1973 North Hertfordshire District Council election
# 1973 North Hertfordshire District Council election

The 1973 North Hertfordshire District Council election was held on 7 June 1973. It was the first election to North Hertfordshire District Council, and was held at the same time as other local elections across England for the new non-metropolitan district councils that were created under the Local Government Act 1972. The elected councillors initially formed a shadow authority to oversee the transition to the new system, operating alongside the five outgoing district councils until 1 April 1974 when the new district formally came into being.

The election saw the Conservatives form the largest party on the council, albeit falling a couple of seats short of having a majority, leaving the council under no overall control. The Conservatives formed a minority administration, with their group leader, Bob Flatman, becoming the first leader of the council.

## Overall results

The overall results were as follows:

North Hertfordshire District Council Election, 1973 :

| Party | Seats | Seats % | Votes % | Votes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Conservative | 23 | 47.9 | 42.7 | 14,958 |
| Labour | 17 | 35.4 | 32.8 | 11,492 |
| Independent | 7 | 14.6 | 19.6 | 6,862 |
| Ratepayers | 1 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 1,099 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 616 |

## Ward results

The new district was divided into 18 numbered wards, electing between one and four councillors each to give a total of 48 councillors:

* Ward 1 was the Baldock Urban District.
* Wards 2–6 were the wards of Hitchin Urban District.
* Wards 7–11 were the wards of Letchworth Urban District.
* Ward 12 was the Royston Urban District.
* Wards 13–18 were all groups of civil parishes from Hitchin Rural District.

The results for each ward were as follows:

Ward 1: Baldock :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Independent | Nora M. Burgess | 1,212 | 40.4 | |
| | Labour | George A. York | 813 | 27.1 | |
| | Conservative | John Barton | 769 | 25.6 | |
| | Labour | Stanley Watson | 687 | | |
| | Labour | Roger McFall | 639 | | |
| | Conservative | Richard E. Harrison | 605 | | |
| | Liberal | John C. Whelan | 207 | 6.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 62.7 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,785 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

Ward 2: Hitchin Oughton :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Audrey Carss | 683 | 52.8 | |
| | Labour | James Reilly (Jim Reilly) | 666 | | |
| | Labour | Charles Rowe (Jim Rowe) | 624 | | |
| | Conservative | John Parfitt | 338 | 26.1 | |
| | Independent | Tony Elliott | 272 | 21.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 27.1 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,094 | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

Ward 3: Hitchin Bearton :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | John Ballantyne | 949 | 57.0 | |
| | Conservative | Dorothy Jenkinson | 917 | | |
| | Labour | Andrew McQuillan | 716 | 43.0 | |
| | Labour | John Seabrook | 705 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.2 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,682 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

Ward 4: Hitchin Priory :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Robert Stanley Flatman (Bob Flatman) | 1,013 | 59.6 | |
| | Conservative | Keith Crook | 989 | | |
| | Conservative | Derek Doel | 960 | | |
| | Liberal | Bill Williams | 409 | 24.0 | |
| | Labour | Derek Massey | 279 | 16.4 | |
| | Labour | Jean Gentle | 267 | | |
| | Labour | Athelstan Herbert | 253 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.7 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,469 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

Ward 5: Hitchin Walsworth :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | John Goldsmith | 880 | 36.7 | |
| | Labour | Peter Clarke | 833 | | |
| | Ratepayers | Ken Logan | 769 | 32.1 | |
| | Conservative | David Ingram | 750 | 31.3 | |
| | Ratepayers | Ted Morton | 720 | | |
| | Labour | Crystal Toleman | 708 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.3 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,023 | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) |

Ward 6: Hitchin Highbury :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Beryl Wearmouth | 1,152 | 53.3 | |
| | Conservative | Les Ford | 988 | | |
| | Conservative | Michael Hillman | 891 | | |
| | Independent | Don Bache | 748 | 34.6 | |
| | Independent | Ron Hartless | 447 | | |
| | Independent | George Jackson | 387 | | |
| | Labour | Walter Patrick Guymer | 261 | 12.1 | |
| | Labour | David Wilson | 230 | | |
| | Labour | Doris Reilly | 223 | | |
| | Independent | Peter Hull | 159 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.7 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,211 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

Ward 7: Letchworth Norton :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | William Miller (Bill Miller) | 1,513 | 62.9 | |
| | Labour | Christopher Derek Stockwell (Chris Stockwell) | 1,396 | | |
| | Labour | Gerard Devlin (Gerry Devlin) | 1,384 | | |
| | Labour | Edith Badstevener | 1,309 | | |
| | Conservative | James McGinlay | 894 | 37.1 | |
| | Conservative | Brian J. Down | 866 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.0 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,285 | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

Ward 8: Letchworth Pixmore :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | David A. Griffiths | 1,178 | 75.3 | |
| | Labour | Reginald S. Hall (Reg Hall) | 1,163 | | |
| | Labour | Ernest M. Brown (Ernie Brown) | 1,149 | | |
| | Conservative | William Charles Bifield (Charles Bifield) | 387 | 24.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 32.9 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,057 | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

Ward 9: Letchworth Wilbury :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | David Gallard | 1,144 | 59.5 | |
| | Labour | Mary B. Briercliffe (Mamie Briercliffe) | 1,107 | | |
| | Labour | Ian Mantle | 1,102 | | |
| | Conservative | John Cole | 779 | 40.5 | |
| | Conservative | Barry C. Jackson | 755 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 47.0 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,243 | | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

Ward 10: Letchworth Westbury :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Clifford J. Marshall (Cliff Marshall) | 832 | 54.5 | |
| | Conservative | John G. McKenna | 782 | | |
| | Labour | Donald Kitchiner (Don Kitchiner) | 696 | 45.5 | |
| | Labour | Edna Patricia Watson-Blake (Pat Watson-Blake) | 679 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 62.2 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,519 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

Ward 11: Letchworth Central and Willian :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Robert Saunders (Bob Saunders) | 962 | 59.9 | |
| | Conservative | Margaret Gavin Jones | 941 | | |
| | Independent | Douglas C. Squirrell | 417 | 26.0 | |
| | Labour | Florence Wiggs | 226 | 14.1 | |
| | Labour | Leslie Pulham (Les Pulham) | 165 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.7 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,574 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

Ward 12: Royston :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Independent | George William Stevens | 1,559 | 42.7 | |
| | Independent | Patricia Alison Rule | 1,544 | | |
| | Conservative | Francis John Smith (John Smith) | 1,336 | 36.6 | |
| | Independent | Philip Leslie Gray | 1,298 | | |
| | Conservative | Christopher McMichael | 852 | | |
| | Labour | Robert Douglas Beckwith | 760 | 20.8 | |
| | Labour | Brian William Cavanagh | 673 | | |
| | Labour | Alan Evans | 666 | | |
| | Labour | Anthony Clive Pettit | 600 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 58.2 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,279 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

Ward 13: Ashwell, Bygrave, Caldecote, Clothall, Graveley, Hinxworth, Newnham, Radwell and Weston :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Independent | Eric James Gurney | 971 | 51.5 | |
| | Conservative | Robert Peter Evans | 649 | 34.4 | |
| | Conservative | Nellie Laura Thompson | 642 | | |
| | Labour | William Watson | 266 | 14.1 | |
| | Labour | Willie Page | 243 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 67.4 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,800 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

Ward 14: Barkway, Barley, Kelshall, Nuthampstead, Reed, Rushden, Sandon, Therfield and Wallington :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Esther Mary Brookes | 710 | 55.5 | |
| | Conservative | Ian Smith Rose | 558 | | |
| | Independent | John Joseph Crumpholt | 414 | 32.4 | |
| | Labour | Pamela Marjorie Toorchen | 155 | 12.1 | |
| | Labour | Brian Douglas Miller | 118 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 55.5 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,304 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

Ward 15: Ippollitts, Kimpton, Langley, Preston, St Paul's Walden and Wymondley :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Ivan Wren | 1,457 | 77.5 | |
| | Conservative | Margaret Jane McMurtrie (Jane McMurtrie) | 1,383 | | |
| | Conservative | John Raffell | 1,312 | | |
| | Labour | David Kendall | 422 | 22.5 | |
| | Labour | Christina Evans | 405 | | |
| | Labour | Philip Leslie Dicks | 348 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.6 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,547 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

Ward 16: Codicote :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Denis Winch | 614 | 71.8 | |
| | Labour | Anthony Gentle | 241 | 28.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.2 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,986 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

Ward 17: Knebworth :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Gordon Dumelow | 659 | 40.1 | |
| | Conservative | Alfred Grosse | 555 | | |
| | Labour | Martin Lisles | 355 | 21.6 | |
| | Ratepayers | Dennis Bols | 330 | 20.1 | |
| | Independent | Ernest Grosse | 298 | 18.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.5 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,675 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

Ward 18: Hexton, Holwell, Ickleford, King's Walden, Lilley, Offley and Pirton :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Independent | Ron Lodge | 971 | 37.6 | |
| | Labour | Gilbert Kendall | 904 | 35.0 | |
| | Independent | David Stedman | 894 | | |
| | Independent | James Holden | 847 | | |
| | Labour | Ronald Hawkes (Ron Hawkes) | 770 | | |
| | Labour | Raymond Cousins (Ray Cousins) | 742 | | |
| | Conservative | Howard Swann | 708 | 27.4 | |
| | Conservative | Arthur Baines | 679 | | |
| | Conservative | Ian Little | 638 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 52.7 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,736 | | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

## Changes 1973–1976

Ward 7: Letchworth Norton by-election, 25 September 1975 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Donald Kitchiner (Don Kitchiner) | | |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Peter Woods (Geoff Woods) | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 35 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -10 |

The Letchworth Norton by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Chris Stockwell on 18 August 1975. The seat was retained for Labour by Don Kitchiner. The precise number of votes cast was not reported, only the majority, turnout and swing.

