The local election count took place today at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre.

Four years ago, the count occurred in the centre gym. The centre’s larger indoor tennis area was used successfully at the County Council election two years ago and again today.

At one end was the count for the South Oxfordshire District Council and parish councils in South Oxfordshire.

At the other end was the count for the Vale of Horse District Council and parishes.

After the count, the number of councillors on Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council remains unchanged, with 18 Lib-Dems and 1 Green.

The Conservative Party lost all 6 of their councillors on the district council, and the Lib-Dems and Green Party gained 3 each. There are now 34 Lib-Dems and 4 Greens.

Congratulations to all the winning candidates, and commiserations to those that lost.

These elections decide Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council and the Vale of White Horse District Council. Four years ago, the Lib-Dems won 18 town council seats, and the Greens 1. On the Vale, it was Liberal Democrats – 31, Conservative – 6, Green – 1.

They’ll be counting the votes on Friday, 5 May 2023. You can follow the results via Twitter – @valevotes.

The Abbey Cinema, in the Guildhall, has the King’s Coronation on the large screen for anyone who books.

There will also be voting at the Guildhall tomorrow for town and district local councillors.

One issue on the eve of local elections is the future of the Abbey Cinema. There are emails between the Abbey Cinema and the Chair of the Town Council’s Community Committee, about the lease negotiations, which, if not completed by June, could see the cinema closing.

Both sides want the cinema to stay open but are waiting for the other to respond.

The Chair of the Town Council’s Community Committee said, ‘My understanding is that having agreed to the Heads of Terms informally, the Town Council has been waiting for the Abbey Cinema team to sign them.‘

The Cinema’s property consultant has replied, ‘The Heads of Terms are not agreed.  On the 17^th February 2023 I responded to the Council’s consultant to various points raised by the Town Council on the draft Heads of Terms. I have yet to receive a response to that email. ‘

P.S. ‘A Head of Terms’ refers to an agreement on the key issues of a negotiation.

I live in the Abbey Ward and so far have had a visit from one candidate, Cheryl Briggs, the Green Candidate. Looking at the list of candidates for the Abbey Ward, no Conservatives are contesting the two seats. Normally Lib-Dems and Conservatives would contest every seat.

Even stranger is that in Northcourt Ward, the two Lib-Dem candidates will get in without a vote. Nobody else has stood.

For the 19 town council seats, there are:
18 Lib-Dems
7 Conservatives
6 Labour
2 Greens
1 Independent

The one independent is Charlie Birks, who resigned as a Lib-Dem, about six months ago. The current Mayor, Cllr Andy Foulsham is not standing again for the town council. Neither is the leader of the council, Cllr Sam Bowring.

If you look at candidates for the district council, with 10 Abingdon seats, there are:
10 Lib-Dems
10 Conservatives
7 Labour
3 Greens