Labor retained control of the city council on a day when a cabinet member was lost.
Following Thursday’s election, the Labor group was damaged by the Greens’ loss of the Sewell area. But increasing their share of the vote elsewhere will come as silver.
Thirteen of the 39 seats on the city council were grabbed on Thursday – one in each department.
After the count in St. Andrew’s Hall on Friday, the political composition of the city council is now Labor (25), Greens (11) and Liberal Democrats (three).
The only place to change hands was Sewell, who moved from Labor to the Greens as Alex Kat declared success with a 398 majority.
Alex Kat, the Green Party that won Ward Sewell. – Credit: Denise Bradley
Labor will feel the loss of the seat previously held by Matt Packer, now a former member of the Health and Welfare Cabinet.
Despite the loss, Labor leader Alan Waters showed a brave face and said the group felt “positive” about its results.
He said: “I am disappointed with the loss of Matthew Packer, he is a very good member of the cabinet who has represented his department well. I think the residents will feel the loss.
“Apart from this change, the size of our majority in areas like Chrome has increased against the Conservatives, and we will continue to build on that.”
Disappointed Labor Adviser, Alan Waters, Council Leader. – Credit: Denise Bradley
Mr Waters called it a “bad day” for the city’s Conservatives, and said it showed confidence in the Labor administration, which “works to support the people of Norwich in difficult times”.
Last year, the Conservatives reached 152 votes to take over the Crome division after failing to win a seat on the city council in 2008.
This time, Labor increased its majority to 532, seeing both a drop in the Tories’ vote and 143 more votes than in 2021.
Green leader Lucy Galvin hailed it as a fantastic year for the party, both locally and nationally.
Lucy Galvin of the Green Party. – Credit: Denise Bradley
“People like what we do, and it comes from hard work,” she said.
“We are increasing the number of our advisors every year, and the acquisition of Sewell means everything to us.
“People are disappointed with the main parties and we offer a positive alternative.”
Ms. Galvin dedicated Sewell’s victory to Adrian Holmes, a key voice of the Greens in the fight for the division that died last year.
Results
Key: C – conservative, G – green, I – independent, L – Labor, LD – Liberal Democrats. Bold font shows the winner. * Indicates the meeting counselor.
Bouthorpe: Mike Sands * (L) 1170, Sean Bennett (LD) 184, Oscar Hausago (C) 409, Maddie Lyall (G) 221. Detention. Output: 29.1 pcs.
Catton Grove: Paul Kendrick * (L) 1,236, Hassan Iqbal (C) 563, Tony Park (G) 355, Ian Williams (LD) 143. Detention. Output: 29.5 pcs
Crome: Claire Kidman (L) 1360, Steve Barber (C) 828, James Kilbury (G) 294, Nigel Lubbock (LD) 115. Labor Hold. Turnout: 31.7
Ethan: Caroline Ackroyd * (LD) 2,069, Peter Princeley (L) 1,310, Jane Saunders (G) 336, John Ward (C) 560. Lib Dem detention. Turnout: 55.3
Lakenham: Gurpreet Padda (L) 1391, Paul Davies (LD) 237, James Hammond (C) 464, Sabine Virani (G) 363. Detention. Turnout: 32.1
Mancroft: Jamie Osborne * (G) 1606, Jess Carrington (L) 691, Gordon Dean (LD) 55, Iain Gwynn (C) 243. Green Detention. Turnout: 35.3
Mile Cross: Vivienne Thomas * (L) 1135, Gunnar Eigener (G) 318, Desmond Fulcher (LD) 87, Eric Masters (C) 382. Detention. Output: 25.2 pcs.
Nelson: Julie Young (G) 2,138 Linda Groves (L) 1,476, David Fairburn (LD) 132, John Fisher (C) 226, Simon Reading (I) 41. Green Hold. Output 49.4 pcs
Sewell: Alex Kat (G) 1580, Matt Packer * (L) 1182, Helen Arundel (LD) 71, Anthony Little (C) 238. Green Profit. Turnout: 40.7
Thorpe Hamlet: Ben Price * (G) 1450, Cavan Stewart (L) 852, Simon Jones (C) 413, Jeremy Hook (LD) 114. Green retention. Turnout: 37.7
Town Close: Kate Oliver * (L) 1968, Willem Buttinger (G) 661, Mary Chacksfield (C) 534, Carol Chilton (LD) 246. Detention. Turnout: 43.4
University: Matthew Fulton-McAllister * (L) 1170, Tom Holloway (G) 483, Jane Fisher (C) 293, James Hocketts (LD) 148. Labor Hold. Turnout: 29.8
Wensum: Kevin Maguire * (L) 1395, Alex Atkins (LD) 110, Liam Calvert (G) 735, David King (C) 368. Detention. Turnout: 32.2
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