The 2015 City of York Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of City of York Council in England.[1] The whole council was up for election. Turnout was substantially up across the city due to the election being held on the same day as the general election and other local elections in England.
Since the previous election in 2011 a review of ward boundaries had affected some wards, although the total number of councillors remained at 47. The following wards remained unchanged from 2011: Acomb, Bishopthorpe, Dringhouses and Woodthorpe, Haxby and Wigginton, Holgate, Huntington and New Earswick, Micklegate, Strensall, Westfield and Wheldrake. All other wards saw boundary changes and a new ward, Copmanthorpe, was created from the former Rural West York Ward.
The election saw heavy losses for the ruling Labour Party, which had won overall control of the council in 2011, losing more than 40% of the 26 seats won at the previous election. Several senior Labour councillors were defeated including the party's deputy leader Tracey Simpson-Laing and Cabinet members Dave Merrett and Linsay Cunningham.[2] The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Greens all made gains and two Independent councillors were also elected. A record number of new councillors were elected, almost half of the entire Council, with the York Press reporting that "of the 47 seats contested, 25 were won by candidates with council experience while 22 were won by debutants."[3] Following talks between the political groups after the election, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats agreed to run the Council as a joint administration.[4]
There were boundary changes in 13 wards, which elected 28 city councillors. There were no boundary changes in 8 wards, which elected 19 city councillors.[5]
* Represented the Bootham ward of York City Council, 1982-1996, [12] the Fishergate division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1985-1989, [14] the Bootham ward of City of York Council, 1995-2003, [13][7] and the Clifton ward of City of York Council, 2003-2015[8][9][15]
† Represented the Clifton ward of City of York Council, 2003-2015[8][9][15]
There were no boundary changes to Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward.[5]
* Represented the Foxwood ward of York City Council, 1990-1996, [12] the Foxwood ward of City of York Council, 1995-2003, [13][7] and the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward of City of York Council, 2003-2015[8][9][16]
† Represented the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe ward of City of York Council, 2011-2015[16]
* Represented the Guildhall division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1985-1996, [14] and the Guildhall ward of City of York Council, 1995-2015[13][7][8][9][19]
† Represented the Acomb ward of York City Council, 1979-1984, the Guildhall ward of York City Council, 1988-1996, [12] the Acomb division of North Yorkshire County Council, 1981-1989, [14] and the Guildhall ward of City of York Council, 1995-2015[13][7][8][9][19]
There were no boundary changes to Micklegate ward.[5]
* Represented the Micklegate ward of City of York Council, 2007-2015[9][30]
† Represented the Bishophill ward of York City Council, 1982-1996, [12] the Bishophill ward of City of York Council, 1995-2003, [13][7] and the Micklegate ward of City of York Council, 2003-2015[8][9][30]
‡ Represented the Rural West York ward of City of York Council, 2007-2015[9][31]
§ Represented the Holgate ward of City of York Council, 2003-2007[8]
* Represented the Skelton, Rawcliffe, and Clifton Without ward of City of York Council, 2011-2015[34]
† Represented the Rawcliffe and Skelton ward of City of York Council, 1999-2003, [7] and the Skelton, Rawcliffe, and Clifton Without ward of City of York Council, 2003-2007[8]
There were no boundary changes to Westfield ward.[5]
* Represented the Westfield ward of York City Council, 1994-1996, [12] and the Westfield ward of City of York Council, 1999-2011 [7][8][9] and 2014-2015
† Represented the Westfield ward of City of York Council, 2011-2015[23]
