# 2021 North Hertfordshire District Council election

The 2021 North Hertfordshire District Council election took place on 6 May 2021 to elect 17 of the 49 members of North Hertfordshire District Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections around the country. This election had originally been due to take place in May 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The council remained under no overall control, with a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition continuing to run the council. Martin Stears-Handscomb, leader of the Labour group and leader of the council prior to the election, lost his seat at this election; he had chosen to contest Letchworth South East rather than the Hitchin Oughton seat he had previously held, which put him directly challenging the Conservative leader, David Levett, who retained the seat. Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg was appointed new leader of the Labour group and leader of the council after the election, with the Liberal Democrat leader, Paul Clark, continuing to serve as deputy leader of the council.

## Overall results

The overall results were as follows:
2021 North Hertfordshire District Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Conservative | 10 | 1 | 58.8 | 13 | 23 | 46.9 | 14,518 | 41.5 | +5.5 |
| | Labour | 5 | 1 | 29.4 | 10 | 15 | 30.6 | 9,402 | 26.9 | +5.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2 | | 11.8 | 9 | 11 | 22.4 | 6,978 | 20.0 | -8.4 |
| | Green | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3,730 | 10.7 | +0.1 |
| | Independent | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 167 | 0.5 | New |
| | Reform UK | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 59 | 0.2 | New |
| | CPA | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 53 | 0.2 | New |
| | SDP | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 39 | 0.1 | New |

## Ward results

The results for each ward were as follows. Where the previous incumbent was standing for re-election they are marked with an asterisk(*). A double dagger(‡) indicates a sitting councillor contesting a different ward.

### Baldock East

Baldock East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Juan Timothy Cowell | 495 | 42.9 | −3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard William Winter | 302 | 26.2 | −0.3 |
| | Labour | Leo James Chapman | 212 | 18.4 | +6.6 |
| | Green | Jane Louise Turner | 133 | 11.5 | +6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 193 | 16.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,154 | 49.4 | +4.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.3 | |
Changes from the 2016 election.

### Baldock Town

Baldock Town :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Edwin Weeks* | 1,120 | 48.0 | −3.4 |
| | Labour Co-op | Alistair Kieran Oliver Willoughby | 734 | 31.4 | +13.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steven Paul Thomas (Steve Thomas) | 242 | 10.4 | −8.7 |
| | Green | Timothy Peter Lee (Tim Lee) | 223 | 9.6 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 386 | 16.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,335 | 40.6 | +8.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -8.7 | |

### Chesfield

Chesfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Terence Clive Tyler* (Terry Tyler) | 728 | 42.3 | +18.5 |
| | Conservative | Dominic John Crean Griffiths | 727 | 42.2 | +0.3 |
| | Labour | Thomas Patrick Luke Hogan (Tom Hogan) | 251 | 14.6 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 0.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,721 | 32.6 | +5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +9.1 | |
The result was initially a tie, with Terry Tyler (Liberal Democrat) and Dominic Griffiths (Conservative) both receiving 727 votes; they drew straws for an extra tie-break vote.

### Hitchin Bearton

Hitchin Bearton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Ian Clive Albert* | 1,314 | 49.0 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative | Ralph Gerald Muncer | 586 | 21.9 | +6.6 |
| | Green | Anni Elke Sander | 383 | 14.3 | +0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jonathan Clayden | 378 | 14.1 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 728 | 27.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,681 | 41.6 | +7.2 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | -5.7 | |

### Hitchin Highbury

Hitchin Highbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Clark* | 1,416 | 48.1 | −14.1 |
| | Conservative | Gulshan Deep Singh Mangat | 820 | 27.9 | +7.2 |
| | Labour | Angela Jean Griggs | 412 | 14.0 | +4.6 |
| | Green | Deolinda Maria Eltringham | 242 | 8.2 | +1.2 |
| | CPA | Leigh Smith | 33 | 1.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 596 | 20.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,941 | 46.9 | +5.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -10.6 | |

### Hitchin Oughton

Hitchin Oughton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Nigel David Mason | 501 | 38.6 | −15.6 |
| | Conservative | Steven Patmore | 369 | 28.4 | −0.2 |
| | Green | Mary Karin Marshall | 245 | 18.9 | +11.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Thomas James Grunshaw | 101 | 7.8 | −1.4 |
| | Independent | Jacqueline Mary McDonald | 65 | 5.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 132 | 10.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,298 | 35.0 | +3.7 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | -7.7 | |
Changes from the 2018 election.

### Hitchin Priory

Hitchin Priory :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Arthur Charles Thake* | 787 | 41.8 | +0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rajeni Bhakar (Raj Bhakar) | 548 | 29.1 | −2.6 |
| | Labour | Peter Malcolm Taylor | 286 | 15.2 | −3.9 |
| | Green | Desmond Peter Stephens (Des Stephens) | 233 | 12.4 | +4.7 |
| | CPA | Sidney Clifford Cordle (Sid Cordle) | 20 | 1.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 239 | 12.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,885 | 49.5 | +4.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.8 | |
Changes from the 2018 election.

### Hitchin Walsworth

Hitchin Walsworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Elizabeth Louise Dennis-Harburg* | 1,154 | 41.2 | −3.2 |
| | Conservative | Charles Laing | 1,042 | 37.2 | +11.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elizabeth Julie Townsend (Liz Townsend) | 301 | 10.7 | −0.6 |
| | Green | Samuel Rex Larsen (Sam Larsen) | 293 | 10.5 | −7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 112 | 4.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,802 | 44.5 | +7.4 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | -7.5 | |

### Hitchwood, Offa and Hoo

Hitchwood, Offa and Hoo :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Claire Patricia Annette Strong* | 1,436 | 52.2 | −2.5 |
| | Green | Adina Claire | 787 | 28.6 | +11.5 |
| | Labour | Anton Jungreuthmayer | 304 | 11.1 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philippa Wright | 214 | 7.8 | −6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 649 | 23.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,751 | 46.4 | +10.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.0 | |

### Knebworth

Knebworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Amanda Benhilda Tandi (Mandi Tandi) | 1,235 | 56.5 | +16.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susana Muñoz Maniega | 629 | 28.8 | −22.3 |
| | Labour | Douglas Arthur Jenner (Doug Jenner) | 185 | 8.5 | +0.9 |
| | Green | Davina Ruth Malcolm | 97 | 4.4 | +2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 606 | 27.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,187 | 52.1 | +5.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +19.6 | |
Changes from the 2018 election.

### Letchworth East

Letchworth East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Ian Mantle* | 711 | 44.2 | −7.2 |
| | Conservative | James Durston | 467 | 29.0 | +4.2 |
| | Green | David Paul Morris | 205 | 12.7 | +8.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Robert Patrick Spencer | 115 | 7.2 | −0.5 |
| | Independent | Paul Ross | 102 | 6.3 | −4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 244 | 15.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,608 | 35.9 | +1.0 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | -5.7 | |
Changes from the 2018 election.

### Letchworth Grange

Letchworth Grange :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Simon Nicholas Bloxham | 1,059 | 47.7 | +9.8 |
| | Labour Co-op | Sean Nolan | 733 | 33.0 | +2.8 |
| | Green | Elizabeth Susan Hancock | 215 | 9.7 | +0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Amy Elizabeth Finch | 200 | 9.0 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 326 | 14.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,222 | 39.4 | +5.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour Co-op | Conservative gain from Labour Co-op | Swing | +3.5 | |

### Letchworth South East

Letchworth South East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Charles Levett* | 966 | 46.1 | +3.5 |
| | Labour Co-op | Martin John Stears-Handscomb ‡ | 726 | 34.7 | −8.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Anthony James Marment | 175 | 8.4 | New |
| | Green | Hazel Tracy Middleton | 155 | 7.4 | New |
| | Reform UK | Garry Edward Warren | 59 | 2.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 240 | 11.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,094 | 39.0 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.1 | |

### Letchworth South West

Letchworth South West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Terence William Hone* (Terry Hone) | 1,276 | 45.8 | +11.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Phillip Christopher Weeder (Phil Weeder) | 724 | 26.0 | −8.6 |
| | Labour Co-op | Thomas Joseph Plater (Tom Plater) | 474 | 17.0 | +4.9 |
| | Green | Alan Edmund Borgars | 245 | 8.8 | +0.1 |
| | SDP | Michael McGetrick | 39 | 1.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 552 | 19.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,787 | 46.0 | +7.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +9.9 | |

### Letchworth Wilbury

Letchworth Wilbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Amy Dawn Allen | 771 | 53.1 | −4.9 |
| | Conservative | Monica Madeline Bloxham | 536 | 36.9 | +10.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sally Margaret Jarvis (Sal Jarvis) | 121 | 8.3 | +3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 235 | 16.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,452 | 36.1 | −1.6 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | -7.6 | |
Changes from the 2018 election.
This Letchworth Wilbury seat had been previously held by Labour councillor Deepak Sangha, but had been vacant since his resignation in March 2020, but no by-election could be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Royston Meridian

Royston Meridian (by-election) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Adam Compton | 889 | 49.0 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alexander William Prosser-Snelling (Alex Prosser-Snelling) | 579 | 31.9 | +8.9 |
| | Labour | John Ivor Rees | 176 | 9.7 | −0.2 |
| | Green | Hugh David Parker | 154 | 8.5 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 310 | 17.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,816 | 42.8 | +6.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.6 | |
The Royston Meridian by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Bill Davidson.

### Royston Palace

Royston Palace (by-election) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sarah Anne Dingley | 708 | 47.0 | +9.2 |
| | Labour Co-op | Catherine Jayne Brownjohn (Cathy Brownjohn) | 458 | 30.4 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Hugo John Rainey | 205 | 13.6 | −0.8 |
| | Green | Steven Andrew Turner | 120 | 8.0 | −5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 250 | 16.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,507 | 34.3 | +5.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.9 | |
The Royston Palace by-election had been triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Ben Lewis, who had resigned in March 2020, but no by-election could be held until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## By-elections
### Hitchin Highbury

The Hitchin Highbury by-election was triggered by the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Clark, who was his party's group leader and deputy leader of the council. The Liberal Democrats retained the seat. Ruth Brown was appointed new leader of the Liberal Democrat group and deputy leader of the council following Paul Clark's death.
Hitchin Highbury: 10 March 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Raj Bhakar | 1,238 | 67.0 | +18.5 |
| | Conservative | Samuel Forsyth | 450 | 24.3 | −3.7 |
| | Green | Deolinda Eltringham | 134 | 7.2 | −1.0 |
| | CPA | Leigh Smith | 27 | 1.5 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 788 | 42.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,861 | 30.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +11.1 | |