Live Calderdale election results: Labour retains council control as Green candidate takes seat from Tories

It shouldn’t be too long before we get the first results in. Local Democracy Reporter John Greenwood has said it will be around 11 to 11.30am

Some familiar faces have decided to step down after serving their respective wards.

Heading the list is Coun Bob Metcalfe (Lab, Town), who, with just a couple of breaks, has served the borough for almost five decades.

Coun Bryan Smith (Lab, Ovenden) announced he was standing down for reasons of health after 22 years representing the ward.

Stepping down in Todmorden ward, Coun Susan Press (Lab) had represented the ward for eight years, but had served as a parish councillor at Hebden Royd previously and on leaving Calderdale was going on to serve on Todmorden Town Council.

Independent councillor Coun Colin Raistrick has also stepped down after 16 years or so representing Hipperholme and Lightcliffe ward.

Overall political control has often been a luxury in Calderdale Council’s near 50-year history but Labour achieved this in 2019 and again held a five-seat majority over other parties in 2021.

Coun Tim Swift (Lab, Town) and his party, who have 28 seats, are defending 11 seats.

The bottom line in 2022 is Labour needs to hold at least nine of the 11 seats it is defending, or make compensatory gains elsewhere, to retain overall control – 26 seats are needed for an overall majority, with 18 seats in 17 wards being contested this year.

The Conservatives, led by Coun Steven Leigh, who is defending his Ryburn ward seat this time out, have 16 seats and are defending five of them while the Liberal Democrats, led by Coun James Baker, hold five and are defending Warley ward this year.

For many years Calderdale Council has held its election counts at North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax.

But with the centre being demolished to make way for a multi-million pound new leisure centre and swimming pool on the same site, using the venue this year was not an option.

Instead, the council will be holding the election count in a giant marquee

Good morning and welcome to our live blog.

We will be following all the action from the Calderdale Council local election count that is being held in a special giant marquee on the council’s Mulcture Hall Road site.

From results, pictures and reaction we will keep you up-to-date as all the results come in.