Conservative Party re-takes Spalding St Paul’s ward seat with Glynis Scalese winning the seat after the drawing of lots to decide tied race

A new councillor has been elected to represent a Spalding community – after a dramatic tied election.

Glynis Scalese (Con) won the vote in the St Paul’s ward South Holland District Council byelection – but only after the drawing of lots.

Both Coun Scalese and South Holland Independents candidate Vanessa Browning were tied on 155 votes each. This resulted in ballot papers for each candidate placed in envelopes and then put in a box before one was drawn out by Returning Officer Christine Marshall.

The election which was called after Bailey Boulding (South Holland Independents) had resigned in September.

The full result was as follows:

Vanessa Browning - South Holland Independents –155

Aidan James Forman - Labour Party – 108

Glynis Pearl Scalese - Conservative Party – 155

Stephen Peter Timewell - True Independent – 132

Julian Ashley Wheeler (no party specified) – 73

The turn-out was 17.53%. This was slightly down on the 19% turn-out recorded for the ward during the last election in May.

In the run-up to election, the Conservative Party had 19 seats of the 37 available and formed the ruling group, but last night’s victory takes them to 20 seats.

Coun Scalese had held the seat before May’s election.