# 2011 South Norfolk District Council election

The elections to South Norfolk District Council were held on Thursday 5 May 2011 along with various other local elections around England, elections to the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly of Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly, and a referendum on whether to adopt the Alternative Vote electoral system for elections to the House of Commons. All 46 council seats were up for election. The previous council was controlled by the Conservatives, with the Liberal Democrats being the only opposition.
Both main parties had websites detailing their local manifesto pledges: Conservative pledges and record; Liberal Democrat manifesto and candidates.

## Composition of council seats before election

| Party | Party | Seats (2007 election) | Seats (March 2011) |
| | Conservative | 39 | 37 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 7 | 7 |
| Vacant | Vacant | - | 2 |

## Candidates by party

| 46 / 46 14 / 46 4 / 46 | 42 / 46 9 / 46 2 / 46 |
In this election, there were a total of 117 candidates contesting the 46 council seats. 25 Conservative councillors and 6 Liberal Democrat councillors were standing in the seats they held before the election. Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats fielded candidates in every ward, but the Liberal Democrats were unable to nominate candidates for every vacancy - a total of 46 Conservatives and 42 Liberal Democrats.
Out of the parties which are not represented on the district council, Labour stood 14 candidates, the Green Party 9 and UKIP 4. There were two independent candidates: Ingo Wagenknecht in Rockland ward and Jessica Austin in Wicklewood ward.
In 17 seats there was a straight fight between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

## Election results: overview

South Norfolk Local Election Result 2011 :
| Party | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| | Conservative | 38 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 82.6 | 57.2 | 33,647 | +2.1% |
| | Liberal Democrats | 8 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 17.4 | 29.3 | 17,223 | -9.9% |
| | Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.9 | 4,672 | +5.8% |
| | Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.9 | 2,313 | +1.2% |
| | UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.4 | 823 | +1.1% |
| | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 159 | -0.1% |
| Total | Total | 46 | | | | | | 58,837 | |
The election saw 38 seats won by the Conservatives and 8 won by the Liberal Democrats - a gain of one seat for the Liberal Democrats. They won the seat for Forncett Ward, which had been vacant since the death of the Conservative councillor Hedley Smith in January 2011. The successful Liberal Democrat was previously the member for the ward from 2003 to 2007 defeated in 2007. Overall the Liberal Democrats polled a lower vote-share in South Norfolk overall. Their vote-share dropped by almost 10%, with half of the votes going to Labour and the rest to the Conservatives, the Green Party and UKIP.
Labour and the Greens attained a higher vote-share, with Labour overtaking the Greens as the third-largest party in terms of votes, but were unable to win any seats. Labour became the second-largest party in 8 wards: Bunwell, Cringleford, Dickleburgh, Rockland, Wymondham Northfields, Wymondham Rustens and Wymondham Town and Wicklewood - their best performance being 27.7% in Bunwell. The Greens came second in three wards Mulbarton, Hingham & Deopham and Thurlton pushing the Lib Dems into third place in those wards (all wards held by the Lib Dems in 2003). In Cringleford and Wymondham Rustens the Lib Dems finished in 4th place behind Labour and the Greens. UKIP managed to come second in Scole ward, with 17.41%.

## Results by ward

Candidates in bold were elected. Candidates marked with an asterisk were councillors in the same ward from 2007-2011.

### Abbey ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Abbey ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Robert Savage* | 678 | 67.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Smith | 328 | 32.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 350 | 34.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1006 | 45.69 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Beck Vale ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Beck Vale ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Keith Tilcock* | 491 | 52.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kerri Worral | 441 | 47.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 50 | 5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 932 | 53.90 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Bressingham and Burston ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Bressingham and Burston ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Keith Weeks* | 787 | 73.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ashley Camm | 290 | 26.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 497 | 46.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1077 | 49.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Brooke ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Brooke ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Fuller* | 855 | 74.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Judith Tryggvason | 299 | 25.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 556 | 48.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1154 | 55.52 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Bunwell ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Bunwell ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Beverley Spratt* | 691 | 61.4 |
| | Labour | Nigel Crouch | 312 | 27.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rodney Myall | 123 | 10.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 379 | 33.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1126 | 53.18 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Chedgrave and Thurton ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Chedgrave and Thurton ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Derek Blake* | 600 | 57.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Arnold | 244 | 23.3 |
| | UKIP | Ronald Murphy | 202 | 19.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 356 | 34.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1046 | 50.49 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Cringleford ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Cringleford ward (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Christopher Kemp* | 1089 | 31.8 |
| | Conservative | Garry Wheatley* | 1036 | 30.3 |
| | Labour | Victoria Smillie | 362 | 10.6 |
| | Green | Jan Kitchener | 359 | 10.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Peterson | 323 | 9.4 |
| | Green | Robert Pell | 253 | 7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3422 | 51.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Cromwells ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Cromwells ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Neil Ward* | 461 | 54.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Melvyn Elias | 387 | 45.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 74 | 8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 848 | 44.25 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Dickleburgh ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Dickleburgh ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Martin Wilby* | 762 | 74.1 |
| | Labour | Pamela Reekie | 144 | 14.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Seeman | 122 | 11.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 618 | 60.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1028 | 46.35 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Diss ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Diss ward (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Glyn Walden* | 1251 | 21.8 |
| | Conservative | Tony Palmer* | 1220 | 21.2 |
| | Conservative | Keith Kiddie | 1078 | 18.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Fiona Wenman | 669 | 11.6 |
| | Labour | Trevor Clark | 574 | 10.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Trevor Wenman | 563 | 9.8 |
| | UKIP | Evan Heasley | 391 | 6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5746 | 39.57 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Ditchingham and Broome ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Ditchingham and Broome ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pauline Allen* | 561 | 60.8 |
| | Conservative | Sam Carter | 361 | 39.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 200 | 21.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 922 | 49.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |

### Earsham ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Earsham ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Murray Gray* | 623 | 66.3 |
| | Conservative | Jethro Elsden | 317 | 33.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 306 | 32.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 940 | 47.95 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |

### Easton ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Easton ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Margaret Dewsbury* | 791 | 78.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Allan Bedford | 218 | 21.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 573 | 56.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1009 | 49.48 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Forncett ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Forncett ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bob McClenning | 664 | 55.2 |
| | Conservative | Barry Duffin | 539 | 44.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 125 | 10.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1203 | 56.18 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### Gillingham ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Gillingham ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Kay Billig | 613 | 58.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mandy Smith | 438 | 41.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 175 | 16.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1051 | 47.17 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Harleston ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Harleston ward (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Brian Riches | 775 | 27.4 |
| | Conservative | Jeremy Savage* | 666 | 23.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Fran Pitt-Pladdy | 589 | 20.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Kuzmic | 508 | 17.9 |
| | Labour | David Reekie | 293 | 10.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2831 | 42.23 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Hempnall ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Hempnall ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Michael Windrige* | 719 | 68.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Fiona McDonald Clarke | 329 | 31.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 390 | 37.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1048 | 52.00 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Hethersett ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Hethersett ward (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | David Bills* | 1092 | 32.0 |
| | Conservative | Leslie Dale* | 983 | 28.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jacky Sutton | 781 | 22.9 |
| | Labour | Laura Green | 555 | 16.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 202 | 5.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3411 | 46.35 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Hingham and Deopham ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Hingham and Deopham ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Yvonne Bendle | 729 | 62.6 |
| | Green | Peter Eldridge | 281 | 24.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lindsey Wright | 154 | 13.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 448 | 38.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1164 | 50.19 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Loddon ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Loddon ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Colin Gould* | 649 | 73.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Quarmby | 236 | 26.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 413 | 46.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 885 | 44.47 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Mulbarton ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Mulbarton ward (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Jon Herbert* | 1018 | 31.5 |
| | Conservative | Nigel Legg* | 1002 | 31.0 |
| | Green | Roy Walmsley | 441 | 13.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Shirley Hagger | 407 | 12.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Margaret Pitcher | 367 | 11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3235 | 46.59 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### New Costessey ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: New Costessey ward (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gerard Watt* | 636 | 22.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jan Hardinge | 633 | 22.1 |
| | Conservative | Oliver Taylor | 451 | 15.7 |
| | Labour | Cid Gibbs | 359 | 12.5 |
| | Conservative | Vivienne Weeks | 343 | 12.0 |
| | Green | Ian Boreham | 299 | 10.4 |
| | Green | David Seddon | 148 | 5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2869 | 39.29 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |

### Newton Flotman ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Newton Flotman ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Laura Webster | 536 | 55.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Eve Domeyer | 428 | 44.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 108 | 11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 964 | 47.93 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Northfields ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Northfields ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Joe Mooney* | 716 | 65.4 |
| | Labour | Douglas Underwood | 286 | 26.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pat Dore | 93 | 8.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 430 | 39.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1095 | 47.56 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Old Costessey ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Old Costessey ward (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tim East* | 1116 | 33.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vivienne Bell* | 1090 | 32.8 |
| | Conservative | Caroline Savage | 560 | 16.8 |
| | Conservative | Ronald Smith | 558 | 16.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3324 | 36.37 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |

### Poringland with the Framlinghams ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Poringland with the Framlinghams ward (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Overton* | 1244 | 37.7 |
| | Conservative | Lisa Neal* | 1110 | 33.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Oliver Best | 480 | 14.5 |
| | Labour | Nicola Fowler | 467 | 14.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3301 | 50.22 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Rockland ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Rockland ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Sue Thomson* | 693 | 57.7 |
| | Labour | Joanne Bissonnet | 250 | 20.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Daniel Scott | 166 | 13.8 |
| | Independent | Ingo Wagenknecht | 92 | 7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 443 | 36.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1201 | 52.10 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Roydon ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Roydon ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | David Goldson* | 508 | 66.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Howling | 260 | 33.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 248 | 32.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 768 | 42.26 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Rustens ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Rustens ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Colin Foulger | 436 | 53.2 |
| | Labour | Sandra Underwood | 185 | 22.6 |
| | Green | Jo Hardy | 110 | 13.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jerry Dore | 88 | 10.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 251 | 30.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 819 | 41.21 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Scole ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Scole ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Jenny Wilby* | 609 | 68.0 |
| | UKIP | Roy Philpot | 156 | 17.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Fookes | 131 | 14.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 453 | 50.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 896 | 47.50 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Stoke Holy Cross ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Stoke Holy Cross ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Trevor Lewis* | 635 | 50.3 |
| | Conservative | Stella Rice | 403 | 31.9 |
| | Green | Jane Hutchings | 151 | 12.0 |
| | UKIP | Jeremy Kent | 74 | 5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 232 | 18.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1263 | 55.13 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |

### Stratton ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Stratton ward (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Terry Blowfield | 962 | 33.5 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Pond | 709 | 24.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alistair Miller | 479 | 16.7 |
| | Labour | Janet King | 374 | 13.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linden Parker | 344 | 12.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2868 | 40.84 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Tasburgh ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Tasburgh ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Florence Ellis | 636 | 59.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philippa Grant | 428 | 40.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 208 | 19.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1064 | 55.91 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Thurlton ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Thurlton ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | William Kemp* | 540 | 50.7 |
| | Green | Derek West | 271 | 25.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Claire Jackson | 255 | 23.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 269 | 25.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1066 | 46.87 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Town ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Town ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Lee Hornby | 715 | 62.7 |
| | Labour | Michael Crouch | 277 | 24.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jane Walker | 148 | 13.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 438 | 38.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1140 | 46.43 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Wicklewood ward

South Norfolk District Council Elections 2011: Wicklewood ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Michael Edney | 665 | 59.6 |
| | Labour | Dominic Roskrow | 234 | 21.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Blathwayt | 149 | 13.4 |
| | Independent | Jessica Austin | 67 | 6.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 431 | 38.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1115 | 52.05 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |