THE Conservatives have strengthened their grip on Solihull Borough Council, gaining three seats and toppling the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ade Adeyemo.
The Greens too made gains, breaking the Labour grip on Kingshurst & Fordbridge with Councillor James Moses defeating Labour’s Flo Nash.
However they failed to make inroads in Castle Bromwich and came just over 100 votes shy of winning Shirley Cast from the Conservatives.
Council Leader Ian Courts said: “I’m very pleased. It’s a great ressult for the Conservatives nationally and here in Solihull.
“I really want to thank the officers of this council – our chief executive Nick Page has had a huge amount of work to do and I’m proud of all those people at the council who cannot speak for themselves and who worked so hard through what has been an incredibly tough year.
“I’d also like to thank all the people who stuck by us and with what we have been trying to do. I’m pleased with the victory but the wheel keeps on turning and we most go on.
“I’m sorry for Ade, it’s always sad to see people lose but that the nature of the game, we have to win and all three of our gains are very satisfying.”
Here are the results in full:
Bickenhill
Conservatives hold – Coun Jim Ryan
Conservatives – 2,098
Labour – 516
Green – 350
Liberal Democrats – 154
Blythe
Con hold – Coun James Butler
Conservatives – 2,880
Green – 610
Labour – 558
Independent – 212
Castle Bromwich
Cons hold – Coun Martin McCarthy
Conservatives – 1,652
Greens – 1,153
Labour – 461
Chelmsley Wood
Greens hold – Coun Shesh Sheshabhatter
Greens – 1115
Conservatives – 380
Labour – 328
Democratic Party – 28
Dorridge & Hockley Heath
Con hold – Coun Ken Meeson
Conservatives – 3029
Labour – 487
Green – 420
Liberal Democrat – 306
Reform UK – 111
Elmdon – two seats up for election
Conservatives – 1,399 – Coun Yvonne Clements elected
Liberal Democrats – 1,179
Labour – 418
Liberal Democrats – 1,389 – Coun Richard Long elected
Conservatives – 1,201
Labour – 295
Kingshurst & Fordbridge
Green gain – Coun James Moses
Green – 831
Conservatives – 689
Labour – 443
Knowle
Con hols – Coun Dave Pinwell
Conservatives – 3,121
Labour 461
Green 370
Liberal Democrats – 294
Lyndon
Conservatives gain – Coun Josh O’Nyons
Conservatives – 1,684
Liberal Democrats – 1,556
Labour – 574
Meriden
Cons hold – Coun Tony Dicicco
Conservatives – 2,850
Green – 1,008
Labour – 468
Olton
Con gain – Coun Daniel Gibbin
Conservatives – 2,148
Liberal Democrats – 1,800
Labour – 541
St Alphege
Con hold – Coun Mary Sandison
Conservatives – 3,461
Liberal Democrat – 546
Labour – 511
Green – 478
Shirley East
Conservatives hold – Coun Karen Grinsell
Conservatives – 1,866
Greens – 1,757
Labour – 328
Shirley South
Green hold – Coun Max McLoughlin
Greens – 2,122
Conservatives – 1,606
Labour – 330
Independent – 99
Shirley West
Greens hold – Coun Maggie Allen
Greens – 1,814
Conservatives – 1,238
Labour 498
Silhill
Conservatives hold – Coun Peter Hogarth
Conservatives – 2,735
Labour – 757
Liberal Democrats – 576
Smith’s Wood
Greens hold – Coun Jean Hamilton
Greens – 1,084
Conservatives – 441
Labour – 290
The make up of Solihull borough Council is now as follows:
Conservative: 30
Green: 15
Liberal Democrat: 3
Labour 2
Independent 1
