Rutland County Council election count underway

The first results in the Rutland County Council election have been declared.

Following the vote yesterday, counting is now underway at Rutland County Council’s offices. It follows a shocking night in South Kesteven where no party now has an overall majority.

The first ward to be declared was Exton where Tory candidate Kilran Heckles has taken the seat with 255 votes to Independent candidate June Fox’s 209 votes.

In Oakham North West ward, Labour’s Steve McRobb and Murdo Ross were elected.

Conservative Nick Begy has retained his Greetham ward seat.

In Langham, Oliver Hemsley retained his seat as an Independent.

In the Oakham South ward, it was a clean sweep for the Liberal Democrats with Paul Browne, Diane Ellison and Ray Payne all elected.

Elected in the Normanton ward were Gale Waller (Lib Dem) and Tim Smith (Lib Dem).

In the Barleythorpe ward, Tracy Carr (Ind) received the biggest majority and was elected alongside Hans Zollinger-Ball (Green).

There was success for the Tories in the Ketton ward with Mathew Farina (Con) elected and Karen Payne (Con) retaining her seat.

Former leader Lucy Stephenson (Con) retained her seat but Stephen Lambert and Christine Wise, both Lib Dem and elected alongside her, received a bigger share of the vote.

In the Ryhall and Casterton ward, David Wilby (Con) retained his seat, while Kevin Corby (Ind) took the remaining seat.

Abigail Maccartney received the largest share of the votes for the Cottesmore ward and was elected alongside Samantha Harvey (Ind).

Hannah Edwards and Mark Chatfield, both Liberal Democrats, took the seats for the Oakham North East ward.

In the Braunston and Martinsthorpe ward, long-standing councillor Edward Baines (Con) lost his seat. Andrew Johnson (LibDem) and Giles Clifton (Con) were elected.