The 2019 Dorset Council election was held on Thursday 2 May 2019 to elect councillors to the new
Dorset Council in England. It took place on the same day as other district council elections in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
.
These were the first elections to the new unitary council, which has come into effect on 1 April 2019. The new unitary authority was created to administer most of the area formerly administered by
Dorset County Council
Dorset County Council (DCC) was the county council for the county of Dorset in England. It provided the upper tier of local government, below which were district councils, and town and parish councils. The county council had 46 elected council ...
, which was previously subdivided into the districts of
Weymouth and Portland
Weymouth and Portland was a local government district and borough in Dorset, England. It consisted of the resort of Weymouth and the Isle of Portland, and includes the areas of Wyke Regis, Preston, Melcombe Regis, Upwey, Broadwey, Southi ...
,
West Dorset
West Dorset was a local government district in Dorset, England. Its council was based in Dorchester. The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, and was a merger of the boroughs of Bridport, Dorchester and ...
,
North Dorset
North Dorset was a local government district in Dorset, England. It was largely rural, but included the towns of Blandford Forum, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Stalbridge and Sturminster Newton. Much of North Dorset was in the River Stour vall ...
,
Purbeck, and
East Dorset
East Dorset was a local government district in Dorset, England. Its council met in Wimborne Minster between 2016 and 2019.
The district (as Wimborne) was formed on 1 April 1974 by merging Wimborne Minster Urban District with Wimborne and Cran ...
. The previous elections in for Dorset County Council took place in 2017, and for the former district councils in 2015 and 2016. Future elections will take place in 2024 and 2029, and then every 4 years.
The 2019 election saw the
Conservatives
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
take a majority of seats on the Council.
Council composition
Prior to the election the composition of the shadow authority was:
After the election the composition of the council was:
Summary
Election result
, -
Ward results
Beacon
Beaminster
Blackmore Vale
Pauline Batstone was subsequently elected the first chair of the council.
Blandford
Bridport
Chalk Valleys
Charminster St Mary's
Chesil Bank
Chickerell
Colehill and Wimborne Minster East
Corfe Mullen
Cranborne and Alderholt
Cranborne Chase
Crossways
Ireland was later elected leader for the Liberal Democrat group.
Dorchester East
Dorchester Poundbury
Dorchester West
Fry was later elected leader of the all for Dorset independent group.
Eggardon
Ferndown North
Ferndown South
Gillingham
Hill Forts and Upper Tarrants
Littlemoor and Preston
O'Leary was the youngest elected councillor aged 20. Cllr Ferrari became the cabinet member for finance and assets.
Lyme and Charmouth
Lytchett Matravers and Upton
Marshwood Vale
Melcombe Regis
Portland
Kimber was later elected leader of the labour and co-op group.
Puddletown and Lower Winterborne
Radipole
Rodwell and Wyke
Sutton was elected as leader of the green group on the council.
Shaftesbury Town
Sherborne East
Sherborne Rural
Sherborne West
South East Purbeck
St Leonards and St Ives
Stalbridge and Marnhull
Stour and Allen Vale
Sturminster Newton
Swanage
Upwey and Broadwey
Verwood
Flower was later elected as the first leader of the council.
Wareham
West Moors and Three Legged Cross
West Parley
West Purbeck
Wharf was later appointed deputy leader of the council
Westham
Wimborne Minster
Winterborne and Broadmayne
Winterborne North
Yetminster
By-elections
Lyme & Charmouth
Sherborne West
References
{{Dorset elections
Dorset
Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset. Covering an area of , ...
May 2019 events in the United Kingdom
2010s in Dorset
Dorset Council elections