# No overall control

In the context of local authorities in the United Kingdom no overall control (NOC; Welsh: dim rheolaeth gyffredinol) is a situation in which no single political group achieves a majority of seats, comparably to a hung parliament. Of the 248 councils who had members up for election in the 2019 local elections, 73 (over a quarter) resulted in a NOC administration. In the 2021 local elections, 14 resulted in no overall control. Outside of the UK, the term may be applied to other local authorities, such as the local councils of Malta and the General Assembly of Budapest in Hungary.

## Administration

Typically, if no party achieves overall control of a council, the largest grouping will form alliances to create an ad hoc governing coalition. Often local authorities have larger proportions of smaller party and independent members than the House of Commons, and when there is no overall control this often results in minor groups having more influence than their numbers alone would suggest.
In a result of no overall control, the largest party may attempt to govern as a minority administration. Parties may also work together to create a formal deal, which can range from a confidence and supply deal to full coalition. Deals, especially the looser kind, can occur between parties which are not traditionally aligned on a national level. For example, a minority Conservative administration was formed in 2019 in Bolton supported by the Liberal Democrats and UKIP, whilst a Labour-UKIP formal coalition existed in Basildon. Following the 2017 Aberdeen City Council election, all nine Labour councillors were expelled from the party for entering into a coalition with the Conservatives.
It is possible for a council to be under no overall control even when there appears to be an overall majority, in particular in the case of a majority of independents, who commonly have no collective policies when elected. This can also arise when the council members divide on other than party lines. For instance, the 2004 elections to the Isle of Anglesey County Council returned more independents than all others put together, but only Plaid Cymru maintained a party group within the council, and not all of its elected members joined the group. The remainder of the council, including some members of other political parties, formed four non-partisan groups, none of which held a majority. The 2008 elections resulted in a group called the Original Independents gaining an overall majority.
No overall control is more common in Northern Ireland and Scotland, in part due to their usage of single transferable vote as opposed to the plurality block voting system used in England and Wales. Following the 2022 Scottish local elections, twenty-seven of the thirty-two councils were under no overall control, with a further three having a majority of independents. Following the 2023 Northern Ireland local elections, all eleven councils were under no overall control.

## Local authorities
### County councils

| Council | Seats | Largest party | Seats | Control | Seats |
| Cambridgeshire | 61 | Conservative | 22 | Liberal Democrats/Labour/St Neots Independent/Independent coalition | 36 |
| East Sussex | 50 | Conservative | 24 | Conservative minority | 24 |
| Gloucestershire | 53 | Conservative | 26 | Conservative minority | 26 |
| Oxfordshire | 63 | Liberal Democrats | 20 | Liberal Democrats/Green coalition | 23 |

### Metropolitan boroughs

| Council | Seats | Largest party | Seats | Control | Seats |
| Bolton | 60 | Labour | 26 | Labour minority | 26 |
| Dudley | 72 | Conservative | 34 | Conservative minority | 34 |
| Kirklees | 69 | Labour | 24 | Labour minority | 24 |
| Oldham | 60 | Labour | 27 | Labour minority | 27 |
| Sheffield | 84 | Labour | 36 | Labour/Liberal Democrats/Green coalition | 77 |
| Stockport | 63 | Liberal Democrats | 31 | Liberal Democrats minority | 31 |
| Wirral | 66 | Labour | 29 | Labour minority | 29 |

### Unitary authorities

| Council | Seats | Largest party | Seats | Control | Seats |
| Bedford | 46 | Labour | 13 + mayor | Conservative mayor | 13 + mayor |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 76 | Liberal Democrats | 28 | Liberal Democrats/Christchurch Independents/Poole People/Independent coalition | 44 |
| Bristol | 70 | Green | 34 | Green/Liberal Democrats coalition | 42 |
| Central Bedfordshire | 63 | Independent | 28 | Independent minority | 28 |
| Cheshire East | 82 | Conservative | 33 | Labour/Independent coalition | 45 |
| Darlington | 50 | Labour | 24 | Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition | 27 |
| Derby | 51 | Labour | 23 | Labour minority | 23 |
| Durham | 126 | Labour | 54 | Conservative/Liberal Democrats/Derwentside Independents/North East/Green/Independent coalition | 66 |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | 67 | Conservative | 25 | Conservative minority | 25 |
| Herefordshire | 53 | Conservative | 21 | Conservative minority | 21 |
| Isle of Wight | 39 | Conservative | 16 | Independent/Green/Our Island coalition | 13 |
| North East Lincolnshire | 42 | Conservative | 17 | Conservative minority | 17 |
| North Somerset | 50 | Conservative | 15 | Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green/Portishead Independents/Independent coalition | 35 |
| Northumberland | 67 | Conservative | 33 | Conservative minority | 33 |
| Peterborough | 60 | Labour | 18 | Labour minority | 18 |
| Portsmouth | 42 | Liberal Democrats | 19 | Liberal Democrats minority | 19 |
| Redcar and Cleveland | 59 | Labour | 22 | Labour minority | 22 |
| Rutland | 27 | Liberal Democrats | 11 | Liberal Democrats/Green coalition | 12 |
| Slough | 42 | Conservative | 20 | Conservative/Liberal Democrats coalition | 23 |
| South Gloucestershire | 61 | Conservative | 23 | Liberal Democrats/Labour Party coalition | 37 |
| Southend-on-Sea | 51 | Labour | 20 | Labour/Liberal Democrats/Independent coalition | 29 |
| Stockton-on-Tees | 56 | Conservative | 24 | Labour minority | 22 |
| Wokingham | 54 | Liberal Democrats | 27 | Liberal Democrats minority | 27 |

### London boroughs

| Council | Seats | Largest party | Seats | Control | Seats |
| Croydon | 71 | Conservative | 34 | Conservative mayor | 34 |
| Croydon | 71 | Labour | 34 | Conservative mayor | 34 |
| Havering | 55 | Havering Residents Association | 22 | Havering Residents Association/Labour coalition | 31 |
| Tower Hamlets | 45 | Aspire | 21 + mayor | Aspire mayor | 21 + mayor |

### Welsh principal areas

| Council | Seats | Largest party | Seats | Control | Seats |
| Conwy | 55 | Independent | 23 | Independent/Labour/Plaid Cymru coalition | 37 |
| Denbighshire | 48 | Labour | 15 | Labour/Plaid Cymru coalition | 23 |
| Flintshire | 67 | Labour | 27 | Labour minority | 27 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 30 | Independent | 16 | Independent minority | 15 |
| Monmouthshire | 46 | Labour | 22 | Labour minority | 22 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 60 | Labour | 27 | Independent/Plaid Cymru coalition | 29 |
| Pembrokeshire | 60 | Independent | 35 | Independent/Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition | 29 |
| Powys | 68 | Liberal Democrats | 22 | Liberal Democrats/Labour coalition | 31 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 54 | Labour | 25 | Labour/Llantwit First Independents/Independent coalition | 30 |
| Wrexham | 56 | Independent | 24 | Independent/Conservative coalition | 30 |

### District councils

| Council | Seats | Largest party | Seats | Control | Control | Seats |
| Arun | 54 | Conservative | 19 | | Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition | 28 |
| Ashford | 47 | Conservative | 17 | | Conservative minority | 17 |
| Babergh | 32 | Green | 10 | | Green/Liberal Democrats/Independent coalition | 24 |
| Basildon | 42 | Labour | 19 | | Labour minority | 19 |
| Basingstoke and Deane | 54 | Conservative | 15 | | B&D Independents/Liberal Democrats/Green/Independent coalition | 28 |
| Brentwood | 39 | Conservative | 19 | | Liberal Democrats/Labour coalition | 20 |
| Broadland | 47 | Conservative | 22 | | Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition | 25 |
| Bromsgrove | 31 | Conservative | 11 | | Conservative/Independent coalition | 18 |
| Broxtowe | 44 | Broxtowe Independents | 18 | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
| Burnley | 45 | Labour | 15 | | Independent/Liberal Democrats/Green coalition | 22 |
| Canterbury | 39 | Labour | 18 | | Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition | 27 |
| Charnwood | 52 | Conservative | 23 | | Labour minority | 20 |
| Cherwell | 48 | Liberal Democrats | 17 | | Liberal Democrats/Green coalition | 21 |
| Colchester | 51 | Conservative | 19 | | Liberal Democrats minority | 14 |
| Derbyshire Dales | 34 | Liberal Democrats | 12 | | Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition | 23 |
| Dover | 32 | Labour | 16 | | Labour minority | 16 |
| East Devon | 60 | Liberal Democrats | 18 | | Liberal Democrats/Green/Independent coalition | 31 |
| East Hampshire | 43 | Conservative | 19 | | Conservative/Whitehill and Bordon Community Party coalition | 25 |
| East Hertfordshire | 50 | Green | 17 | | Green/Liberal Democrats coalition | 27 |
| East Lindsey | 55 | Conservative | 25 | | Conservative minority | 25 |
| East Suffolk | 55 | Green | 16 | | Green/Liberal Democrats/Independent coalition | 28 |
| Elmbridge | 48 | Liberal Democrats | 21 | | Liberal Democrats/Residents Association coalition | 35 |
| Folkestone and Hythe | 30 | Green | 11 | | Green/Liberal Democrats coalition | 13 |
| Forest of Dean | 38 | Green | 15 | | Green minority | 15 |
| Gloucester | 39 | Liberal Democrats | 17 | | Liberal Democrats minority | 17 |
| Great Yarmouth | 39 | Conservative | 19 | | Conservative minority | 19 |
| Harborough District Council | 34 | Conservative | 15 | | Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition | 19 |
| Hart | 33 | Liberal Democrats | 12 | | Liberal Democrats/Community Campaign (Hart) coalition | 23 |
| Hastings | 32 | Green | 12 | | Green/Independent coalition | 18 |
| Havant | 36 | Conservative | 13 | | Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition | 21 |
| Hertsmere | 39 | Conservative | 16 | | Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition | 23 |
| Huntingdonshire | 52 | Conservative | 19 | | Liberal Democrats/Labour/St Neots Independent Group/Green/Independent coalition | 32 |
| King's Lynn and West Norfolk | 55 | Conservative | 21 | | Independent/Liberal Democrats/Green coalition | 21 |
| Lancaster | 61 | Green | 22 | | Green/Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition | 50 |
| Lewes | 41 | Green | 16 | | Green/Labour coalition | 24 |
| Lichfield | 47 | Conservative | 21 | | Conservative minority | 21 |
| Maidstone | 49 | Conservative | 13 | | Liberal Democrats/Green/Independent coalition | 26 |
| Maldon | 31 | Conservative | 10 | | Maldon District Independent Group minority | 6 |
| Malvern Hills | 31 | Independent | 13 | | Independent/Green coalition | 18 |
| Melton | 28 | Conservative | 10 | | Independent/Labour coalition | 15 |
| Mid Sussex | 48 | Liberal Democrats | 20 | | Liberal Democrats/Independent coalition | 24 |
| Newark and Sherwood | 39 | Conservative | 14 | | Labour minority | 10 |
| North Hertfordshire | 51 | Labour | 25 | | Labour minority | 25 |
| North Warwickshire | 35 | Conservative | 17 | | Conservative minority | 17 |
| North West Leicestershire | 38 | Labour | 17 | | Conservative/Liberal Democrats/Independent coalition | 19 |
| Norwich | 39 | Labour | 19 | | Labour minority | 19 |
| Oxford | 48 | Labour | 20 | | Labour minority | 20 |
| Pendle | 33 | Conservative | 13 | | Independent/Liberal Democrats coalition | 18 |
| Reigate and Banstead | 45 | Conservative | 19 | | Conservative minority | 19 |
| Ribble Valley | 40 | Conservative | 17 | | Conservative minority | 17 |
| Rochford | 39 | Liberal Democrats | 11 | | Liberal Democrats/Independent/Green coalition | 21 |
| Rother | 38 | Conservative | 10 | | Labour/Rother Association of Independent Councillors/Liberal Democrats/Green coalition | 24 |
| Rugby | 42 | Conservative | 17 | | Conservative minority | 17 |
| Runnymede | 41 | Conservative | 12 | | Labour/Liberal Democrats/RIRG/Green/Independent coalition | 25 |
| South Kesteven | 56 | Conservative | 22 | | Independent/Liberal Democrats/Green coalition | 28 |
| South Norfolk | 46 | Conservative | 23 | | Conservative minority | 23 |
| Spelthorne | 39 | Conservative | 16 | | Liberal Democrats/Independent coalition | 14 |
| Stafford | 40 | Conservative | 15 | | Labour/Stafford Borough Independents/Green coalition | 24 |
| Staffordshire Moorlands | 56 | Labour | 23 | | Labour minority | 23 |
| Stroud | 51 | Green | 22 | | Green minority | 22 |
| Swale | 47 | Labour | 16 | | Labour/Swale Independents/Green/Independent coalition | 30 |
| Tandridge | 43 | Liberal Democrats | 11 | | Independent/Oxted and Limpsfield Residents Group coalition | 20 |
| Tendring | 48 | Conservative | 14 | | Independent/Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition | 28 |
| Tewkesbury | 38 | Liberal Democrats | 16 | | Liberal Democrats/Independent/Green coalition | 29 |
| Tonbridge and Malling | 44 | Conservative | 20 | | Conservative minority | 20 |
| Torridge | 36 | Independent | 16 | | Independent minority | 16 |
| Warwick | 44 | Green | 14 | | Green/Labour coalition | 24 |
| Waverley | 50 | Liberal Democrats | 22 | | Liberal Democrats/Farnham Residents Party/Labour/Green coalition | 38 |
| Wealden | 45 | Liberal Democrats | 11 | | Liberal Democrats/Green coalition | 22 |
| Wealden | 45 | Green | 11 | | Liberal Democrats/Green coalition | 22 |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 48 | Labour | 20 | | Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition | 36 |
| West Devon | 31 | Conservative | 11 | | Independent/Green/Liberal Democrats/Labour coalition | 20 |
| West Lindsey | 36 | Liberal Democrats | 17 | | Liberal Democrats minority | 17 |
| West Oxfordshire | 49 | Liberal Democrats | 21 | | Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition | 36 |
| West Suffolk | 64 | Conservative | 26 | | Labour/Independent/West Suffolk Independent/Liberal Democrats/Green coalition | 28 |
| Worcester | 35 | Labour | 17 | | Labour minority | 17 |