Sixty-nine candidates have been nominated to contest the 17 seats open for election to Southampton City Council on Thursday May 4.

Sixteen seats are vacant because of the normal rotation, and there is one additional by-election, in Portswood.

Nominations closed on April 3 for a third of the council. The present composition of the council, which has been a Liberal Democrat minority administration since 2003, is:

Liberal Democrat 16, Conservative 16, Labour 15, and Vacancy 1

Applications to vote by post close on Tuesday, April 18 at 5 pm, and for proxy votes, a week later - 5 pm on Tuesday April 25.

Candidates standing in Bitterne Park are:

Adams Mark Andrew    Independent
Brainsby Michael Christopher    The Labour Party Candidate
Cox Joseph William    Green Party
Reed Keith Alfred    Liberal Democrat
Williams Philip James    The Conservative Party Candidate

In Bitterne the candidates are:

Johnson Claire Helen     The Conservative Party Candidate
Letts Simon Jonathan     The Labour And Co-operative Party Candidate
Naish Robert William     Liberal Democrat
Smith Darren Thomas     British National Party Candidate

In Portswood, where there are two vacant seats, candidates are:

Baston Jill     Liberal Democrat
Bluemel Christopher Francis     Green Party
Butterfield Jeanne Elizabeth     Independent
Fegan David John     Respect
Furnell David     The Labour Party Candidate
Knight Peter Ronald     
Pulham Victoria Louise     The Conservative Party Candidate
Sollitt Steven Roy     Liberal Democrat
Wardle Ann Elizabeth     The Labour Party Candidate
Wraight Paul Daniel     The Conservative Party Candidate