Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council is the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport

Metropolitan Borough of Stockport

The Metropolitan Borough of Stockport is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in north west England, centred around the town of Stockport. It has a population of about 280,600 and includes the outyling areas of Cheadle and Cheadle Hulme, Marple, Bredbury, Reddish and Romiley...

, Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. The council is currently in no overall control

No overall control

Within the context of local councils of the United Kingdom, the term No Overall Control refers to a situation in which no single party achieves a majority of seats and is analogous to a hung parliament...

since the 2011 local elections

United Kingdom local elections, 2011

The 2011 United Kingdom local elections were held on Thursday 5 May 2011. In England, direct elections were held in all 36 Metropolitan boroughs, 194 Second-tier district authorities, 49 unitary authorities and various mayoral posts, meaning local elections took place in all parts of England with...

when the Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...

lost their majority. The Liberal Democrats now have 31 seats, Labour

Labour Party (UK)

The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...

has 18 and the Conservatives

Conservative Party (UK)

The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...

have 11. There are also three independent councillors.

Parliamentary representation

Stockport is currently covered by four constituencies: Cheadle, Stockport

Stockport (UK Parliament constituency)

Stockport is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...

, Hazel Grove

Hazel Grove (UK Parliament constituency)

Hazel Grove is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...

and Denton and Reddish.

Wards and councillors

There are 21 wards, each represented by three councillors.

Ward	Bramhall North Bramhall North (Stockport electoral ward) Bramhall North is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It elects three Councillors to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council using the first past the post electoral method, electing one Councillor every year without election on the fourth....		Linda Holt	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	2008–12
	Lisa Walker	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	2010–14
	Alanna Vine	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	2011–15
Bramhall South Bramhall South (Stockport electoral ward) Bramhall South is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It elects three Councillors to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council using the first past the post electoral method, electing one Councillor every year without election on the fourth....		Brian Bagnall	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	2008–12
		Bryan Leck	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	2010–14
		Paul Bellis	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	2011–15
Bredbury and Woodley Bredbury and Woodley (Stockport electoral ward) Bredbury and Woodley is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It elects three Councillors to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council using the first past the post electoral method, electing one Councillor every year without election on the fourth.-Councillors: indicates seat up...		Stella Humphries	Liberal Democrat	2008–12
		Chris Gordon	Liberal Democrat	2010–14
		Mike Wilson	Liberal Democrat	2011–15
Bredbury Green and Romiley		Hazel Lees	Liberal Democrat	2008–12
		Mags Kirkham	Liberal Democrat	2010–14
		Syd Lloyd	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	2011–15
Brinnington and Central		Chris Walker	Independent	2008–12
		Maureen Rowles	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2010–14
		Chris Murphy	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2011–15
Cheadle and Gatley		Mick Jones	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	2008–12
		Iain Roberts	Liberal Democrat	2010–14
		Pam King	Liberal Democrat	2011–15
Cheadle Hulme North Cheadle Hulme North (Stockport electoral ward) Cheadle Hulme North is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It elects three Councillors to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council using the first past the post electoral method, electing one Councillor every year without election on the fourth.It covers the northern part of...		John Pantall	Liberal Democrat	2008–12
		June Somekh	Liberal Democrat	2010–14
		Paul Porgess	Liberal Democrat	2011–15
Cheadle Hulme South Cheadle Hulme South (Stockport electoral ward) Cheadle Hulme South is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It elects three Councillors to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council using the first past the post electoral method, electing one Councillor every year without election on the fourth.It covers the southern part of...		Lenny Grice	Liberal Democrat	2008–12
		Stuart Bodsworth	Liberal Democrat	2010–14
		Suzanne Wyatt	Liberal Democrat	2011–15
Davenport and Cale Green		Ann Smith	Liberal Democrat	2008–12
		David White	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...	2010–14
		Brian Hendley	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2011–15
Edgeley and Cheadle Heath		Sheila Bailey	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2008–12
		Philip Harding	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2010–14
		Richard Coaton	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2011–15
Hazel Grove Hazel Grove (Stockport electoral ward) Hazel Grove is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It elects three Councillors to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council using the first past the post electoral method, electing one Councillor every year without election on the fourth....		Kevin Hogg	Liberal Democrat	2008–12
		Stuart Corris	Liberal Democrat	2010–14
		William Wragg	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	2011–15
Heald Green Heald Green (Stockport electoral ward) Heald Green is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It elects three Councillors to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council using the first past the post electoral method, electing one Councillor every year without election on the fourth....		Peter Burns	Heald Green Ratepayer Heald Green Ratepayers Heald Green Ratepayers are group of independents who sit on Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council representing the electoral ward of Heald Green. Their leader is Peter Burns and their other two Councillors are Sylvia Humphreys and Adrian Nottingham....	2008–12
		Adrian Nottingham	Heald Green Ratepayer Heald Green Ratepayers Heald Green Ratepayers are group of independents who sit on Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council representing the electoral ward of Heald Green. Their leader is Peter Burns and their other two Councillors are Sylvia Humphreys and Adrian Nottingham....	2010–14
		Sylvia Humphreys	Heald Green Ratepayer Heald Green Ratepayers Heald Green Ratepayers are group of independents who sit on Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council representing the electoral ward of Heald Green. Their leader is Peter Burns and their other two Councillors are Sylvia Humphreys and Adrian Nottingham....	2011–15
Heatons North		Les Jones	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	2008–12
		Anthony O'Neill	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	2010–14
		Alexander Ganotis	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2011–15
Heatons South Heatons South (Stockport electoral ward) Heatons South is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It elects three Councillors to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council using the first past the post electoral method, electing one Councillor every year without election on the fourth....		Colin Foster	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2008–12
		Tom McGee	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2010–14
		Dean Fitzpatrick	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2011–15
Manor		Sue Derbyshire	Liberal Democrat	2008–12
		Daniel Hawthorne	Liberal Democrat	2010–14
		Patrick McAuley	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2011–15
Marple North Marple North (Stockport electoral ward) Marple North is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It elects three Councillors to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council using the first past the post electoral method, electing one Councillor every year without election on the fourth....		Martin Candler	Liberal Democrat	2008–12
		Craig Wright	Liberal Democrat	2010–14
		Andrew Bispham	Liberal Democrat	2011–15
Marple South Marple South (Stockport electoral ward) Marple South is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It elects three Councillors to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council using the first past the post electoral method, electing one Councillor every year without election on the fourth....		Shan Alexander	Liberal Democrat	2008–12
		Sue Ingham	Liberal Democrat	2010–14
		Kevin Dowling	Liberal Democrat	2011–15
Offerton		Dave Goddard	Liberal Democrat	2008–12
		John Smith	Liberal Democrat	2010–14
		Wendy Meikle	Liberal Democrat	2011–15
Reddish North Reddish North (Stockport electoral ward) Reddish North is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It elects three Councillors to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council using the first past the post electoral method, electing one Councillor every year without election on the fourth....		Anne Graham	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...	2008–12
		David Wilson	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2011–14
		Paul Moss	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2011–15
Reddish South Reddish South (Stockport electoral ward) Reddish South is an electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It elects three councillors to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council using the first past the post electoral method, electing one councillor every year without election on the fourth....		Andy Verdeille	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2008–12
		Tom Grundy	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2010–14
		Walter Brett	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	2011–15
Stepping Hill		Wendy Orrell	Liberal Democrat	2009–12
		Mark Weldon	Liberal Democrat	2010–14
		Ben Alexander	Liberal Democrat	2011–15

Executive Councillors

The Executive Committee of the Council consists of ten Executive Councillors:

Leader: Dave Goddard
Deputy Leader and Finance Portfolio: Sue Derbyshire
Transport Portfolio: Iain Roberts
Children and Young People Portfolio: Stuart Bodsworth
Adults and Health Portfolio: John Pantall
Customer Focus Portfolio: Martin Candler
Leisure Portfolio: John Smith
Regeneration Portfolio: Kevin Hogg
Environment Portfolio: Shan Alexander
Communities Portfolio: Mark Weldon

Structure

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (Stockport Council) uses an executive system. There are 10 executive councillors, including the leader of the council; each has a separate portfolio containing responsibilities for different services and areas of the council. There are also six scrutiny committees which scrutinize decisions made by the executive.

Politics

Stockport Council has 63 elected members, belonging to three different parties. The largest party, and the ruling party is the Liberal Democrat

Liberal Democrats

party, which has 36 of the 63 seats. In the council elections on Thursday 1 May 2008, in which one third of the seats were up for re-election, there were two main changes. In the Cheadle & Gatley ward, incumbent councillor Paul Carter of the Liberal Democrat

Liberal Democrats

party lost his seat to the Conservative

Conservative Party (UK)

candidate Mick Jones. Similarly in the Brinnington and Central Ward, Labour

Labour Party (UK)

councillor Maureen Rowles lost her seat to the Liberal Democrat

Liberal Democrats

candidate Christian Walker. However, a short time after this election, he chose to serve as an Independent Councillor but has now returned to the Liberal Democrats.

During 2009, which was supposed to be a "fallow year" (one without elections), there were three by-elections following the deaths of serving councillors.

On 2 February 2011, Councillors David White, Roy Driver and Anne Graham all resigned from the Liberal Democrat Group following Councillor White's suspension from the Group. All three cited unhappiness with the national party's involvement with a "Tory-led" government. They are currently Independent Councillors awaiting the result of membership applications to the Labour Party.

The 'All Out'

In the 2004 election, all councilors on the council were put up for election at the same time. This election was conducted exclusively by Postal voting

Postal voting

Postal voting describes the method of voting in an election whereby ballot papers are distributed or returned by post to electors, in contrast to electors voting in person at a polling station or electronically via an electronic voting system....

. Each elector was given three votes, and asked to pick three candidates. The number of votes each candidate received then determined when they would next stand for election.

Elections were then scheduled for 2007, 2008, and 2010.

Non-mainstream parties

Heald Green Ratepayers

Heald Green Ratepayers are group of independents who sit on Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council representing the electoral ward of Heald Green. Their leader is Peter Burns and their other two Councillors are Sylvia Humphreys and Adrian Nottingham....

are the only non-mainstream candidates to win seats.

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