Good evening and welcome to our City Council elections results liveblog. Reporting for you tonight are Emily Norton, Daniel Ionescu and photography and videos from Steve Smailes.

We are at the Drill Hall already, where the counters are preparing to go through the ballots after 10pm.

Polling stations opened at 7am and you can vote until 10pm for the City of Lincoln Council and PCC elections.

Order of proceedings tonight

The Returning Officer is Angela Andrews, the Chief Executive of City of Lincoln Council, who has overall responsibility for the conduct of the count. She will declare the results for both the local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections from the stage at the Drill Hall.

We spoke with Angela Andrews about what to expect tonight — and the results should come between 3-5am this morning.

The polling stations are closed. Ballot boxes will now be transported to the Lincoln Drill Hall where verification will commence. Counters are waiting in anticipation.

City council Chief Executive Angela Andrews is welcoming the counting teams at the Drill Hall. She explains there is a new team of ballot runners who will be collecting the boxes as they arrive.

The first task is to verify the votes. “It’s not a race” she says. “Accuracy is key”.

Verification will take around two hours. The PCC votes will then be locked away ready for the PCC vote in the morning.

It is not known yet what the turnout has been this year.

The counters this year are wearing all-black – this is to denote their apolitical stance, and it’s the first time for a political count in Lincoln.

Verification of votes cast in Moorland is underway. 

Voting in the City Council elections

All 33 seats on the city council are being contested – three in each ward, with a total of 114 candidates standing. Residents could vote for up to three candidates in each ward today.

Following boundary changes, Bracebridge ward has been renamed Witham.

All-out elections

All 33 councillor seats are up for re-election.

Three councillors are not standing for re-election. These are:

• Cllr Brent Charlesworth (Park ward)
• Cllr David Jackson (Park ward)
• Cllr Carol Daniel (Minster ward)

City Council Leader Ric Metcalfe (Labour) is running for re-election in the Glebe ward.

From 2018, City of Lincoln Council will return to elections three in every four years. This means the member in each ward with the most votes will be up for re-election in 2020; the member with the second most votes in 2019, and the member with the third most votes in 2018.

The specially appointed ‘ballot runners’ are on hand to assist the arrival of each ward’s box. Waste documents and papers have already been sorted into brown paper sacks, which are being put aside for disposal. 

How vote counting works

Ballot boxes are checked and ballot papers are counted to check that the number in the box corresponds with that shown on the Ballot Paper Account
. Ballots are split according to candidate
, then they are counted
.

Candidates are invited to check the spoiled ballot papers and may object
. Draft declarations for each ward can be discussed with candidates and agents
. Candidates may, at this point, request a recount
. And then the results are declared by the Returning Officer.

Ballot boxes are now coming in thick and fast. The previously quiet hall is now bustling with noise, green and white papers stacking up for each ward as the ballot boxes arrive. 

Political make up of City Council

The current political make up of City of Lincoln Council is 27 Labour and 6 Conservative. Will this change significantly after tonight? The count is on.

The last ballot box to be verified has arrived. It’s from the Minster ward.

Postal votes in Lincoln

Some 7,800 postal votes were sent out in Lincoln, of which around two thirds have been returned, the Returning Officer Angela Andrews has said.

The Conservative candidate in the race for the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner position Marc Jones has arrived to support his local candidates. He said “I’m feeling very tired. I’ve been across the whole of Lincolnshire and delivered over 300,000 pieces of literature. I don’t want to say I feel confident as I think being too confident is a bad thing.”

A UKIP Lincoln councillor?

UKIP candidate in the City of Lincoln Council elections Nick Smith says ‘it’s not looking good’ for his party’s chances of breaking onto the City of Lincoln Council.

Labour PCC candidate Lucinda Preston said: “I’m feeling optimistic both for my campaign and for my fellow candidates in the City of Lincoln Council elections. Speaking to people I think there was a lot of anxiety about the Tory promises.”

There are just a few wards left to verify. An announcement will be made shortly to reveal this year’s local election turnout.

Previous election turnouts:

• 2015 – 60.5% (general election)
• 2014 – 30%
• 2012 – 26.8%
• 2011 – 36.4%
• 2010 – 60.4% (general election)
• 2008 – 31.2%
• 2007 – 33.8% (Last all-out election)

Results are beginning to flood in across the country already, while in Lincoln the verification process is being finalised.

The council’s principal democratic officer Steve Swain has the responsibility of overseeing the count.

Verification is now complete. Some 63,270 people were registered to vote in Lincoln. 

The number of votes cast for the local election is, 19,791 which equals 31.27%.

For the PCC election the number of votes cast was 18,965, 29.97%

The number of people who have voted in the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner elections has almost doubled compared with the first election in 2012.

Counting is officially underway and the Drill Hall is packed out with party members watching nervously over their ward’s growing ballot papers.

Liberal Democrat candidate Ross Pepper told The Lincolnite his party members have been talking to people in their target wards about the issues they’re facing. “Flytipping is a particular issue in Park ward”, he said. 

“It would be great if we could gain a couple of seats. We really are aiming for a better Lincoln.”

The view from the Lincoln Labour leader

Ric Metcalfe says Labour could win seats or lose them as the national interest in the party’s performance in local elections grows.

Higher turnout in Lincoln, lower outside

While Lincoln saw a 31.27% for local elections and 29.97% (almost double from 2012) for PCC elections, neighbouring authorities saw lower turnouts:

Green party bid for City Council

Green party candidate Peaceful Warrior explained that having a Green councillor would mean they could open up more discussions about city planning. “We also need to address emissions and restrictions on vehicle movement through the city with the rail barriers being down for too many hours of the day.”

Conservative speculates on UKIP seats

Conservative Lincoln candidate Matthew Fido (Carholme ward) is speculating that UKIP and Green candidates will gain some seats in the city council.

The first ward declaration is to be made in a few minutes time. 

Final counts underway, results are expected soon.

The first results are in!

The first results are in for Castle ward:

• Rod Archer (Conservative) – 378
• Malcolm Barham (Conservative) – 318
• Jim Hanrahan (Labour) – 867
• Donald Nannestad (Labour) – 867
• Daphne Shaw (Lib Democrats) – 179
• David Warde (UKIP) – 297
• Loraine Woolley (Labour) – 853
• David Wright (Conservative) – 370

Donald Nannestad will have the councillor seat for four years, Jim Hanrahan will be in post for three years and Loraine Woolley will be up for election again in two years. 

The next results will be for Boultham ward.

The turnout in Castle ward was 30.14%

The results for Boultham ward are:

• Alan Briggs – 393
• Gill Clayton-Hewson – 764 (Labour)
• Heather Cullen – 146
• Ryan Cullen – 107
• Roger Hansard – 297
• Gary Hewson – 760 (Labour)
• Hannah Smith – 243
• Ralph Toofany – 778 (Labour)
• Caroline Wilson – 312

Boultham ward:

• Ralph Tiffany  – 4 years
• Gill Clayton-Hewon – 3 years
• Gary Hewson – 2 years

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney has been here tonight scrutinising the local elections — he is not looking very happy so far.

City of Lincoln Council Leader Ric Metcalfe is jubilant as he retains his Glebe ward seat for another 4 years.

The results for Glebe ward are:

• Jamie Bartch – 510
• Andrew Bradley – 528
• Norman Haigh – 194
• Adam Holman – 155
• Jackie Kirk – 778 (Labour)
• Stephen Lonsdale – 101
• Keri Lowe – 75
• Fiona McKenna – 207
• Peter McNeill – 484
• Ric Metcalfe – 841 (Labour)
• Patrick Vaughan – 740 (Labour)

The Glebe ward councillors will sit the following terms:

• Ric Metcalfe – 4 years
• Jackie Kirk – 3 years
• Patrick Vaughan – 2 years

Three wards down (all Labour so far) eight to go. It’s understood there will be a re-count for the Birchwood ward. 

The reaction from the McNeill twins on the results:

A re-count is also being conducted for Hartsholme ward. 

Busy night so far, as we’re heading towards dawn and still have 8 wards to go.

So far, Labour held Castle, Boultham and Glebe wards.

The results for Park ward are in:

• Roly Bunce – 280
• Chris Burke – 799 (Labour)
• Sue Burke – 735 (Labour)
• Richard Butroid – 221
• Natasha Chapman – 159
• Lauren Finka – 189
• Sally Horscroft – 213
• Janusz Kala – 210
• Helena Mair – 677 (Labour)
• Sean Oxspring – 108
• Aarron Smith – 92
• Liam Sperrin – 245
• Allegra Wild – 211

Park ward councillors will sit the following terms:

• Chris Burke – 4 years
• Sue Burke – 3 years
• Helena Mair – 2 years

Conservative supporters and candidates celebrate as they have won 3 seats so far, one in Minster, and two in Witham ward

The Minster ward results are:

• Yvonne Bodger – 843 (Conservative)
• Dave Callow – 783
• James Easter – 204
• Tony Higgs – 757
• Liz Maxwell – 820 (Labour)
• Nicole Pouncey – 191
• Christopher Reid – 705
• Naomi Tweddle – 824 (Labour)

So far Labour have won most seats and are looking very happy

Minster ward councillors will sit the following terms:

• Yvonne Bodger – 4 years
• Naomi Tweddle – 3 years
• Lix Maxwell – 2 years

The results for Witham ward are:

• Funmi Adeyemi – 620
• Elizabeth Bathory-Porther – 199
• Bill Bilton – 710
• Andrew Byrne – 217
• Thomas Dyer – 756 (Conservative)
• Jane Loffhagen – 724 (Labour)
• Tim Richens – 442
• Barry Stonham – 369
• Keith Weaver – 790 (Conservative)
• Matthew Wilson – 675

Witham ward councillors will sit the following terms:

• Keith Weaver – 4 years
• Thomas Dyer – 3 years
• Jane Loffhagen – 2 years

Labour hold control of City Council

Labour have won 18 of 33 seats so far, maintaining control of the council. Leader Ric Metcalfe was also re-elected tonight.

The results for Moorland ward are:

• Bob Bushell – 857 (Labour)
• Geoff Ellis – 905 (Labour)
• Kevin Harrington – 340
• David Kerry – 557
• Sharon Longthorne – 494
• Adrianna McNulty – 759 (Labour)
• Vasos Melides – 366
• Lynn Pepper – 136
• Ross Pepper – 111

Moorland councillors will sit the following terms:

• Geoff Ellis – 4 years
• Bob Bushall – 3 years
• Adrianna McNulty – 2 years

Karl McCartney, the Conservative Lincoln MP, is congratulating the fellow party winners

Labour hold Abbey ward

Labour hold Carholme ward

Karen Lee (Lab) ecstatic she held her Carholme ward seat

The results are in for Abbey ward:

• Graham Bratby – 381
• Kathleen Brothwell – 877 (Labour)
• Michael Brown – 188
• Chris Butler – 271
• Douglas Collison – 303
• Gavyn Graham – 61
• Jac Green – 54
• Caleb Harris – 286
• Nick Parker – 64
• Clare Smalley – 191
• Fay Smith – 833 (Labour)
• Peter West – 790 (Labour)
• Kenneth Yates – 247

Abbey ward councillors will sit the following terms:

• Kathleen Brothwell – 4 years
• Fay Smith – 3 years
• Peter West – 2 years

The Labour PCC candidate says results for the ward she lives in are ‘brilliant’ while Conservative candidate looks upset at the loss

https://twitter.com/lucindapreston/status/728413663539924992

The Carholme Ward results are:

• Matthew Fido – 414
• Karen Lee – 1176 (Labour)
• Benjamin Loryman – 223
• Neil Murray – 1076 (Labour)
• Christopher Padley – 180
• Katya Roures Salvador – 311
• Charles Shaw – 176
• David Smith – 341
• Tony Speakman – 1029 (Labour)
• Nicola Watson – 293

Carholme ward councillors will sit the following terms:

• Karen Lee – 4 years
• Neil Murray – 3 years
• Tony Speakman – 2 years

The turnout figures for each ward have been confirmed:

• Glebe – 29.03%
• Castle – 30.14%
• Abbey – 28.25
• Carholme – 36.4%
• Park – 25.68%
• Boultham – 30.95%
• Moorland – 30.67%
• Witham – 32.97%
• Minster – 35.16%
• Hartsholme – 32.47%
• Birchwood – 30.78%

With two wards left to announce in Lincoln, Labour has retained majority with 24 councillors. Conservative have three.

We’re still waiting on the re-count results for Harsholme and Birchwood. So far Labour have 24 council seats and Conservatives have three. 

A long night for the team, but still holding strong!

With two wards to go, the Conservative team is optimistic:

Another re-count will take place for Birchwood by a different counting team.

Here is the national picture in the local government elections tonight via The Guardian

Hartsolme ward results have been announced. They are:

• Biff Bean – 860 (Labour)
• Adelle Ellis – 687 
• David Gaskell – 106
• Ron Hills – 887 (Conservative)
• Mervyn Hobden – 109
• Andy Kerry – 707 (Conservative)
• Liz Massey – 663
• Jeff McGeachie – 396
• Angela Porter – 132
• Marika Riddick – 702
• Nick Smith – 403
• Nicola Smith – 389
• Peaceful Warrior – 90

Hartsholme councillors will serve the following terms:

• Ron Hills – 4 years
• Biff Bean – 3 years
• Andy Kerry – 2 years

Just Birchwood ward to go. The tally currently stands at 25 Labour candidates and 5 Conservative candidates.

One ward left to declare, currently on the 2nd recount – Birchwood – after Labour just took one seat from the Conservatives in Hartsholme.

Our MP is still up and outspoken after Labour took one seat from Conservatives in Hartsholme 

The incident the Lincoln MP mentioned in the previous tweet?

The last few standing as the second recount is underway for Birchwood 

The candidates for the hotly-contested Birchwood seats are (defending seats in italics):

• Morgan Aran – Liberal Democrats
• Jenine Butroid – Conservative
• David Denman – Conservative
• Paul Gowen – Labour and Co-operative
• Anthony Gray – Labour and Co-operative
• Rosanne Kirk – Labour and Co-operative
• John Radford – Green
• Eddie Strengiel – Conservative
• Elaine Warde – UKIP
• Tony Wells – UKIP

Everybody is tired after a very long night at the Drill Hall. It’s 5.10am and we are awaiting the results of the second recount of the Birchwood ward.

Still a close inspection of the Birchwood ballots as we are awaiting the last result of the night/morning.

Candidates and officers from Birchwood are being called to the front of the hall for an update after the re-count. 

Labour candidates and officers are celebrating loudly after returning from behind the stage. Results will be officially revealed soon.

And finally, the results for the Birchwood ward have been announced:

• Morgan Aran – 107
• Jenine Butroid – 498
• David Denman – 644
• Paul Gowen – 647 (Labour and Co-operative Party)
• Anthony Gray – 618
• Rosanne Kirk – 682 (Labour and Co-operative Party)
• John Radford – 167
• Eddie Strengiel – 703 (Conservative)
• Elaine Warde – 397
• Tony Wells – 383

No change in the overall make up of the City Council after a very long night

Re-elected council leader Ric Metcalfe tells The Lincolnite he’s delighted after Labour maintain their councillor majority.