Labour's fight to retain control

County Council Elections
John Hess
Political Editor, East Midlands

The extension of the tram network sharply divides the parties

Nottinghamshire is one of four county councils in England still controlled by Labour.

It is more than a generation ago since the Conservatives had their foot on the pedal of power at County Hall.

Since 1993 Labour has benefited from having the county council elections on the same day as the general election.

But this time there are no Blairite coat tails for the local Labour leadership to rely on.

In 2005, Labour retained control of County Hall with 38 seats, the Conservatives had 25 and the Liberal Democrats had four.

But a string of by-elections have chipped away at Labour's control and the party comes into this election with an overall majority of three.

A swing of 3% to the Tories would be enough for Labour to lose its overall majority, according to recent research from Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher of the University of Plymouth.

It would take a swing of 7% for the Tories to take control.

In the former coal mining town of Hucknall, a county council by-election earlier this year produced a sensational victory for the Lib Dems. They took the seat off Labour in a 35% swing.

National events

So is Labour heading for meltdown? Will the Tories' Kay Cutts be the next leader of Nottinghamshire?

Labour's leader David Kirkham is hoping the party's low national poll rating by-passes Nottinghamshire.

County council elections should focus on the local services the council runs such as schools , libraries , adult care , transport and recycling.

But all the local parties know that it will be national events that dictate the electoral mood.

A local election issue in the south of the county that sharply divides the parties is the plan to extend the Nottingham tram network.

It is five years since the new tram route from the city centre to the northern suburbs was built and carried its first passengers.

Tracks

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon, the transport secretary, has given the go-ahead to extending the tracks into the southern suburbs.

In communities such as Beeston and Chilwell, the Conservatives have become the political standard bearers for residents opposed to the proposed route. Some homes would have the tram running past their kitchens.

A Conservative-run County Hall would want to review the tram project and its future funding as a priority.

The party is also unhappy at the proposed local tax on parking spaces in Nottingham to pay for some of it.

Although the Labour-controlled city council is the driving force behind the tram extension and the so-called workplace parking levy, the county council is a key partner in the tram development.

Were there to be a change in political control at County Hall there could be a delay for the project on the tracks ahead.

All 67 seats on Nottinghamshire County Council are open to candidates. Nominations close on 7 May and voters go to the polls on 4 June