People have voted and the results are in for the May 2021 town council by-elections and neighbourhood plan referendums in Dorset. An election also took place for the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Although elections did not take place this year for Dorset Council councillors (they happen in 2024), some town council by-elections and neighbourhood plan referendums were held.
The results were as follows:
Town council by-elections and successful candidates
Lyme Regis Town Council – Tara Dawn Webb (Turnout 37.3%)
Weymouth Town Council – Wyke Regis Ward – Becky Suzanne Blake, Labour Party (Turnout 35.4%)
Weymouth Town Council – Preston Ward – Peter Dickenson, Conservative Party (Turnout 52.7%)
Shaftesbury Town Council – West Ward – Virginia Rhiannon Edwyn-Jones, Independent (Turnout 37.7%)
Swanage Town Council – Swanage North Ward – John Michael Bishop, Conservative Party (Turnout 45.2%)
Ferndown – Ferndown Central Ward – Grant Clifford Parrott, Local Conservatives (Turnout 35.1%)
Neighbourhood Plan Referendum results:
Arne – 479 votes in favour, 36 against (Turnout 47.2%)
Blandford+ – 2,054 votes in favour, 394 against (Turnout 25.9%)
Chickerell – 1,006 votes in favour, 184 against (Turnout 24.7%)
Milton Abbas – 162 votes in favour, 32 against (Turnout 42.3%)
Portland – 1,653 votes in favour, 346 against (Turnout 21.5%)
Puddletown – 341 votes in favour, 45 against (Turnout 33.5%)
Shaftesbury – 1,556 votes in favour, 216 against (Turnout 26.9%)
See @DorsetCouncilUK on Twitter for detailed results.
Full details of the results will also be available later here: Results of elections, referenda and polls – Dorset Council
Next steps for neighbourhood plans
The neighbourhood plans will now be taken to Dorset Council Cabinet, where councillors will decide whether to formally adopt them (or ‘make’ them).
If formally adopted, the neighbourhood plans will be used to inform decisions on planning applications in the area.
When adopted, neighbourhood plans become part of the development plan for an area. See the adopted local plans. They sit alongside a local plan and are considered in deciding whether or not planning permission should be given.
See more information about neighbourhood plans and the referendums
Police and Crime Commissioner election
An election for a new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) in Dorset was also held on 6 May .
Results were announced by BCP Council and are available on their website.
A PCC is responsible for policing across the county (covering both the Dorset Council and BCP Council areas). Find out more about the Dorset PCC.
Why, if the Police and Judiciary are supposed to be neutral , do most of the PCC candidates stand aligned to a political party?
Surely politics should not be part of whether they stand, as they all stand on the same platform for law and order etc?
Dorset Council’s role is to administer the Police and Crime Commissioner election and, as the law currently stands, candidates can describe themselves as political party candidates. Central Government would be able to advise you further or the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset – https://www.dorset.pcc.police.uk/get-in-touch/ Best regards, Claire
This post should NOT be party political!! To be fair, the winner should be based on their resume/cv/public service record, not just because they are members of a political party. I’m sure many voters don’t find out much about any candidates so have just voted Tory.
Dorset Council’s role is to administer the Police and Crime Commissioner election and, as the law currently stands, candidates can describe themselves as political party candidates. Central Government would be able to advise you further or the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset – https://www.dorset.pcc.police.uk/get-in-touch/ Best regards, Claire