The Conservative Party has retained overall control of Somerset County Council but with a seriously reduced majority ( -7) on 28 seats and an increase in Labour (+1) 3 and Progressive Independent (+2) 2 seats . The Lib Dems have dropped (-3) their total of seats to 18 and the Far Right UKIP gaining (+3) a surprise 3 bringing the balance to 28-26.
The results are for 54 out of the 55 electoral divisions .The Coker division will be contested on 16 May due to the death of a candidate.
Overall turnout was: 35.6% (a decrease compared to 42% in 2009)
Seats Won:
Conservative: 28
Labour: 3
Lib Dem: 18
UKIP: 3
Independent: 2
The Council Leader and Chairman will be elected at the next full council meeting which will take place on 21 May 2013.
Full results are:
Bishops Hull & Taunton West – Justine Baker, Liberal Democrat
Blackdown & Neroche – Ross Henley, Liberal Democrat
Blackmoor Vale – William Wallace, Conservative
Brent – John Denby – Conservative
Bridgwater East & Bawdrip – David Hall, Conservative
Bridgwater North & Central – Dave Loveridge, Labour
Bridgwater South – Leigh Redman, Labour
Bridgwater West – Ann Bown, Conservative
Brympton – Sam Crabb, Liberal Democrat
Burnham on Sea North – Peter Burridge-Clayton, Conservative
Cannington – John Edney, Conservative
Castle Cary – Mike Lewis, Conservative
Chard North – Nigel Pearson, UKIP
Chard South – Jill Shortland, Liberal Democrat
Cheddar – Dawn Hill, Conservative
Coker – (to be declared on 16th May)
Comeytrowe & Trull – Alan Wedderkopp, Liberal Democrat
Crewkerne – John Dyke, Liberal Democrat
Curry Rivel & Langport – Derek Yeomans, Conservative
Dulverton & Exmoor – Frances Nicholson, Conservative
Dunster – Christine Lawrence, Conservative
Frome East – Alvin Horsfall, Liberal Democrat
Frome North – Sam Phripp, Liberal Democrat
Frome West – Derek Tanswell, Liberal Democrat
Glastonbury & Street (A) Terry Napper, Conservative
Glastonbury & Street (B) Alan Gloak, Liberal Democrat
Highbridge & Burnham South – John Woodman, Conservative
Huntspill – Mark Healy, Conservative
Ilminster – Linda Vijeh, Conservative
King Alfred – David Huxtable, Conservative
Lydeard – Mike Rigby, Independent
Martock – John Bailey, Liberal Democrat
Mendip Central & East – Philip Ham, Conservative
Mendip Hills – Harvey Siggs, Conservative
Mendip South – Nigel Woollcombe-Adams, Conservative
Mendip West – Graham Noel, Conservative
Minehead – Terry Venner, UKIP
Monkton & North Curry – David Fothergill, Conservative
North Petherton – Richard Brown, Conservative
Rowbarton & Staplegrove – Danny Wedderkopp, Liberal Democrat
Shepton Mallet – John Parham, Conservative
Somerton – Dean Ruddle, Conservative
South Petherton and Islemoor – Christopher Le Hardy, Conservative
Taunton East – Simon Coles, Liberal Democrat
Taunton North – Claire Gordan, Liberal Democrat
Taunton South – Hazel Prior-Sankey, Liberal Democrat
Upper Tone – James Hunt, Conservative
Watchet & Stogursey – Hugh Davies, Independent
Wellington – Andrew Govier, Labour
Wells – John Osman, Conservative
Wincanton & Bruton – Anna Groskop, Conservative
Yeovil Central – Alan Dimmick, UKIP
Yeovil East – Tony Lock, Liberal Democrat
Yeovil South – Dave Greene, Liberal Democrat
Yeovil West – Jane Lock, Liberal Democrat
Find more information on the results at: www.somerset.gov.uk
<http://www.somerset.gov.uk>