Rival parties to target Conservative seats in upcoming Basingstoke and Deane election

This year’s local elections are just four weeks away as Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council minority parties look to make a dent into last year’s decisive Conservative majority.

The borough council elects by thirds, meaning one third of the 54 seats is elected every year – with one rest year for the Hampshire County Council elections.

In this year’s election on Thursday, May 5, one seat will be up for grabs in each of the 18 wards as the councillor who secured the fewest number of votes in last May’s full election is tasked with holding their seat.

The rival parties will be hoping to make inroads into the Conservative majority, after the ruling party scooped 33 of the 54 seats last year, capitalising on the boundary changes which saw the number of wards reduced from 29 to 18.

The Conservatives had previously ruled a minority council, with 28 of the 60 seats.

In next month’s local election, 12 Conservatives, three Labour, two Liberal Democrats and one Independent will be fighting for their seat across the borough.

In the northern wards, which are dominated by Conservative councillors, rival parties will be looking to unseat Derek Mellor (Tadley and Pamber), Simon Mahaffey (Bramley) and Samuel Carr (Evingar) – who have all confirmed they will be standing for re-election.

In the Tadley North, Kingsclere and Baughurst ward, Conservative councillor Geoff Poland will not be seeking re-election after just one year in the role.

The Conservatives have instead put forward Maria Higson – a Conservative councillor in the Hampstead Town ward of the London Borough of Camden.

For more information about nominated candidates prior to the borough council election, see future Hampshire pages of the NWN.