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Record number of candidates contest County Council Elections

Unique poll takes County a step closer to Unitary local government

Local elections with a difference took place in County Durham on May 1st 2008, as part of the move to create a single unitary council for the county.

A record 404 candidates have been contesting all 63 electoral divisions for a seat on Durham County Council - and ultimately, a place on the county's new unitary authority. Normally, the county council elections return just one member for each electoral division, but this time there will be 126 members - two for each existing electoral division.

That is because the successful candidates will serve a dual role for their first eleven months of office.

As well as running the existing county council they will also develop and finalise plans for the new-style unitary council.

From April 1st, 2009, when the seven existing district councils and the county council will be transformed into one new unitary council, providing both district and county functions, they will become the first fully-fledged members of the new unitary council.

The existing 312 district councillors will remain in office until then, when their councils will be dissolved.

Current political composition of the County Council

Labour - 53
Liberal Democrats - 5
Independents - 3
Conservatives - 2

Turnout at the last election

Turnout for the 2005 poll, which, like those in 2001 and 1997 was held on the same day as the General Election, was 56.41%.

Turnout for the last 'stand-alone' County Council election in 1993 was 33.015%.

Share of the Poll

Of the 220,641 votes cast in 2005;