No overall control
Encyclopedia
Within the context of local councils
of the United Kingdom
, the term No Overall Control (abbreviated to NOC) refers to a situation in which no single party achieves a majority of seats and is analogous to a hung parliament
. Of the 310 councils who had members up for election in the 2007 local elections
, 85 (just over a quarter) resulted in a NOC administration.
governing coalition
. Due to local council elections tending to return larger numbers of smaller party and independent
candidates than elections for higher bodies, this can allow these groups more influence than their numerical representation would otherwise allow.
Examples exist of alliances between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives (Birmingham City Council
, Leeds City Council
), Liberal Democrats and Labour (Southampton City Council until the 2008 local elections when the Conservatives gained control of the council), Conservatives and Labour in Ashfield
and between all major parties and independents or residents associations. Alliances between different parties in this context are often referred to as a "rainbow
coalition".
It is possible for a council to be under no overall control even when there is an apparent majority, most usually with independents. This can arise when the councillors divide on other than party lines. The 2004 election
to Isle of Anglesey County Council
returned a notional majority of independents, but only Plaid Cymru
maintained a party grouping, and not all of its members sat with the group. The remainder of the council, including members from the other main parties, formed four non-partisan groupings, none of which held a majority. The 2008 election
resulted in the Original Independent grouping gaining a majority.
Local government in the United Kingdom
The pattern of local government in England is complex, with the distribution of functions varying according to the local arrangements. Legislation concerning local government in England is decided by the Parliament and Government of the United Kingdom, because England does not have a devolved...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the term No Overall Control (abbreviated to NOC) refers to a situation in which no single party achieves a majority of seats and is analogous to a hung parliament
Hung parliament
In a two-party parliamentary system of government, a hung parliament occurs when neither major political party has an absolute majority of seats in the parliament . It is also less commonly known as a balanced parliament or a legislature under no overall control...
. Of the 310 councils who had members up for election in the 2007 local elections
United Kingdom local elections, 2007
The 2007 UK local government elections were held on 3 May 2007. These elections took place in most of England and all of Scotland. There were no local government elections in Wales though the Welsh Assembly had a general election on the same day. There were no local government elections in Northern...
, 85 (just over a quarter) resulted in a NOC administration.
Administration in NOC councils
Typically, under the circumstances that no party achieves overall control of a council, the largest grouping will form alliances to create an ad hocAd hoc
Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning "for this". It generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes. Compare A priori....
governing coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
. Due to local council elections tending to return larger numbers of smaller party and independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidates than elections for higher bodies, this can allow these groups more influence than their numerical representation would otherwise allow.
Examples exist of alliances between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives (Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
, Leeds City Council
Leeds City Council
Leeds City Council is the local authority for the City of Leeds metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England.-History:The city council was established in 1974, with the first elections being held in advance in 1973...
), Liberal Democrats and Labour (Southampton City Council until the 2008 local elections when the Conservatives gained control of the council), Conservatives and Labour in Ashfield
Ashfield
Ashfield is a local government district in western Nottinghamshire, England. According to the 2001 UK census, it has a population of 111,387. The district is mostly urban, with a tradition of coal mining. There are three towns in the district; the largest being Sutton-in-Ashfield...
and between all major parties and independents or residents associations. Alliances between different parties in this context are often referred to as a "rainbow
Rainbow
A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that causes a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the Sun shines on to droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere. It takes the form of a multicoloured arc...
coalition".
It is possible for a council to be under no overall control even when there is an apparent majority, most usually with independents. This can arise when the councillors divide on other than party lines. The 2004 election
United Kingdom local elections, 2004
The United Kingdom local elections of 2004 were held on 10 June, as part of the 2004 set of elections along with the European elections and the London mayoral and Assembly elections.-About the elections:...
to Isle of Anglesey County Council
Isle of Anglesey County Council
The Isle of Anglesey County Council is the governing body for the county of Anglesey, one of the unitary authority areas of Wales. The council consists of 40 councillors, representing 40 electoral wards.-Political makeup:...
returned a notional majority of independents, but only Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
maintained a party grouping, and not all of its members sat with the group. The remainder of the council, including members from the other main parties, formed four non-partisan groupings, none of which held a majority. The 2008 election
United Kingdom local elections, 2008
The 2008 United Kingdom local elections were held on 1 May 2008. These elections took place in 137 English Local Authorities and all Welsh Councils....
resulted in the Original Independent grouping gaining a majority.
External links
- No Overall Control? - Hansard weighs up a hung parliament Guy Aitchison, Our Kingdom