By-election victory gives Independents control of Ripon City Council

This article is free to read. We publish about 100 articles a week all exclusively focused on local news, including items about community-based organisations and charities in Ripon. Please support independent local journalism by subscribing here. It costs as little as 14p a day.

The balance of power on Ripon City Council swung to the Independents last night, following the by-election victory of Sherrie Hunt.

The independent candidate for the Ure Bank ward polled 500 votes (46%).

Cllr Hunt received 104 more votes than Liberal Democrat Tom Cavell-Taylor, who received 396 votes (37%).

Reform UK, which was fielding its first candidate in a city council election, saw Paula Pearse trail in last with 167 votes (16%). 

There was a 33% turnout.

Cllr Hunt's election success will see her sitting alongside six fellow Independents - Cllr Gary Camplejohn, Cllr Jackie Criozier, Cllr Stuart Flatley, Cllr Sid Hawke, Cllr Peter Horton and Cllr Andrew Williams. 

Cllr Hunt will take her seat in the council chamber for Monday’s extraordinary council meeting called by Ripon mayor and chair of the council, Cllr Barbara Brodigan.

Three days after the meeting, Lib Dem Cllr Brodigan faces a confidence vote on Thursday (November 27). It will take place after a parish poll was triggered by 13 registered Ripon electors at a parish meeting in Holy Trinity Church on November 3.

Cllr Chris Hardisty aligns with Lib Dems

Earlier this week, Cllr Chris Hardisty switched from being a member of the non-aligned group of councillors to Liberal Democrat – a move that sees him and Cllr Brodigan now wearing the same yellow ribbon.

They are both expeceted to attend Monday evening's latest extraordinary meeting at Ripon Town Hall, which starts at 6pm.

On the agenda is the following item, which is due to be discussed by councillors in private session.

‘To consider advice received from the solicitor team at the National Association of Local Councils’

Press and members of the public will have to leave the council chamber for this item, which is expected to discuss the fate of Cllr Sid Hawke, whose claims of fraud by Cllr Brodigan were dismissed by North Yorkshire Police.