Overview
Mole Valley District Council is the local authority for the district of Mole Valley in Surrey, England. The council is responsible for local services such as planning, housing, waste collection, and leisure facilities. Elections are held to choose the council’s 41 councillors, who represent 22 wards within the district.
Electoral system
- Voting method: First‑past‑the‑post in single‑member and multi‑member wards.
- Election cycle: The council is elected by thirds. In three years out of every four, one third of the council seats are contested. The fourth year typically coincides with Surrey County Council elections, during which no district‑level elections are held.
- Ward structure: The district comprises 22 wards, each returning either one, two, or three councillors depending on its population size.
Recent election history
- 2023 election (held 4 May 2023): 13 of the 41 seats were contested. The Conservative Party retained overall control of the council, holding 24 seats after the election. The Liberal Democrats increased their representation to 10 seats, while the Green Party secured 2 seats and independents held 5 seats.
- 2022 election (held 5 May 2022): 13 seats were up for election. The Conservatives remained the largest party with 23 seats post‑election; the Liberal Democrats held 9 seats, the Green Party 2 seats, and independents 7 seats.
- 2021 election (held 6 May 2021): 13 seats were contested. The Conservatives held 24 seats, the Liberal Democrats 9, the Green Party 2, and independents 6.
Political control
Since its creation in 1974, the council has alternated between periods of Conservative dominance and periods of no overall control, with Liberal Democrats and independent councillors also playing significant roles in coalition arrangements.
Election administration
Elections are conducted under the supervision of the Electoral Services department of Mole Valley District Council, following the regulations set out in the Representation of the People Acts and overseen by the Electoral Commission. Voter registration, polling station arrangements, and the counting of votes adhere to standard UK local‑government electoral procedures.
References
- Mole Valley District Council, “Council minutes and election results” (official council website).
- Surrey County Council, “Local election results 2023 – Mole Valley”.
- Electoral Commission, “Local elections: England – 2023”.
Note: All information reflects data available up to the knowledge cutoff date of June 2024.
