independent - 177

WILKINSON, Jacon Nathaniel - Conservative - 370

Melton Egerton Ward

ALLNATT, Pip - Labour - 278 *ELECTED

BROWN, Mike - Labour - 260 *ELECTED*

FAULKNER, Elaine Ann - Independent - 175

FAULKNER, Peter, Independent - 176

SHARMAN, Jason Lewis - Conservative - 179

WINTERS, Jon - Conservative - 172

Long Clawson and Stathern Ward

BIRCH, Dawn Michelle - Independent - 116

BIRCH, Leigh Tracy - Independent - 73

EVANS, Christopher John - Conservative - 565 *ELECTED*

HALL, Nick - Independent - 469

MCQUILLAN, Michael - Labour - 492

ORSON, Simon Gordon Theobald - Conservative - 512 *ELECTED*

Melton Newport Ward

BINDLOSS, Rob - Conservative - 425

GLANCY, Margaret - Independent - 629 *ELECTED*

JACKSON, Vanessa - Labour - 413

LUMLEY, Simon Roy - Independent - 609 *ELECTED*

MIDGLEY, Bruce Christopher - Independent - 336

SMITH, Rebecca - Conservative - 404

WEBSTER - Conservative - 459 *ELECTED*

Melton Dorian

BEAKEN, Tracy Lorraine - Independent - 277

COX, Sarah - Labour - 402 *ELECTED*

CUMBERS, Pat - Independent - 300 *ELECTED*

GORDON, Marilyn Mary - Independent - 305 *ELECTED*

GRAY, Christopher Paul - Conservative - 283

LOCKWOOD, Julian - Conservative - 239

MCQUILLAN, Alastair James - Green - 255

TAYLOR, Isabelle Jane - Green - 180

THOMPSON, Simon James - Conservative - 234