Local Elections 2021: Everything you need to know about the West Northamptonshire Council count and when results are expected

The votes are cast and there is nothing more that candidates can do to be elected to represent one of the two new unitary authorities in Northamptonshire.

For West Northamptonshire Council candidates across the 31 wards in Northampton, Daventry and South Northamptonshire will be waiting to find out their fate.

All that remains now is the (not so small) matter of confirming the results of the election.

This time around the verification and count will take place at The Wing complex at Silverstone Circuit, where there is ample space to organise the important day in a Covid-safe way.

Verification

The verification of the votes began once polling stations closed at 10pm last night (May 6).

All of the ballot boxes from the West Northamptonshire Council area (around 280) were taken to Silverstone where staff checked that the number of votes inside match the ballot paper accounts completed by polling station staff.

Once the votes are verified, they are ready to be counted...

Counting

Today (May 7), from midday, the counting will begin for the historic first election for the West Northamptonshire Council.

It is a particularly poignant count as it will be the first time anyone is elected to represent the new authority.

Around 140 staff will be on hand to count the ballot papers using kangaroo boards, which allow papers to be counted in batches and more quickly, before votes are totalled and transferred to a summary sheet, tallied and then put onto a master sheet.

Within the wing at Silverstone, there will be three counting halls, one for each area that makes up the new council - Northampton, Daventry and South Northamptonshire.

All 31 wards will be allotted a two hour time slot, in which the votes from each ward will be counted.

Below is a list of all the wards and the time slots for when the votes will be counted.

(The turnout percentage should be announced early on in the day)

Northampton

Headlands: 12pm - 2pm

Talavera: 12pm - 2pm

Kingsthorpe North: 12pm - 2pm

Sixfields:12pm - 2pm

Billing & Rectory Farm: 12pm - 2pm

Abington & Phippsville: 12pm - 2pm

Boothville & Parklands: 3pm - 5pm

St George: 3pm - 5pm

East Hunsbury & Shelfleys: 3pm - 5pm

Nene Valley: 3pm - 5pm

Delapre & Rushmere: 3pm - 5pm

Riverside Park: 3pm - 5pm

Kingsthorpe South: 6pm - 8pm

Duston East: 6pm - 8pm

Dallington Spencer: 6pm - 8pm

Castle: 6pm - 8pm

Duston West & St Crispin: 6pm - 8pm

Daventry District

Long Buckby: 12pm - 2pm

Braunston & Crick: 12pm - 2pm

Moulton: 12pm - 2pm

Woodford & Weedon: 3pm - 5pm

Daventry West: 3pm - 5pm

Daventry East: 3pm - 5pm

Brixworth: 6pm - 8pm

South Northamptonshire

Towcester & Roade: 12pm - 2pm

Bugbrooke: 12pm - 2pm

Brackley: 12pm - 2pm

Hackleton & Grange Park: 3pm - 5pm

Middleton Cheney: 3pm - 5pm

Deanshanger: 3pm - 5pm

Silverstone: 6pm - 8pm

Results

Each result should be officially declared during the ward’s time slot, however some counts may take longer and results might be delayed if there has to be a recount.

The returning officer (who is in charge of count day) - Anna Earnshaw, who is also the chief executive of the new authority - will declare the results on the stage at Silverstone, once all candidates have been given the opportunity to request a recount.

The three candidates with the most votes in each ward will be declared as elected.

Usually, all candidates would line up on the stage, however due to Covid restrictions they will not be allowed to.

During the whole day, 93 councillors will be elected across the whole of the West Northamptonshire authority area.

To control the authority, a political party will need to reach 47 seats across all wards. If no political parties reach this number, the council will be run by a coalition.

Where can I find out the results?

Reporters from Northampton Chronicle & Echo will also be present at the count all day and results, interviews with candidates, reactions and more will be posted to our live blog, which you can follow here.

What’s next?

On Saturday (May 8), from 10am, the count for all the town and parish councils in the West Northamptonshire Council area will take place.

This includes the inaugural election for the new Northampton Town Council.

A Chronicle & Echo reporter will be at the town count and results will be posted to the website when they are announced.

On Monday (May 10), from 10am, the count will take place for the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. The result will then be declared at the Kettering count.