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Uckfield Town Council

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Uckfield Town Council
Type
Type
Leadership
Councillor Jackie Love
Councillor Donna French
Structure
Seats15
Political groups
  TRUST Independent (9)
  Labour Party (4)
  Liberal Democrats (1)
  Independent (1)
Elections
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
May 2027
Meeting place
Civic Centre, Bellfarm Ln, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 1AE.
Website
Official website

Uckfield Town Council governs the five wards of Uckfield town. The council appoints one councillor who is then known as the Mayor of Uckfield. The current mayor of Uckfield is Councillor Jackie Love.[1]

Uckfield Town Council comprises five wards – North, East, West, New Town, and Ridgewood – electing between two and four town councillors each.[2]

Clockwise, from the north, it borders the communities of Maresfield, Buxted, Framfield and Little Horsted.

Current composition

[edit]
Group affiliation Members
  TRUST Independent
9
  Labour
4
Liberal Democrats 1
  Independent
1
 Total
15

Election history

[edit]

Uckfield Town Council is composed of up to 15 councillors elected from five wards. The last elections were in 2023, and resulted in the election of 7 TRUST Independent councillors, 3 Labour councillors, 1 Liberal Democrat, and 1 Independent councillor.[3] 3 seats were left vacant and were filled by co-option at the first Full Council meeting.

2023 election

[edit]

The 2023 Uckfield Town Council elections were due to be held alongside the elections for Wealden District Council on 4 May 2023. However, all seats were uncontested, as 3 candidates were nominated for the 3 seats in Uckfield North ward and a further 3 candidates were nominated for the 3 seats in Uckfield East ward. Only 2 candidates for 3 seats were nominated in Uckfield Ridgewood ward, 3 candidates for 4 seats were nominated in Uckfield New Town ward and 1 candidate for the 2 seats in Uckfield West ward. At the first meeting of the new Town Council, Bernadette (Ben) Reed was co-opted as a Councillor for Ridgewood ward, Peter Ullman was co-opted as a Councillor for New Town ward, and Val Frost was co-opted for West ward, filling all 15 seats on the council.[4] Councillors Reed and Frost subsequently joined the Trust Independent group, whilst Peter Ullman joined the Labour group.

Ward Party Town councillors elected 2023
North Independent Jackie Love
Labour Daniel Manvell
Labour Angie Smith
East Liberal Democrats Michael McClafferty
Independent Chris Macve
Independent Donna French
New Town Labour Ben Cox
Independent Spike Mayhew
Independent Duncan Bennett
West Independent Diane Ward
Ridgewood Independent Karen Bedwell
Independent Peter Selby


2019–2023 by-elections

[edit]
By-election Date Incumbent party Result Candidate Reason
North 7 July 2022 Independent Labour Daniel Manvell Non-attendance of Colin Snelgrove [5]

2019 election

[edit]

The 2019 Uckfield Town Council elections were held alongside the elections for Wealden District Council on 2 May 2019 on new ward boundaries.[2] 9 seats were up for election, as only 2 candidates for 3 seats were nominated in Uckfield North ward and 2 candidates for 3 seats in Uckfield Ridgwood ward, with incumbent Councillor Keith Everett having submitted his nomination papers, but passing away before the close of nominations.[6][7] At the first meeting of the new Town Council, Karen Bedwell was co-opted as a Councillor for Ridgewood ward and Colin Snelgrove co-opted as a Councillor for North ward, filling all 15 seats on the council.[8] Both Councillors Bedwell and Snelgrove subsequently joined the Trust Independent group. Diane Ward, who ran as an Independent councillor, also sits with the Trust Independent group.

Ward Party Town councillors elected 2019
North Independent Jackie Love
Labour Angie Smith
East Liberal Democrats Paul Sparks
Independent Chris Macve
Independent Donna French
New Town Conservative Helen Firth
Labour Ben Cox
Independent Spike Mayhew
Independent Duncan Bennett
West Independent Diane Ward
Conservative Gary Johnson
Ridgewood Liberal Democrats James Edwards
Independent Jez Beesley

2015–2019 by-elections

[edit]
By-election Date Incumbent party Result Candidate Reason
Ridgewood 31 August 2017 Independent Independent Jez Beesley Resignation of Jacqueline Beckford [9]
North 12 July 2018 Independent Labour Daniel Manvell Resignation of James Anderson [10]

Change of party affiliation 2016

[edit]

On the 5 July 2016 it was announced that Cllr Spike Mayhew & Cllr Jacqueline Beckford had resigned from the Liberal Democrats. It was reported that they would now be acting as Independent Councillors.[11]

Date Ward Result Candidate Reason
5 July 2016 New Town Liberal Democrats Independent Spike Mayhew Change of party affiliation [11]
5 July 2016 Ridgewood Liberal Democrats Independent Jacqueline Beckford Change of party affiliation[11]

2015 election

[edit]

The 2015 Uckfield Town Council elections were held alongside the elections for Wealden District Council & the Wealden Parliamentary constituency on 7 May 2015. All 15 seats were up for election.[12]

Ward Party Town councillors elected 2015
North Independent James Anderson
Independent Louise Eastwood
Independent Donna French
Independent Jackie Love
Independent Chris Macve
Liberal Democrats Paul Sparks
Central Conservative Helen Firth
Liberal Democrats Paul Meakins
Independent Diane Ward
New Town Independent Duncan Bennett
Independent Mick Dean
Liberal Democrats Spike Mayhew
Ridgewood Liberal Democrats Jacqueline Beckford
Independent Keith Everett
Independent Ian Smith

2011–2015 by-elections

[edit]
By-election Date Incumbent party Result Candidate Reason
North 27 June 2013 Conservative Independent Paul Sparks Resignation of Duncan Bennett [13]
Central 26 June 2014 Conservative Liberal Democrats Paul Meakins Resignation of Brian Marsh [14]

2011 election

[edit]

In the 2011 elections, 7 seats were won by the Conservatives, 5 by the Liberal Democrats and 3 by independents.[15]

Ward Party Town councillors elected 2011
North Conservative Duncan Bennett
Independent Sam Bryant
Liberal Democrats John Collins
Conservative Louise Eastwood
Independent Thelma Rumbelow
Liberal Democrats Alan Whittaker
Central Conservative John Carvey
Conservative Helen Firth
Conservative Brian Marsh
New Town Liberal Democrats Sarah Hall
Liberal Democrats Jeremy Hallett
Conservative Jim Molesworth-Edwards
Ridgewood Liberal Democrats Michael Harker
Conservative Marion Rowland
Independent Ian Smith

2007–2011 by-elections

[edit]
By-election Date Incumbent party Result Candidate Reason
New Town 16 April 2009 Independent Liberal Democrats Jeremy Hallett Death of Barrie Murray [16][17]

2007 election

[edit]

In the 2007 elections, 6 seats were won by Independent candidates, 6 by the Liberal Democrats and 3 by the Conservatives.[18]

Ward Party Town councillors elected 2007
North Independent Leonard Ashby
Independent Duncan Bennett
Independent Louise Eastwood
Independent Thelma Rumbelow
Liberal Democrats Dorothy Sparks
Liberal Democrats Alan Whittaker
Central Conservative John Carvey
Conservative Helen Firth
Conservative Jim Molesworth-Edwards
New Town Liberal Democrats Sarah Hall
Independent Barrie Murray
Liberal Democrats Anne Parker
Ridgewood Liberal Democrats Michael Harker
Independent Ian Smith
Liberal Democrats Robert Sweetland

2003–2007 by-elections

[edit]
By-election Date Incumbent party Result Candidate Reason
Central 16 September 2004 Independent Liberal Democrats John McGuckin Unfilled [19]
Ridgewood 16 September 2004 Independent Liberal Democrats Michael Harker Unfilled [20]
New Town 24 November 2005 None Liberal Democrats Sarah Hall Unknown [21][22]

2003 election

[edit]

In the 2003 elections, 5 seats were won by the Liberal Democrats, 3 by the Conservatives, 2 by Labour & 2 by Independent candidates. 2 seats were unfilled in Central Ward and 1 seat was unfilled in Ridgewood.[23]

Ward Party Town councillors elected 2003
North Labour Leonard Ashby
Labour Duncan Bennett
Independent Louise Eastwood
Conservative Thelma Rumbelow
Liberal Democrats Dorothy Sparks
Liberal Democrats Alan Whittaker
Central Conservative Richard Vanderpump
New Town Liberal Democrats Libby Calton
Independent Barrie Murray
Liberal Democrats Ian Nottage
Ridgewood Conservative James Molesworth-Edwards
Liberal Democrats Anthony Parker

Mayoral history

[edit]
Year Name Party Notes
2021–24 Jackie Love [24] Independent
2018–21 Spike Mayhew [25] Independent
2015–18 Louise Eastwood [26][27] Independent
2013–15 Ian Smith [28] Independent
2010–13 John Carvey [29] Conservative
2009–10 Leonard Ashby [30] Independent
2006–09 Louise Eastwood [31] Conservative
2001–06 Barrie Murray [32] Independent

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New Mayor and Deputy Mayor elected". 25 May 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b http://www.uckfieldtc.gov.uk/controls/DownloadDocument.ashx?docID=uj7387SJBWFNVJQJBM7456wJsj&aID=5516 [dead link]
  3. ^ "Election of Town Councillors – notice of uncontested election". 18 April 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Uckfield Town Councillors and Re-election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor". 18 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Declaration of Result of Poll - Election of Town Councillor for Uckfield North". 8 July 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Election results for Uckfield wards in district and town elections". 3 May 2019. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  7. ^ "UCKFIELD ELECTIONS: Nominations close and well-known faces stand down". 5 April 2019. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  8. ^ "New councillors for Uckfield Ridgewood and North wards". 14 May 2019. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Uckfield town councillor quits". 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Labour's Daniel Manvell wins Uckfield Town Council seat in by-election". 13 July 2018. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  11. ^ a b c http://news.uckfieldfm.co.uk/2016/town-councillors-move-from-lib-dem-to-independent// [dead link]
  12. ^ "It's polling day - election candidates in Uckfield area". 6 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Uckfield town councillor Duncan Bennett resigns seat". 16 April 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  14. ^ "Vacancy on Uckfield Town Council". 11 April 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/Council-election-nominations-closed/story-12602406-detail/story.html/ [dead link]
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ "Calendar Girls brings a heartwarming and hilarious musical to Eastbourne".
  22. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ "Uckfield Town Councillors and Re-election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor". 18 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  25. ^ "New councillors for Uckfield Ridgewood and North wards". 14 May 2019. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  26. ^ "New Uckfield Mayor and Deputy Mayor elected". 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  27. ^ http://news.uckfieldfm.co.uk/2016/uckfield-town-council-statutory-meeting-re-elects-mayor-and-deputy-mayor-for-second-year/ [dead link]
  28. ^ "Ian Smith re-elected as Uckfield mayor". 20 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  29. ^ "John Carvey to stand down as Uckfield Mayor". 11 April 2013. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  30. ^ "New mayor for Uckfield". Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  31. ^ "Former Uckfield mayor dies". Crawley News. 30 January 2009. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015.
  32. ^ "Tributes to former Uckfield mayor - Sussex Express". Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.