Hartlepool council heading for coalition rule again after local elections

Voters went to the polls on Thursday, May 6, to decide 13 of the 36 seats on the local authority.

The Conservatives remain the largest party, achieving two gains to reach 15 seats, short of the 19 needed to secure overall control.

However it enables them to form a coalition with independent councillors, as has been the case since 2019.

Current council leader Cllr Shane Moore, who was re-elected in the Headland and Harbour ward, confirmed the local authority is set to again be led by a coalition between independents and Conservatives.

The Independent Union representative added he “would like” to continue as leader again for the coming year.

Conservative group chiefs also stated after the results were announced that the council “would still be a coalition” and they would “happily work with independent colleagues”.

At the count, the Conservative candidate for Seaton, Gordon Cranney, was re-elected just hours after it was revealed he pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by battery against a woman last month.

After the news broke, Hartlepool Conservatives confirmed Cllr Cranney had been suspended by the group.

First elected in 2021, he has since said he “needs time to reflect on whether or not to resign” from his position.

If he does resign, a by-election will be held to fill the vacant seat.

Opposition to the leading coalition will again be provided by the Labour group, who were victorious in seven of the 13 seats contested, ensuring they left the elections with 11 councillors, the same as they started the night with.

They gained a seat in Foggy Furze through Cllr Melanie Morley, previously held by independent coalition member Darren Price.

However Labour’s Jennifer Elliott lost her seat in Fens and Greatham to Conservative candidate Bob Buchan in another close-fought rematch of last year’s poll which triggered a High Court case.

Who takes up key positions on the council, including leader, deputy leader and ceremonial mayor, is to be formally confirmed at the local authority annual general meeting later this month.

The Conservatives, however, have issued a statement saying their councillors would boycott council meetings until Cllr Cranney resigns and urged other members to do likewise.