1996 North Hertfordshire District Council election

1996 North Hertfordshire District Council election

← 1995 2 May 1996 (1996-5-2) 1998 →
18 of 50 seats on North Hertfordshire District Council 26 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Lab Con Leader David Kearns F. John Smith Party Labour Conservative Seats before 21 22 Seats after 26 16 Seat change 5 5   Third party Fourth party   LD Ind Leader Ian Simpson Party Liberal Democrats Independent Seats before 6 1 Seats after 7 1 Seat change 1
Policy chairman before election David Kearns Labour No overall control Leader after election David Kearns Labour

The 1996 North Hertfordshire District Council election was held on 2 May 1996 at the same time as other local elections across England. There were 18 out of 50 seats on North Hertfordshire District Council up for election, being the usual third of the council plus a by-election in Hitchin Oughton ward.^[1][2]

The council had previously been under no overall control, being led by a Labour minority administration with some support from the Liberal Democrats. Labour gained five extra seats at the election, giving them a majority on the council for the first time in its history. The Labour leader, David Kearns, was given the title leader of the council after the election, confirming the position he had de facto held since May 1995 by virtue of being chairman of the policy and resources committee.^[3]