 | 'A by-election in the North Carrick and Maybole East ward was won by the independent candidate Brian Connolly by a single vote after three recounts.' BBC Scotland News, 3 rd February 2006. |  |
| 'A by-election in the North Carrick and Maybole East ward was won by the independent candidate Brian Connolly by a single vote after three recounts.' BBC Scotland News, 3 rd February 2006. | |
A by-election was held in North Carrick & Maybole East on the 2 nd February 2006 following the resignation of Labour Cllr Andrew Hill on the 28 th November 2005.
North Carrick & Maybole East is in the Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock Westminster parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Sandra Osborne MP) and in the Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Cathy Jamieson MSP).
Independent gain from Labour. Swing: 25.7 % Labour to Independent.
| 2 nd February 2006 By election Turnout 51.0 % (+ 3.8 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Connolly |  |
Independent | 408 | 27.7 % | (+ 27.7 %) |
| Anne Galbraith |  |
Conservative | 407 | 27.6 % | - 0.4 % |
| Sandra Goldie |  |
Labour | 342 | 23.2 % | - 23.7 % |
| William McCubbin |  |
Scottish National Party | 316 | 21.5 % | + 1.0 % |
| Independent gain from Labour | |
Independent majority | 1 | 0.1 % | |
| 1 st May 2003 Turnout 47.2 % (- 13.3 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr Andrew Hill | |
Labour | 648 | 46.9 % | - 2.0 % |
| Christopher McCulloch | |
Conservative | 386 | 28.0 % | + 4.1 % |
| Roderick Cochran | |
Scottish National Party | 283 | 20.5 % | - 6.7 % |
| Luan Johnston |  |
Scotish Socilaist Party | 64 | 4.6 % | (+ 4.6 %) |
| Labour hold | |
Labour majority | 262 | 18.9 % | + 2.8 % |
| 6 th May 1999 Turnout 60.5 % ( %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr Andrew Hill | |
Labour | 885 | 48.9 % | - 22.8 % |
| Alexander MacKenzie | |
Scottish National Party | 292 | 27.2 % | - 1.1 % |
| Carol Hayes | |
Conservative | 432 | 23.9 % | (+ 23.9 %) |
| Labour win | |
Labour majority | 393 | 21.7 % | - 21.7 % |
| 6 th April 1995 Turnout 51.6 % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Hill | |
Labour | 1,325 | 71.7 % | |
| Roger Hollins | |
Scottish National Party | 523 | 28.3 % | |
| Labour win | |
Labour majority | 803 | 43.4 % | |
Councillor Andy Hill, Leader of South Ayrshire Council for more than five years, has resigned. As well as giving up the Leadership - which he has held since June 22, 2000 - Councillor Hill has also quit as the Councillor for the electoral ward of North Carrick and Maybole East. Councillor Hill's decision to resign was contained in a letter received by the Council's Chief Executive, Tom Cairns, which stated that it was 'with immediate effect.' It was announced last night that Councillor David Duncan, Depute Leader of the Council, has taken over as Acting Leader. Arrangements for the holding of a by-election will be a matter to be considered by the Chief Executive, as Returning Officer, during the next few days.
Said Councillor Duncan: 'The sudden announcement by Councillor Hill of his resignation has come as a surprise to us, however having had the opportunity to personally discuss the matter with him, I fully understand and wish him well.' Concern for his health has been one of the main reasons behind Councillor Hill's decision. During the summer Councillor Hill underwent surgery on a knee, and he is known to have been under medication for some time for a medical condition.
Said Councillor Hill: 'Several individual factors of varying degrees of importance have combined to influence and indeed to persuade me to take the decision which I have taken. 'My own health, the pressure that the job of Leader entails and the consequent stress on my family are all matters which have been in my thoughts when coming to my decision.
'The major responsibilities which I have carried as Leader of the Council, the hours of duty, and the considerable travelling associated with my representing the Council on external organisations and bodies, have combined to put a tremendous pressure on my health.' Councillor Hill recalled: 'I served as Depute Leader of the Council for one year, and when Councillor John Baillie stood down as Leader for reasons of pressure of business, I was invited to step in.
'I have relished the responsibility of Leader for the past five years since then, and have given total commitment to fulfilling the important role which I have carried out on behalf of the people of South Ayrshire. 'Given that all Councils in Scotland, including South Ayrshire, have had to work within the financial limitations imposed by the Scottish Parliament, and that South Ayrshire has been required to make substantial savings of literally millions of pounds each year, I am stepping down in the knowledge that the Council, under my Leadership has delivered what was required as best as it possibly could.'
Continued Councillor Hill: 'Whether it be the Council Tax level, or Council House rents, or the vast range of services the Council provides for the benefit of the people of South Ayrshire, I am aware of the prudent management which has been undertaken - and the true value for money which has been obtained for the benefit of the residents of South Ayrshire.
'I oversaw an extremely important phase of the Council's life, with a range of service reviews and management restructuring being concluded, not only to make financial savings, but to ensure the Council is geared up for the needs of the future. 'I am proud to have played the role which I have done in bringing into place the planning and preparations for the implementation of a streamlined Council service for the future of the people of South Ayrshire.'
Born and brought up in Glasgow, Councillor Hill has spent most of his life living in Maybole, serving for the first three years of South Ayrshire Council's existence as Councillor for the Maybole electoral ward. In May, 1999, when the number of wards was increased, and the Maybole ward split, Councillor Hill was successfully elected to the then newly created North Carrick and Maybole East ward, and was successful returned as member for the same ward at the election on May 1, 2003.
Prior to South Ayrshire Council coming into being, Councillor Hill served on Strathclyde Regional Council, as Councillor for the Carrick Electoral Division. He was Vice Chair of the Regional Council's Divisional Development Committee for the Ayr Division, and also served on the Regional Council's General Purposes Committee and Social Work Committee.
A total of four candidates have been nominated for a by-election taking place on 2 February 2006 to fill a vacant seat on South Ayrshire Council in Electoral Ward No 27 - North Carrick and Maybole East. The poll will be open from 8.00 am to 9.00 pm that day.
The vacancy has occurred following the resignation of Councillor Andy Hill, who was elected to the Maybole ward in 1995, and who, since May, 1999, when the number of wards was increased, and the Maybole ward split, had represented the then newly created North Carrick and Maybole East ward.
The candidates nominated for the by-election are:
Brian Connolly, Independent
Ann Galbraith, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Candidate
Sandra Goldie, The Scottish Labour Party Candidate
William McCubbin, Scottish National Party (SNP)
The ward covers all of Maybole east of the Glasgow/Stranraer railway line and the villages of Kirkmichael and Straiton. Four polling places will be used - Cairn Primary School and St Cuthbert's Church Hall in Maybole, McCosh Hall, Kirkmichael and the McCandlish Hall, Straiton.
Any suitably qualified elector who is not able to attend the appropriate polling station to cast a vote can apply to vote by post. Applications have to be received by Wednesday 25 January by the Electoral Registration Officer, Ayrshire Valuation Joint Board, 9 Wellington Square, Ayr KA7 1HL (01292) 612515). A ballot paper will then be posted out with a pre-paid return envelope to enable a completed voting form to be returned.
The counting of all votes will take place in Maybole Town Hall, immediately following the close of poll with the result expected by 10.15 pm.
At the May, 2003, South Ayrshire Council Election, Andy Hill, Scottish Labour Party candidate was returned with a majority of 262.
An independent candidate last night beat off challenges from both Conservative and Labour to win a by-election in Scotland's only Tory-controlled council by a single vote.
Brian Connolly triumphed after three recounts, in a victory which could ensure the Conservatives retain power in South Ayrshire until the next elections in 2007.
In a night of political drama at the count in Maybole town hall, Mr Connolly, a local trader, edged out the Tory candidate, Ann Galbraith, by 408 votes to 407, and left Labour's Sandra Goldie trailing in third place, 66 votes behind.
The ward, North Carrick and Maybole East, was previously held by Labour, but Andy Hill, Labour's council leader, resigned in November to let the Tories use their temporary majority to oust Labour from key posts and form control of the administration. Labour's failure to keep the seat, and its slump to third, will be seen as a humiliating blow, and there was little comfort either for the SNP, whose candidate, William McCubbin, came a distant fourth.
Yesterday's turnout was 51%, an unusually high figure for a local by-election. The result means the political make-up of South Ayrshire is: Conservative 15, Labour 14, Independent 1. Mr Connolly, 46, a father of three who runs three businesses in Maybole and has lived there all his life, is an engineering graduate from Strathclyde University who spent 19 years in the RAF.
He said last night: "My objective was to give the locals a choice of a local representative, because two of the other three candidates were not from Maybole. I'll vote for what's best for my ward and for South Ayrshire on each occasion. I won't guarantee allegiance to any party."
South Ayrshire is the only council to be controlled by Conservatives since the Tories reorganised local government in the 1990s. It faces a £20m shortfall, with a delay in setting its council tax until March 9.
In the 2003 elections, the split was 15-15 between Labour and Tory and the former gained control by the cut of a pack of cards. Now, Labour has to wait six months before it can hope to regain control - and only if it persuades Mr Connolly to side with it.
The Conservatives have retained control of their only Scottish local authority after a closely fought by-election.
The Tories took control of South Ayrshire Council in November when the leader of the Labour group resigned.
A by-election in the North Carrick and Maybole East ward was won by the independent candidate Brian Connolly by a single vote after three recounts.
The Tories, who have 15 councillors to Labour's 14, came second with Labour third and the SNP fourth.
The Conservatives had won the posts of council leader and deputy leader and control of all but one of the committees in December.
They then moved to consolidate their hold by unseating provost Gordon Mackenzie and his deputy George Watson.
This gives the Conservatives a casting vote at council meetings.
The minority Labour group had sought a court order to prevent the council changing its standing orders to dump the provost.
South Ayrshire is the only local authority in Scotland under Tory control although they have partial control in Aberdeen and the Borders.
INDEPENDENT candidate Brian Connolly was elected to South Ayrshire Council by a single vote after a series of tense recounts in the Maybole by-election. One vote separated newly elected Councillor Connolly from Conservative candidate Ann Galbraith after the fourth time of counting in Maybole Town Hall on Thursday night. After the initial count then three recounts Councillor Connolly remained ahead of Ann Galbraith for the Tories with 408 votes to 407.
After the result was formally announced Councillor for North Carrick and Maybole East Brian Connolly said: "I am absolutely delighted to be chosen to represent this ward and I will represent the people to the best of my abilities." Councillor Connolly went on to tell the Gazette: "It is a tremendous honour to be selected by the people of Maybole and a real thrill in such a close contest.
"Considering the size of the party machines that backed the other candidates it is just incredible." Mr Connolly said he would not be swayed by party loyalty but would do what was best for the people of Maybole and of South Ayrshire.
"I will do what I can for the good of the ward," he said. Tory candidate Ann Galbraith said it had been a "great, clean campaign and a remarkable result". She said she was delighted with the showing for her party adding: "I look forward to trying again next year." The Tories retain their majority at South Ayrshire Council with 15 councillors to Labour's 14, now with one Independent. Labour candidate Sandra Goldie was also looking to the future. She said: "It is a disappointment for us but it is only temporary disappointment and we will come back for the next election."
SNP candidate Bill McCubbin thanked people for the support he had received and also paid tribute to former Councillor Andy Hill. He issued a note of caution to the Council saying that the issue of accident and emergency services had been raised most often by people during the campaign.
He said: "The people are against the closure of Ayr Hospital's A&E unit and I would advise that the Scottish Executive are made aware of this." The by-election was held to fill a vacancy on South Ayrshire Council which followed the resignation of Councillor Andy Hill, who was elected to the Maybole ward in 1995. The by-election result means that the political composition of South Ayrshire Council is now: Conservative members 15, Labour members 14, Independent 1.
Brian Connolly, Independent, has been returned as the successful candidate for Electoral Ward 27 (North Carrick and Maybole East) in a by-election which took place to fill a vacant seat on South Ayrshire Council.
A total of four candidates took part in the by-election:
Brian Connolly, Independent.
Ann Galbraith, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
Sandra Goldie, Scottish Labour Party.
William McCubbin, Scottish National Party.
The by-election was held to fill a vacancy on South Ayrshire Council which followed the resignation of Councillor Andy Hill, who was elected to the Maybole ward in 1995, and who, since May, 1999, when the number of wards was increased, and the Maybole ward split, had represented the then newly created North Carrick and Maybole East ward.
At the May, 2003, South Ayrshire Council Election, Andy Hill, as the Scottish Labour Party candidate had been returned with a majority of 262.
The ward covers all of Maybole east of the Glasgow/Stranraer railway line and the villages of Kirkmichael and Straiton. Polling took place at Cairn Primary School and St CuthbertÕs Church Hall in Maybole, McCosh Hall, Kirkmichael and the McCandlish Hall, Straiton.
The counting of votes took place in Maybole Town Hall.
The by-election result means that the political composition of South Ayrshire Council is now: Conservative members 15, Labour members 14, Independent 1.
SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL
BY-ELECTION RESULT: Electoral Ward No 27 - North Carrick and Maybole East
FEBRUARY 2nd, 2006
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