Here are the results of the City Council elections held on 5 May 2016 for the six wards in OX3. Five returned the sitting candidate, and in Headington Hill & Northway Nigel Chapman held the seat for Labour, replacing Roy Darke who announced his retirement before the election.
Mike Rowley got two thirds of the vote in 2012 in a straight 4-way contest. In 2014 UKIP put in a strong showing and came second. This year the UKIP vote collapsed and second place surprisingly (to me) went to serial Independent candidate Chaka Artwell.
Mark Lygo’s share of the vote held up well, and with no UKIP candidate to take second place as happened in 2014 the other parties trailed well behind.
Ruth Wilkinson’s strong personal vote in Headington Ward ensured she not only held her seat but increased her share of the vote from four years ago at the expense of Labour’s little-known candidate.
With Roy Darke standing down Labour’s vote might have suffered, but new councillor Nigel Chapman’s 51% share is on a par with their performance in the last two elections. The Conservatives came second as they did in 2014 and 2012. Mark Bhagwandin doesn’t seem to have profited from aligning himself with the protesters against the Barton link road and the City Council’s tower-block charges.
In a result very similar to his 2012 victory Mick Haines proved he isn’t a one-election wonder, and can continue campaigning as Oxford’s only Independent councillor.
Another familiar story in Quarry & Risinghurst with Labour taking the seat and LibDem Roz Smith coming a strong second.