The Greens enjoyed a good day as they gained seats from Labour on Norwich City Council, but the ruling party did enjoy victory in their 'dirty tricks' dogfight with a former member.
The results mean that the authority ended the day where it started it - with Labour the largest party but with no overall control, after it gained and lost an equal number of seats.
The biggest winners were the Greens who picked up seats from their rivals in Wensum and Mile Cross.
Labour, however, took back two seats they lost in the autumn when an internal row saw a group of councillors leave the party to sit as independents.
DIRTY TRICKS DOGFIGHT
The closest contest was in Town Close ward, the scene of a bitter campaign which saw allegations of dirty tricks and even the police called in.
After a recount, Labour candidate Chris Smith was declared the winner over Ian Stutely, one of those who defected to become an independent last autumn.
On the eve of the vote, police were asked to investigate an official Labour leaflet which said Mr Stutely had been accused of "unacceptable personal behaviour".
In the end, Mr Smith emerged with 1,481 votes, while Mr Stutley received 1,432.
LEADER HOLDS ON
Mike Stonard, Labour's leader of the council, held onto his Catton Grove seat with a majority of more than 600, receiving 1,078 votes.
He said he was just "satisfied" with his party's results.
He added: "It's been a good day in many ways, it's a disappointment to have lost a few seats but I respect the view of the electorate.
"We remain the largest party and people clearly want us to be in charge."
Labour won back seats in Town Close, formerly held by Mr Stutely, and Lakenham, which was previously held by Rachel Everett.
She left the Labour Party in the autumn to sit as an independent alongside Mr Stutely, and did not stand in this election.
Carli Harper, the Labour candidate in Lakenham, was victorious with 1,433 votes.
READ MORE: Labour win 'police' election with first county-wide poll in decades
OTHER RESULTS
Labour emerged from the election with 19 seats - one short of the 20 required for an overall majority on the council.
The only parties to take any new seats were Labour and the Greens.
The Liberal Democrats held onto James Wright's Eaton seat with 2,027 votes.
The ward also had the highest turnout of voters, with nearly 50pc of people living in the area taking to the polls.
However, the party had little success elsewhere. Helen Arundell, standing for the party in Sewell, won 75 votes, while Neil Hardman, standing in Mile Cross, received 74.
However, the independent group suffered the greatest losses, surrendering their seats in both Town Close and Lakenham.
GREENS IN THE PINK
Charlie Caine, Green party candidate, took Mile Cross from Labour with 1,016 votes and a majority of 68.
He said: "I am absolutely delighted. Mile Cross has traditionally been a Labour stronghold.
"I think some of the Labour councillors there who do great work, but in some areas they need to do better. I think people know how much I care about the community."
Toby Bolton, 28, secured Wensum for the Greens. Both members will be brand new faces on the council.
Mr Bolton said he was "pleasantly surprised" by the result. He won the seat with 1,395 votes, and a majority of 335.
Martin Peek, who had been the Labour councillor for the ward since 2019, received 1,060 votes.
The Green's success came on the same day it secured a breakthrough in South Norfolk, where Suzanne Wateridge became its first member on the council when she won the Bunwell by-election in a result which robbed the Conservatives of its overall majority on the authority.
READ MORE: Tories lose grip on Norfolk council after shock by-election loss by tiny margin
FIRST FOR CITY
This year's elections also saw members of Reform UK stand for election at City Hall for the first time.
Nick Taylor, Reform UK candidate for Crome ward, said the party was hoping to build its national profile through the local elections.
He said: "Next time we will be standing in every ward in Norwich.
"We’re focussed on getting recognition ahead of the general election. We have limited resources when it comes to campaigning locally.
"But we’ve got to start somewhere. People underestimate Reform UK - and they underestimate us in this election too."
The party did not win any seats on the council.
Mr Taylor received 260 votes in Crome, while his colleague in Mile Cross, Stephen Bailey, received 153.
Mr Bailey said he was simply "laying the groundwork" for the party's future in Norfolk.
Carl Hicks stood for Reform UK in Sewell, receiving 105 votes, while Eric Masters stood for the party in Wensum, receiving 137.
FULL RESULTS
Town Close:
Chris Smith (L) 1,481
Ian Stutely (Ind) 1,432
Mary Chacksfield (C) 445
David Fairbairn (LD) 188
Rejected/spoiled: 18
Majority: 49
Turnout: 43.66pc
Sewell:
Gary Champion (G) 1,667
Paul Guille (L) 878
Georgi Dimitrov (C) 128
Carl Hicks (Reform UK) 105
Helen Arundell (LD) 75
Rejected/spoiled: 23
Majority: 789
Turnout: 36.9pc
Nelson:
Lucy Galvin (G) 2,205
Michael Howard (L) 1,260
John Fisher (C) 159
Philip Jimenez (LD) 125
Ben Clarke (Communist Party) 122
Rejected/spoiled: 26
Majority: 945
Turnout: 46.84pc
Thorpe Hamlet:
Ash Haynes (G) 1,288
Jane Overhill (L) 1,142
Alice Burt (C) 332
Jeremy Hooke (LD) 121
Rejected/spoilt: 21
Majority: 146
Turnout: 36.11pc
Eaton:
James Wright (LD) 2,027
George Heaney (L) 860
Jane Saunders (G) 518
Iain Gwynn (C) 496
Rejected/spoilt: 13
Majority: 1,167
Turnout: 49.23pc
University:
Emma Hampton (L) 1,212
James Hawketts (LD) 637
Sean Gough (G) 487
Cody Butler (C) 170
Rejected/spoiled: 24
Majority: 575
Turnout: 27.75pc
Lakenham:
Carli Harper (L) 1,433
Ell Folan (G) 452
Robert Hammond (C) 302
Carol Chilton (LD) 151
Nicola Aldous (Ind) 124
Rejected/spoilt: 19
Majority: 981
Turnout: 31.51pc
Wensum:
Toby Bolton (G) 1,395
Martin Peek (L) 1,060
John Ward (C) 158
Eric Masters (Reform UK) 137
John Ward (C) 158
Gordon Dean (LD) 82
Rejected/spoiled: 28
Majority: 335
Turnout: 33.4pc
Mile Cross:
Charlie Caine (G) 1,016
Jasper Haywood (L) 948
Stephen Bailey (Reform UK) 153
Edita Szabo (C) 145
Neil Hardman (LD) 74
Matty Watson (Ind) 42
Rejected/spoiled: 14
Majority: 68
Turnout: 30.26pc
Mancroft:
Martin Schmeirer (G) 1,579
Stuart McLaren (L) 675
Jane Fisher (C) 211
Alan Wright (LD) 88
Rejected/spoiled: 22
Majority: 904
Turnout: 32.58pc
Bowthorpe:
Sue Sands (L) 1,201
Rebeka Jones (C) 342
Oliver Springate-Baginski (G) 226
Sean Bennett (LD) 172
Rejected/spoiled ballots: 7
Majority: 859
Turnout: 27.45pc
Crome:
Adam Giles (L) 1,260
Tod James (C) 396
James Killbery (G) 344
Nick Taylor (Reform UK) 260
Nigel Lubbock (LD) 105
Rejected/spoiled 14
Majority: 864
Turnout: 28.58pc
Catton Grove:
Mike Stonard (L) 1,078
Simon Jones (C) 470
Tony Park (G) 423
Ian Williams (LD) 129
Rejected/spoiled ballots 20
Majority 608
Turnout: 27.72pc
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