Voters in Stevenage will head to the polls today to cast their votes in an all out election - but what did the council look like ahead of the vote?

The council is currently controlled by the Labour and Co-operative Group, who have controlled the council continuously since its creation as a non-metropolitan district in 1974.

At the helm currently in Labour's Cllr Richard Henry, who took over as leader of the council in January 2023 when long-standing leader Cllr Sharon Taylor stood down. 

What is the council make up now?

Stevenage Borough Council is currently made up of 39 members across 13 wards across the town.

Since last year's local election, which saw just a third of seats up for the polls, there have been 24 Labour councillors, nine Conservative and 6 Liberal Democrat councillors. 

Today's vote

Voters have elected councillors one-third at a time in most elections  – with Stevenage polls in three out of every four years.

But the Local Government Boundary Commission for England redrew and renamed some of the town’s wards, which triggered the “all out” vote in 2024.

Results

Polling stations close at 10pm tonight. Votes will be counted at Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre from around 10am Friday morning, with results for each ward set to be announced throughout the day.

The Comet will be reporting live from the count, giving you updates on results as they come, as well as reaction from candidates.