Reading Borough Council is the council for the unitary authority of Reading in Berkshire, England. Until 1 April 1998 it was a non-metropolitan district. Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 48 councillors representing 16 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) being elected each time for a four-year term.
Council elections
+ Composition of the councilYearConservativeLabourLiberal DemocratsGreenIndependents& OthersCouncil controlafter electionLocal government reorganisation; council established (46 seats)197316161401976211411001979legislation.gov.uk - The Berkshire and Oxfordshire (Areas) Order 1977. Retrieved on 18 November 2015.The Berkshire and Oxfordshire (Areas) (Amendment) Order 197722161100New ward boundaries (45 seats)The Borough of Reading (Electoral Arrangements) Order 197919832613600198423175001986182250019871624500198815255001990132750019911229400199211294011994122850019958325001996435600199833660019993366002000336600200133660020023366002003435600New ward boundaries (46 seats)legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Reading (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.200463550020068326002007132580020081820800201017199102011162252120121226431201410312302015103123020161031230201812301302019103024020211029250New ward boundaries (48 seats)legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Reading (Electoral Changes) Order 2021.20226323702023532371202443238120265293110
Borough result maps
By-election results By-elections are listed on the pages of the last council-wide election prior to the by-election, with the exception of the 1977 by-election below which was due to a boundary change and increase in number of councillors rather than needing to fill a vacancy on the council.
By-election Date Incumbent party Winning partyWhitley11 December 1975 Christchurch31 March 1977 Thames21 April 1977 Thames22 September 1977 Minster1 December 1977 Thames24 January 1980 Christchurch7 May 1981 Redlands Abbey24 September 1981 Church6 December 1984 Battle25 July 1985 Peppard11 September 1986 Katesgrove14 July 1988 Battle17 November 1988 Abbey4 May 1989 Park6 May 1993 Battle5 May 1994 Kentwood28 July 1994 Redlands4 May 1995 Redlands2 May 1996 Abbey6 May 1999 Church15 June 2000 Redlands2 May 2002 Southcote4 May 2006 Thames Tilehurst16 November 2006 Church3 May 2007bgcolor=lightblue bgcolor=lightblue Southcote Park22 May 2014 Southcote24 July 2014 Southcote21 July 2016 Kentwood12 December 2019 Norcot3 August 2023 Thames by-election April 1977 On 1 April 1977 the borough was enlarged by the addition of parts of the parishes of Eye and Dunsden, Kidmore End and Mapledurham, all from South Oxfordshire. The number of councillors on Reading Borough Council was increased from 46 to 49 as a result. The two South Oxfordshire district councillors representing much of the transferred area automatically became Reading borough councillors without needing to be re-elected, representing a new ward of Caversham Park. These two were Geoff Lowe and Harold Stoddart, both Liberals (although Lowe later defected to the Conservatives in 1978). Reading's existing Thames and Caversham wards were also enlarged, and the increase in the size of Thames ward justified a fifth councillor being elected for that ward, for which a by-election was held on 21 April 1977, which was won by the Conservatives. After the by-election and two transfers, the balance of the council was 23 Conservatives, 13 Labour and 13 Liberals.
Notes
References
External links