One of Bitterne Park’s three Conservative councillors, Phil Williams, resigned on March 16, triggering a by-election in the ward which will be held on May 3 – the day of the local elections. He had two years of his current term to run.

Phil Williams was also a member of the council’s cabinet, in charge of housing, until he resigned last year shortly after the local elections.

“Serving as a councillor in Southampton, particularly as the Cabinet Member for Housing & Local Services, has been the single greatest privilege of my life. I have really enjoyed working with residents and staff and passionately believe that together we have achieved a great deal,” Mr Williams told bitternepark.info.

“It has been a particular pleasure to serve alongside Cllr White, Cllr Baillie and our local MP John Denham. I would like to express my personal gratitude to them for all the help and support they have given me as well as the various friends, residents and community groups who also work so tirelessly hard for the area.”

Fellow Conservative councillor Ivan White’s seat will also be up for grabs on May 3, as he reaches the end of his current term of office.

Two seats up for grabs

Mr Williams said the by-election will be held on the same day as the local elections to save the council money. This will mean that voters will have two votes, and the candidates with the largest number will become councillors.

The candidate with the largest number of votes will secure the full four-year term of office, while the candidate with the second largest number will be up for re-election in 2014 – when Williams’ term would have ended.

At the last Bitterne Park local election in 2011, Tory Peter Baillie retained his seat, seeing off Labour by 585 votes. The Lib Dems came third.

• In Peartree ward, Liberal Democrat councillor Gerry Drake has also now resigned, for health reasons. 

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How the city voted in 2011 - Wikipedia