West Northamptonshire Council Election 2021: Live from the count

Next results are in for Billing & Rectory Farm.

Elected are Paul Clark (Con), James Hill (Con) and Keith Holland (Lab)

Talavera ward:

Naz Choudary - Lab: 891

Janice Duffy - Lab: 1,003

Brendan John Glynane - Lib Dem: 618

Shannon Hallam - Con: 718

Ash Harkara - Con: 668

Marianne Kimani - Lab: 790

Kasia Kujawska - Con: 521

Dennis Meredith - Lib Dem: 1,020

Rona Meredith - Lib Dem: 782

Janice Duff received 1,003 votes, Dennis Meredith received 1,020 votes and Naz Choudary, 891 votes. There was a 27.48% turnout and 11 spoilt ballots. Full results to follow

Janice Duff (Labour), Dennis Meredith (Lib Dem) and Naz Choudary (Lab) have been elected for Talavera

We are expecting the Talavera result shortly. Candidates in this ward are - Naz Choudary - Lab:

Janice Duffy - Lab: Brendan John Glynane - Lib Dem: Shannon Hallam - Con: Ash Harkara - Con:

Marianne Kimani - Lab: Kasia Kujawska - Con: Dennis Meredith - Lib Dem: Rona Meredith - Lib Dem:

James Hill, Conservative candidate for Billing and Rectory Farm, told reporter Carly Odell: “It has been a bizarre and short campaign because of Covid.

“It’s been difficult getting out and speaking to residents, which is what I enjoy most about being a councillor, but I’m feeling good and it’s great that the elections are going ahead.

“I think it’s important that Northampton had elections after the delays.

“The wards are bigger this time around, but I have worked hard in the whole area and I’m hoping that will be recognised.

“My ward now covers Billing and Ecton Brook. I know the areas but not as well as Rectory Farm where I have been a councillor for six years.

“I am hopeful that we have managed to hit those areas and let people know what is going on and what we stand for.

“There’s a new council and new, fresh start for the area.

“Now the budgets for bin collections and parks, and children’s and adult services will be combined under one budget.

“My priority is to get those budgets to what they were. I do not want to see parks dessonated.”

Candidates for the Billing and Rectory Farm areas are also being called to their area of the counting hall.

Dennis Meredith has been speaking to reporter Megan Hillery ahead of the election results:

“I am confident because we canvassed the ward and delivered lots of leaflets, spoke to a lot of people and they were pleased with what I’ve done over the last 15 minutes, how the ward of Talavera has been improved. I have been part of that improvement as local councillor supporting the different organisations that have improved the ward which I represent.

“I am talking to lots of residents and I think I should hold my seat but I am saying that, one never knows. Elections are a funny thing, it’s all about politics and, if you are the flavour of the month, you will get elected.

"I am confident that I have worked very hard to improve the area and the reception I got when I was canvassing was tremendous. I felt really honoured that the people had the confidence and my canvass returns were very high. The highest returns I have had since I have been a councillor. That pushed me to carry on so I am really hoping to get elected."

"One of the things that I am concerned about is if I am not elected and whoever takes over, a lot of my work would go to waste because 15 years ago when I first became a councillor the area was pretty run down and it needed a lot of improvements. We still have a lot of problems with the fly tipping, which I have a plan for and I am just hoping that I will get elected to carry on some of the good work.

“Some of the works that have been done around Talavera is new housing, the estates have been laid out, new community centres. I have just attended Oak Tree Court which is a special place, bungalows for autistic children. I am hoping that I can actually be involved with that facility because there are a lot of young people that need the help.

“Some of my main priorities for the area is to support the elderly and the young people because it is all about young people’s future but, in this county, I can give them guidance and help and I am hoping that young people will come up and find out about politics and what is involved about being a councillor." Talking about his priorities if he keeps his seat in the Talavera ward, Dennis said:

"My number one priority is to write every resident in Thorplands explaining the position and situation with fly-tipping and I am hoping that I will be able to get money to fit cameras in certain areas in my division to catch some of the people that are fly-tipping.

"The other priority I have is to look at children’s services, the children’s trust, to make sure that is happening efficiently. I also am concerned about the cuts to adult social care and say, for instance, when the conservatives were in control of the county council, a lot of the respite centres were closed down. If you take people that have a certain illness, they used to be able to talk to other people with the same illness as them, all of those centres have been closed down, which is not a very good thing to do so that is my main priority.

"One of my main priorities is to help young people to take an active part in the community because I believe that it is the duty of people, especially people my age, is to inform young people and give them confidence to make an input into the running of this county."

Starting to get some movement. Talevera candidates have been called to their area of the counting hall, which means they could be close to completing the count.

Dennis Meredith, Liberal Democrat candidate for Talevera, said: "I’m very surprised by the turnout.

“But when I was out canvassing a lot of residents many said they weren’t interested in politics.

“To me that’s sad because they are not worried about where their council tax is being spent.

“To some respect, I blame the politicians for that for not keeping residents informed about what is happening.”