Solihull Council election, 2002
Encyclopedia
The 2002 Solihull Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Solihull
Metropolitan Borough
Council in the West Midlands
, England
.
One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party
stayed in overall control of the council.
After the election, the composition of the council was
and 8 for the Liberal Democrats, with 17 seats being contested in the election. The Conservatives had held a majority on the council since gaining 4 seats at the 2000 election
.
Issues in the election included a proposed development by Asda
in Shirley
, the fate of the Accident and Emergency department at Solihull hospital and new housing developments. Labour also wanted to address a north-south divide in the council area and opposed any transfer of council housing from council control.
s returned to the council, the former Labour leader of the council Michael Corser in Chelmsley Wood
and Liberal Democrat June Gandy in Shirley East.
Metropolitan Borough of Solihull
The Metropolitan Borough of Solihull is a metropolitan borough of the West Midlands, in west-central England. It is named after its largest town, Solihull, from which Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is based. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary...
Metropolitan Borough
Metropolitan borough
A metropolitan borough is a type of local government district in England, and is a subdivision of a metropolitan county. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, metropolitan boroughs are defined in English law as metropolitan districts, however all of them have been granted or regranted...
Council in the West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
stayed in overall control of the council.
After the election, the composition of the council was
- ConservativeConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
29 - LabourLabour Party (UK)The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
13 - Liberal Democrat 9
Campaign
Before the election the Conservatives held 29 seats, compared to 14 for LabourLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and 8 for the Liberal Democrats, with 17 seats being contested in the election. The Conservatives had held a majority on the council since gaining 4 seats at the 2000 election
Solihull Council election, 2000
The 2000 Solihull Council election took place on 4 May 2000 to elect members of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands, England....
.
Issues in the election included a proposed development by Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
in Shirley
Shirley, West Midlands
Shirley is a district of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, in the county of West Midlands, England. It is a residential and shopping neighbourhood, and a suburb of Solihull.-History:...
, the fate of the Accident and Emergency department at Solihull hospital and new housing developments. Labour also wanted to address a north-south divide in the council area and opposed any transfer of council housing from council control.
Election result
The results saw the Conservatives stay in control of the council with 29 of the 51 seats after only 2 seats changed parties. A couple of former councillorCouncillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
s returned to the council, the former Labour leader of the council Michael Corser in Chelmsley Wood
Chelmsley Wood
Chelmsley Wood is a neighbourhood, civil parish and large housing estate in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, England, with a population of 13,010. It is located near Birmingham International Airport and the National Exhibition Centre. It lies adjacent to Birmingham...
and Liberal Democrat June Gandy in Shirley East.