The results are in – and very little has changed following the local election in Wokingham – with the Liberal Democrats making a net gain of one seat.
The party is just one seat short of an overall majority and is now expected to continue with a minority-led administration.
Cllr Stephen Conway remained positive, pleased at having strengthened the position of the Lib Dems. Now with the Conservative having 19 seats, Labour with eight and the Liberal Democrats boasting 27 seats, it’s a marked contrast to 10 years ago when they only had seven councillors compared to the Tories 44.
All seats were up for grabs in Wokingham, making this the biggest election for years. Major changes have been made to the electoral ward boundaries in Wokingham Borough, following a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The review was conducted to ensure councillors represent roughly the same number of electors and that ward arrangements will help the council work effectively. The number of councillors will remain at 54, but there will now be 18 wards, with each represented by three councillors.
Turnout was expected to be low with local elections perceived as less important than a General Election. It remains to be seen whether the results in Wokingham reflect what will happen at the next General Election.
Photos by Paul King