No overall control

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In the context of local authorities in the United Kingdom, no overall control (abbreviated to NOC; Welsh: dim rheolaeth gyffredinol)[1] is a situation in which no single political group achieves a majority of seats, analogous 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 election, 14 resulted in no overall control. The term can still be used for several other countries, such as for two local councils of Malta and the General Assembly of Budapest in Hungary.

Administration in NOC councils[edit]

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 the result of No-overall Control, the largest party may attempt to govern as a minority administration, such as the Conservatives in Dudley and Thurrock or Labour in Stockport and Brighton and Hove. 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 exists in Basildon. However, following the 2017 Aberdeen City Council election, all nine Labour councillors were expelled from the party for entering into a coalition with the Conservatives. Conversely, the two parties formed a coalition administration in Worcester following the 2019 elections.

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. However, 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.[2] Following the 2023 Northern Ireland local elections, all eleven councils were under no overall control.

Councils in no overall control[edit]

County councils[edit]

Council Seats Largest party Seats Control[3] Seats
Cambridgeshire 61 Conservative 26 Liberal Democrats/Labour/St Neots Independent/Independent coalition 34
East Sussex 50 Conservative 25 Conservative minority 25
Gloucestershire 53 Conservative 26 Conservative minority 26
Oxfordshire 63 Conservative 21 Negotiations ongoing[a]
Liberal Democrats

Metropolitan boroughs[edit]

Council Seats Largest party Seats Control[5] Seats
Bolton 60 Labour 26 Labour minority 26
Sheffield 84 Labour 39 Labour/Liberal Democrats/Green coalition 82
Stockport 63 Liberal Democrats 29 Liberal Democrats minority 29
Wirral 66 Labour 30 Labour minority 30

Unitary authorities[edit]

Council Seats Largest party Seats Control[6] Seats
Bedford 46 Labour 14[b] Conservative mayor 13[c]
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 76 Liberal Democrats 28 Liberal Democrats/Christchurch Independents/Poole People/Independent coalition 44
Bristol 70 Green 25 Labour mayor 24
Central Bedfordshire 63 Independent 28 Independent minority 28
Cheshire East 82 Conservative 33 Labour/Independent coalition 45[7]
Darlington 50 Labour 24 Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition 27
Derby 51 Labour 23 Labour minority 23
Durham 126 Labour 55 Conservative/Liberal Democrats/Derwentside Independents/North East/Green/Independent coalition 67
East Riding of Yorkshire 67 Conservative 29 Conservative minority 29
Hartlepool 36 Labour 18 Conservative/Independent Union/Independent coalition 18
Herefordshire 53 Conservative 21 Conservative minority 21
Isle of Wight 39 Conservative 16 Independent/Green/Island Independent Network/Our Island coalition 17
Milton Keynes 57 Labour 27 Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition 42
North Somerset 50 Conservative 15[d] Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green/Portishead Independents/Independent coalition 35
Northumberland 67 Conservative 33 Conservative minority 33
Peterborough 60 Conservative 23 Conservative minority 23
Portsmouth 42 Liberal Democrats 18 Liberal Democrats minority 18
Redcar and Cleveland 59 Labour 23 Labour minority 23
Rutland 27 Liberal Democrats 11 Liberal Democrats/Green coalition 12
Slough 42 Conservative 21 Conservative/Liberal Democrats coalition 24
South Gloucestershire 61 Conservative 23 Liberal Democrats/Labour Party coalition 37
Southend-on-Sea 51 Conservative 22 Conservative minority 22
Stockton-on-Tees 56 Conservative 25 Labour minority 22
Wokingham 54 Liberal Democrats 26 Liberal Democrats minority 26

London boroughs[edit]

Council Seats Largest party Seats Control[8] Seats
Croydon 71 Conservative 34 Conservative mayor 34
Labour 34
Havering 55 Havering Residents Association 22 Havering Residents Association/Labour coalition 31

Welsh principal areas[edit]

Council Seats Largest party Seats Control[9] Seats
Conwy 55 Independent 23 Independent/Labour/Plaid Cymru coalition[e] 38
Denbighshire 48 Labour 17 Labour/Plaid Cymru coalition 25
Flintshire 67 Labour 31 Labour minority 31
Merthyr Tydfil 30 Independent 15 Independent minority 15
Monmouthshire 46 Labour 22 Labour minority 22
Neath Port Talbot 60 Labour 27 Independent/Plaid Cymru coalition[f] 30
Pembrokeshire 60 Independent 36 Independent/Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition 29
Powys 68 Independent 21 Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition 30
Vale of Glamorgan 54 Labour 25 Labour/Llantwit First Independents/Independent coalition 30
Wrexham 56 Independent 23 Independent/Conservative/Liberal Democrats coalition 31

District councils[edit]

Council Seats Largest party Seats Control[11] Seats
Arun 54 Conservative 20 Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition 28
Ashford 47 Conservative 19 Conservative minority 19
Babergh 32 Green 10 Green/Liberal Democrats/Independent coalition 26
Basingstoke and Deane 54 Conservative 23 Basingstoke and Deane Independents/Liberal Democrats/Green/Independent coalition 21
Brentwood 37 Conservative 18 Liberal Democrats/Labour coalition 19
Broadland 47 Conservative 21 Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition 26
Bromsgrove 31 Conservative 11 Conservative/Independent coalition 18
Burnley 45 Labour 21 Labour minority 21
Cannock Chase 41 Conservative 18 Labour/Green/Liberal Democrats coalition 24
Canterbury 39 Labour 18 Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition 27
Charnwood 52 Labour 20 Labour minority 20
Cherwell 48 Conservative 20 Conservative minority 20
Colchester 51 Conservative 19 Liberal Democrats minority 15
Derbyshire Dales 34 Liberal Democrats 12 Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition 22
East Devon 60 Liberal Democrats 18 Liberal Democrats/Green/Independent coalition 29
East Hampshire 43 Conservative 19 Conservative/Whitehill and Bordon Community Party coalition 25
East Hertfordshire 50 Green 19 Green/Liberal Democrats coalition 29
East Lindsey 55 Conservative 26 Conservative minority 26
East Suffolk 55 Green 17 Green/Liberal Democrats/Independent coalition 29
Elmbridge 48 Liberal Democrats 19 Liberal Democrats/Neighborhood association coalition[g] 36
Folkestone and Hythe 30 Green 11 Green/Liberal Democrats coalition 13
Forest of Dean 38 Green 15 Green minority 15
Great Yarmouth 39 Conservative 19 Conservative minority 19
Harborough District Council 34 Conservative 15 Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition 19
Hart 33 Conservative 11 Liberal Democrats/CCH coalition 21
Liberal Democrats 11
Hastings 32 Labour 15 Labour minority 19
Hertsmere 39 Conservative 16 Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition 23
Huntingdonshire 52 Conservative 21 Liberal Democrats/Labour/St Neots Independent Group/Green/Independent coalition 31
Hyndburn 35 Conservative 16 Conservative minority 16
Liberal Democrats 16
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 55 Conservative 21 Independent/Liberal Democrats/Green coalition 23
Lancaster 61 Labour 24 Labour/Liberal Democrats/Green coalition 52
Lewes 41 Green 17 Green/Labour coalition 26
Lichfield 47 Conservative 23 Conservative minority 23
Maidstone 55 Conservative 25 Conservative minority 25
Maldon 31 Conservative 9 Maldon District Independent Group minority[12] 6
Malvern Hills 31 Independent 11 Independent/Green coalition 18
Melton 28 Conservative 11 Independent/Labour coalition 15
Mid Sussex 48 Liberal Democrats 20 Liberal Democrats/Independent coalition 25
Newark and Sherwood 39 Conservative 13 Labour minority 11
North Hertfordshire 49 Labour 19 Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition 34
North Warwickshire 35 Conservative 17 Conservative minority 17
North West Leicestershire 38 Labour 17 Conservative/Liberal Democrats/Independent coalition 19[13]
Pendle 33 Conservative 14 Labour/Liberal Democrats coalition 18
Ribble Valley 40 Conservative 18 Conservative minority 18
Rochford 39 Conservative 14 Liberal Democrats/Rochford District Residents/Green/Independent coalition 25
Rother 38 Conservative 10 Rother Association of Independent Councillors/Labour/Liberal Democrats/Green coalition 26
Rugby 42 Conservative 21 Conservative minority 21
Runnymede 41 Conservative 20 Conservative minority 20
South Kesteven 56 Conservative 24 Independent/Liberal Democrats/Green/Labour coalition 29
South Norfolk 46 Conservative 23 Conservative minority 23
Spelthorne 39 Conservative 12 Liberal Democrats/Independent coalition 17
Stafford 40 Conservative 14 Labour/Stafford Borough Independents/Green coalition 25
Staffordshire Moorlands 56 Labour 24 Labour minority 24
Stroud 51 Conservative 17 Green/Liberal Democrats/Independent coalition 25
Swale 47 Labour 15 Labour/Swale Independents/Green coalition 30
Tamworth 30 Conservative 14 Conservative minority 14
Tandridge 42 Liberal Democrats 11 Oxted and Limpsfield Residents Group/Independent coalition 18
Tendring 48 Conservative 19 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
Tunbridge Wells 48 Liberal Democrats 17 Liberal Democrats/Tunbridge Wells Alliance/Labour coalition 36
Warwick 44 Green 14 Green/Labour coalition 25
Waverley 50 Liberal Democrats 22 Liberal Democrats/Farnham Residents Party/Labour/Green coalition 38
Wealden 45 Liberal Democrats 13 Liberal Democrats/Green coalition 24
Welwyn Hatfield 48 Conservative 22 Liberal Democrats/Labour coalition 26
West Devon 31 Conservative 11 Independent/Green/Liberal Democrats/Labour coalition 20
West Lindsey 36 Liberal Democrats 18 Liberal Democrats minority 18
West Oxfordshire 49 Liberal Democrats 18 Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition 31
West Suffolk 64 Conservative 26 Labour/Liberal Democrats/Green/Independent coalition 29
Worcester 35 Labour 13 Labour/Green coalition 23

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Labour withdrew from the previous Liberal Democrats/Labour/Green coalition in September 2023.[4]
  2. ^ Including the mayor, the Conservatives match this number.
  3. ^ 14 including mayor.
  4. ^ Includes 2 independents who sit with the Conservative Party and Independents Group on the council.
  5. ^ Conwy's sole Green councillor is in a group with Plaid Cymru.[10]
  6. ^ Liberal Democrats and Green confidence and supply.
  7. ^ Molesey Residents' Association, Thames Ditton & Weston Green Residents' Association, Esher Residents' Association, Hinchley Wood Residents' Association, The Walton Society, Weybridge & St. George's Independents.
  1. ^ "OGWR". BBC News. May 8, 2007.
  2. ^ "Scottish Council Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  3. ^ "County Councils". Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Labour Party quits coalition running Oxfordshire County Council". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Metropolitan Boroughs". Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Unitary Authorities". Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Cheshire East Council to be run by coalition after deal is struck". BBC News. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  8. ^ "London Boroughs". Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Welsh Councils". Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  10. ^ "The Political Make-up of the Council". Conwy County Borough Council. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  11. ^ "District Councils". Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  12. ^ Meyler, Piers (14 June 2023). "Councillor who quit after suffering homophobic abuse is now leader of council". Maldon and Burnham Standard. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  13. ^ "New alliance administration for North West Leicestershire District Council". North West Leicestershire District Council. Retrieved 5 July 2023.

External links[edit]

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