# Sedgefield Borough Council elections

Sedgefield Borough Council elections were generally held every four years between the council's creation in 1974 and its abolition in 2009. Sedgefield was a non-metropolitan district in County Durham, England. On 1 April 2009 the council's functions passed to Durham County Council, which became a unitary authority.

## Political control

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council from 1973 until its abolition in 2009 was held by the following parties:
| Party in control | Party in control | Years |
| | Labour | 1973–2009 |

### Leadership

The leaders of the council were:
| Councillor | Party | From | To |
| Warren McCourt | Labour | 1973 | 1986 |
| Brian Stephens | Labour | pre-1987 | 4 May 2003 |
| Bob Fleming | Labour | 16 May 2003 | 10 May 2007 |
| Agnes Armstrong | Labour | 18 May 2007 | 31 Mar 2009 |

## Council elections

| Election | Labour | Liberal Democrat | Conservative | Independent | Total | Notes |
| 1973 | 40 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 53 | |
| 1976 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 53 | District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same |
| 1979 | 40 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 53 | |
| 1983 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 49 | New ward boundaries & district boundary changes also took place |
| 1987 | 37 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 49 | District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same |
| 1991 | 33 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 49 | District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same |
| 1995 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 49 | |
| 1999 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 49 | |
| 2003 | 35 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 50 | New ward boundaries |
| 2007 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 50 | |

## Results maps

* 2003 results map
* 2007 results map

## By-election results

The following is an incomplete list of by-elections to Sedgefield Borough Council.

### 1995-1999

Tudhoe By-Election 21 November 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | | 425 | 55.8 |
| | Independent | | 216 | 28.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Benjamin May Ord | 88 | 11.6 |
| | Conservative | | 32 | 4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 209 | 27.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 761 | 28 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### 1999-2003

Tudhoe By-Election 25 November 1999 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Agnes Armstrong | 373 | 60.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Jones | 247 | 39.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 126 | 20.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 620 | 23 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
Tudhoe By-Election 7 June 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | | 1,129 | 52.2 | +5.2 |
| | Independent | | 1,033 | 47.8 | −5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 96 | 4.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,162 | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Middlestone By-Election 21 March 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kevin Thompson | 528 | 51.7 | +21.4 |
| | Labour | | 493 | 48.3 | −21.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 35 | 3.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,021 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |