Local election results: Labour win majority in Flintshire Council

Labour held onto their majority in Flintshire Council in Thursday’s election but are two seats short of having overall control.

The party secured 34 of the 70 seats.

The big story from Flintshire’s county council ballot was the return to local politics of a councillor banned for two and a half years for bullying and harassment.

North Wales local elections 2017: Flintshire constituency profile

Patrick Heesom stood without affiliation to any party in Mostyn ward and edged to victory by 23 votes, ousting Independent David Roney and defeating Labour rival Pamela Banks.

Mr Heesom, a former leader of the council’s Independent group, was barred from standing for office after being found guilty of 14 breaches of the councillors’ code of conduct in 2013.

His return to the chamber was the main talking point of a night that saw Labour retain its 34 seats, but still with no overall control.

Mold County Hall where the inquest was held
Mold County Hall

The other big scalp came with the loss of Conservative Hilary Isherwood, wife of Tory AM Mark Isherwood, who lost her Llanfynydd seat to Labour’s David Hughes.

Council leader Aaron Shotton and deputy Bernie Attridge (both Labour) took Connah’s Quay Central’s two vacancies, as Labour made a clean sweep of the town’s seven seats.

Meanwhile the Conservatives and Lib Dems lost a seat each to return six and five respectively and Plaid Cymru disappeared from the county’s political map entirely.

Counting two winners who listed no affiliations, it meant independent representation on the council was the only category to see an increase – from 22 to 25 councillors.

Gladys Healey’s victory in Hope for Labour was the closest of the night, beating Independent rival Huw Manning by just a single vote.

It also meant she joined husband David at County Hall, as he took Caergwrle for Labour.

Mrs Healey, who is of South African descent, said it wasn’t just a thumbs up for her party.

“I am mixed race – my grandfather was South African,” she said. “Not only did the people of Hope vote for Labour but they voted for me as an individual, so I am very proud of them to have done that.

“I would like to thank the people of Hope because I am very happy. The voters have spoken and I will do my best as I promised them.”

Thirteen of the local authority’s 70 seats were returned uncontested.

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