While thousands of people across the country will cast their vote in local elections this week, residents in Southampton will be sitting this one out.

There are 23 council elections taking place in England on Thursday, May 1, as well as six mayoral elections for new regional authorities and various by-elections.

Last year, all Southampton residents had the opportunity to take part in three democratic processes.

On May 2, 2024, a seat in each of the city council’s 17 wards was up for grabs, with the Labour majority ending the election with one fewer seat than before polling day.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats both increased their respective group totals by one.

On the same day, residents could vote for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner. Conservative candidate Donna Jones was successful in securing a second term in office.

Two months later, the general election took place with former council leader Satvir Kaur winning the Southampton Test constituency to succeed Labour colleague Alan Whitehead, while Darren Paffey claimed Southampton Itchen, flipping the constituency to Labour after nine years with Conservative MP Royston Smith.

In October, residents in Shirley were involved in a by-election after Ms Kaur stepped down as a councillor to focus on her work as an MP.

This led to a Liberal Democrat gain with firefighter George Percival securing the most votes.

Why are there no Southampton City Council elections on May 1?

No Southampton City Council elections have been suspended this year.

The government approved requests to delay elections in nine areas, including Hampshire County Council and Isle of Wight Council, for a year.

This was due to them being part of the devolution priority programme to create a new strategic authority in 2026.

Local authorities are working on proposals for a mayoral combined county authority, which see an elected mayor have responsibility for areas like transport and strategic planning, with funding transferred down from Westminster.

Southampton City Council was never due to have elections this year after a new structure was introduced in 2023.

The local authority is now made up of 17 three-member wards.

All out elections took place in 2023 to allow this new system to come into effect, with subsequent elections taking place three out of every four years.

The next city council elections are scheduled for May 2026.

Councillors are elected for a four-year term once the new system is established. This means one councillor in each ward retires or seeks re-election on polling day.

Why were some councillors not given a four-year term?

Two out of the three councillors elected for each ward two years ago had terms shorter than the usual four years.

This was needed to establish the new election system of having votes three years out of every four.

Those councillors elected with the fewest votes for their respective ward had the unusual position of taking on a one-year term.

The councillor who received the second fewest votes in each ward during the 2023 all-out election will see there term end in 2026.

Meanwhile, the politican with the most votes in each ward back in 2023 was given a full four-year term.

Which councillors are set to see their term end next year?

Based on the council’s website, currently there are 12 Labour councillors whose term is due to end in May 2026, with four Conservatives and one Liberal Democrat in the same position.

Listed by ward they are:

  • Banister and Polygon: Steve Leggett (Lab)
  • Bargate: John Noon (Lab)
  • Bassett: Sam Chapman (Lib Dem)
  • Bevois: Mike Denness (Lab)
  • Bitterne Park: Phil Webb (Lab)
  • Coxford: Rebecca McCreanor (Lab)
  • Freemantle: Pam Kenny (Lab)
  • Harefield: Valerie Laurent (Con)
  • Millbrook: Jeremy Moulton (Con)
  • Peartree: Alex Houghton (Con)
  • Portswood: Marie Finn (Lab)
  • Redbridge: Lee Whitbread (Lab)
  • Shirley: Alexander Winning (Lab)
  • Sholing: Sarah Powell-Vaughan (Con)
  • Swaythling: Matthew Bunday (Lab)
  • Thornhill: Andy Frampton (Lab)
  • Woolston: Sue Blatchford (Lab)