Photo: Robert Graham · CC BY-SA 2.0No party holds a majority on Hartlepool Borough Council
Hartlepool is run by Hartlepool Borough Council. No party holds a majority on Hartlepool Borough Council. Its MP is Mr Jonathan Brash (Labour), member for Hartlepool.
£2,558
Band D, a year, the middle band every council sets its tax from.
Where it goes →How Hartlepool’s politics has changed since 2021
No majority on Hartlepool Borough Council
Labour, the largest group, holds 17 of its 36 seats as elected, 2 short of the 19 needed. Reform UK holds 13, independents 3 and the Conservatives 3. Who’s in charge ↓
The 2026 vote
Across Hartlepool’s wards, Reform UK took 49.7%, Labour took 25.3% and the Conservatives took 9.9% of votes in May 2026. In 2024, Reform UK had 14.3%. How Hartlepool has voted ↓
Council tax
A Band D bill in Hartlepool is £2,557 for 2026–27; Hartlepool Borough Council keeps 83% of it. The council area’s Band D has risen 46% in ten years, against England’s 56%. Council money ↓
Written from the data on this page: Democracy Club results since May 2021, the UK Parliament Members API and MHCLG council tax.
No party has a majority
Seats by party as elected. A party needs 19 of Hartlepool’s 36 seats to run the council alone.
- Labour17
- Reform UK13
- Conservative3
- Independent3
Latest election: May 2026.
Seats are counted from election results: each ward’s most recent winners until its seats are filled. Councillors who have since changed party or resigned aren’t reflected, and which parties lead the council, and who is leader, comes from the council itself.
Results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), elections since May 2021; seats per ward from its EveryElection.
The councils that run Hartlepool
One council runs every main service here.
The parish council for the part of Hartlepool inside Headland parish.
4% of Hartlepool’s residents · Band D precept £26
Every main council service: schools, social care, roads, bins, planning, housing and libraries.
Website ↗Transport, skills and regeneration across several council areas. It is led by an elected mayor.
Mayor: Ben Houchen (Conservative), elected May 2024
Who to ask
From GOV.UK’s “Understand how your council works”: here one council runs every main service.
96% of Hartlepool’s residents live outside any parish, with no parish council.
Councils from ONS lookups (wards and councils May 2026, parishes 2025), names and websites from GOV.UK’s local council finder; parish councils from MHCLG’s 2026–27 list of precepting parishes.
From the parish to Westminster
Every elected tier that speaks for Hartlepool, from the most recent elections.
- 1Town or parishParish tierHeadland parish council
- 2Hartlepool Borough Council12 wards · 36 councillorsLabour 17 · Reform UK 13 · Independent 3 · Conservative 3 · all 36
- 3Mayor of Tees Valley Combined AuthorityTees Valley Combined Authority · elected May 2024Ben Houchen
- 4Police and crime commissionerCleveland Police · elected May 2024Matt Storey
- 5House of CommonsHartlepool
Party colours are neutral on purpose: they tell parties apart and aren’t the parties’ own. Tap an MP’s name for their contact page on parliament.uk.
36 councillors for 12 wards
Wards with at least 2% of the town’s residents, or half their own inside it. Each shows who won its most recent elections, newest first, until its seats are filled.
- Ronald BuglassReform UK · May 2026
- Katherine Fiona CookLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Ben ClaytonLabour and Co-operative · May 2023
- Amanda Elizabeth NapperReform UK · May 2026
- Ed DoyleReform UK · July 2025 · by-election
- Martin Neil ScarboroughLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Rob StevensonReform UK · May 2026
- Carole ThompsonLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Martin DunbarLabour and Co-operative · May 2023
- Nick AndersonReform UK · May 2026
- Michael JorgesonLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Brenda Mary HarrisonLabour and Co-operative · May 2023
- Scott GaiteyReform UK · May 2026
- John NelsonLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Matthew Alexander DoddsLabour and Co-operative · May 2023
- Graham HarrisonReform UK · May 2026
- Owen Craig RiddleLabour and Co-operative · September 2024 · by-election
- Corinne MaleLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Christine WileyReform UK · May 2026
- Quewone Bailey-FleetLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Tom FeeneyLabour and Co-operative · May 2023
- Adam GainesReform UK · May 2026
- Christopher WallaceLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Karen OliverLabour and Co-operative · May 2023
- Peter StoreyReform UK · May 2026
- Sue LittleIndependent · May 2024
- Leisa SmithIndependent · May 2023
- Brian CowieReform UK · May 2026
- Aaron RoyLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Rob DarbyConservative · May 2023
- Richie HughesReform UK · May 2026
- Scott ReeveConservative · May 2024
- Mike YoungConservative · May 2023
- Dave BruceReform UK · May 2026
- Jim LindridgeIndependent · May 2024
- Philip HolbrookLabour and Co-operative · May 2023
Show as a table
| Ward | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manor Houseall in Hartlepool · 8,539 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Ronald BuglassKatherine Fiona CookBen Clayton | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Throstonall in Hartlepool · 8,254 residents3 seats · May 2026, July 2025, May 2024 | 3 | Amanda Elizabeth NapperEd Doyleby-electionMartin Neil Scarborough | May 2026, July 2025, May 2024 |
| Foggy Furzeall in Hartlepool · 8,151 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Rob StevensonCarole ThompsonMartin Dunbar | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| De Bruceall in Hartlepool · 8,055 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Nick AndersonMichael JorgesonBrenda Mary Harrison | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Headland & Harbourall in Hartlepool · 7,785 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Scott GaiteyJohn NelsonMatthew Alexander Dodds | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Burn Valleyall in Hartlepool · 7,633 residents3 seats · May 2026, September 2024, May 2024 | 3 | Graham HarrisonOwen Craig Riddleby-electionCorinne Male | May 2026, September 2024, May 2024 |
| Rossmereall in Hartlepool · 7,514 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Christine WileyQuewone Bailey-FleetTom Feeney | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Victoriaall in Hartlepool · 7,490 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Adam GainesChristopher WallaceKaren Oliver | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Seatonall in Hartlepool · 7,197 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Peter StoreySue LittleLeisa Smith | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Hartmostly in Hartlepool · 6,834 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Brian CowieAaron RoyRob Darby | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Rural Westmostly in Hartlepool · 5,302 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Richie HughesScott ReeveMike Young | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Fens & Greathammostly in Hartlepool · 5,247 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Dave BruceJim LindridgePhilip Holbrook | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
Councillors can resign, change party or sit as independents between elections; a by-election winner replaces someone not named here. Hartlepool Borough Council’s website lists who sits now.
Results from Democracy Club’s candidates database (CC BY 4.0; elections since May 2021) and ward seats from its EveryElection, matched to ONS wards (May 2026) and county divisions (May 2025).
Who led each council vote, 2021–2026
Share of all votes cast for candidates in Hartlepool’s wards at each scheduled council election since 2021. A gap is a year with no election here.
Seats won at each election
Show as a table
| Party | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.8% | 9.4% |
| Labour | 31.4% | 40.1% | 44.6% | 46.5% | 25.3% |
| Independent | 31.5% | 15.8% | 23.8% | 13.5% | 3.2% |
| Conservative | 25.5% | 37.9% | 22.6% | 24.6% | 9.9% |
| Reform UK | 2.3% | 2.3% | 7.5% | 14.3% | 49.7% |
| Veterans and People’s Party | 6.2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
In 2026, Reform UK won 12 of the 12 seats up in Hartlepool’s wards.
Results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0). Where a ward elects several councillors at once, each voter has that many votes; all of them count here.
Hartlepool council election, May 2026
Results in the wards that make up Hartlepool, as declared. Percentages are of votes cast for candidates in each ward; where a ward elects several councillors, each voter has that many votes.
12 wards voted. Hartlepool elects a third of its councillors at a time, so a third of the seats were up.
No election is scheduled yet for Hartlepool’s wards in Democracy Club’s list. Councils publish a notice of election about five weeks before polling day.
Who can I vote for? ↗1,569 votes for candidates
1,896 votes for candidates
2,112 votes for candidates
Every ward’s result (9 more)
1,799 votes for candidates
2,170 votes for candidates
2,061 votes for candidates
1,578 votes for candidates
1,761 votes for candidates
2,338 votes for candidates
2,489 votes for candidates
3,031 votes for candidates
2,629 votes for candidates
Candidates and results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), from councils’ declared results; polling dates from Democracy Club’s EveryElection.
Hartlepool is in Hartlepool constituency
The constituency’s MP and the 4 July 2024 general election, the whole constituency’s result.
35,511 votes for candidates · majority 7,698
Labour, MP since 4 July 2024.
turnout in July 2024: 35,511 votes from 71,437 registered voters. England: 60%.
Majority 7,698 of 35,511 votes (21.7%): wider than in 70% of England’s 543 constituencies.
MPs and results: UK Parliament Members API (Open Parliament Licence v3.0); constituencies from ONS (2024 boundaries). Percentages are of valid votes; turnout is votes cast over the electorate.
Hartlepool’s Band D council tax is £2,557 a year
Where a Band D bill goes, what it has cost over the years, and what the councils plan to spend per resident.
Hartlepool Borough Council keeps £2,124.69 of a Band D bill (83%); the rest goes to the Cleveland police and crime commissioner and the Cleveland Fire and Rescue Authority.
Across the whole town the average Band D is £2,558 (parishes differ; weighted by residents).
Band D since 1993
Hartlepool’s Band D bill has risen 46% in ten years, from £1,757.20 in 2016–17, against England’s average (56%). It was £654.75 in 1993–94.
Your bill by band
A Band D home in the unparished part of Hartlepool, 2026–27, before discounts. The Valuation Office Agency’s band search gives any home’s band.
County Durham’s councils
Average Band D in each council area, 2026–27, parish precepts included. Bars start at £2,300.
Council budgets per resident, 2026–27
Show as a table, with County Durham
| Hartlepool | Hartlepool’s councils | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult social care | £508 | £443 | £487 |
| Children’s social care | £560 | £394 | £290 |
| Roads and transport | £70 | £48 | £41 |
| Housing (not council homes’ rents) | £32 | £36 | £61 |
| Bins, street cleaning, environment | £132 | £125 | £119 |
| Libraries, leisure, culture | £63 | £65 | £44 |
| Planning and development | £13 | £23 | £26 |
| Public health | £121 | £116 | £78 |
| Running the council | £86 | £57 | £59 |
| Other | £0 | £33 | £19 |
| Total, schools apart | £1,585 | £1,340 | £1,234 |
Net budgeted service spending, MHCLG Revenue Account budget 2026–27, per resident (ONS mid-2025 estimates). Schools are left out: academies are paid for directly by government, so council school budgets depend on how many schools have converted. County Durham and England: all their councils together. Police, fire and transport authorities aren’t included.
Band D: MHCLG Band D council tax 2026–27 (each authority’s own figure, excluding parish precepts) and Council Tax statistics for town and parish councils 2026–27; since 1993–94, MHCLG’s area averages including parishes.
Having a say in how Hartlepool is run
It takes about five minutes online; the deadline is 12 working days before a poll.
gov.uk ↗Type a postcode to write to each of its councillors and its MP.
WriteToThem ↗GOV.UK sends the report to the council that looks after the road.
gov.uk ↗Council and committee meetings are open to the public, with agendas and minutes online.
hartlepool.gov.uk ↗Anyone can comment while an application is open for consultation.
hartlepool.gov.uk ↗The rules, nomination papers and guidance for council candidates.
Electoral Commission ↗Questions about how Hartlepool is run
Does Hartlepool have a town council?
Parts of it do: Headland parish council.
Who is the MP for Hartlepool?
Mr Jonathan Brash (Labour) is the MP for Hartlepool, which covers Hartlepool.
How many councillors does Hartlepool have?
36 ward councillors represent Hartlepool’s 12 wards.
When are the next elections in Hartlepool?
No election is scheduled yet in Democracy Club’s list for Hartlepool’s wards. The next UK general election must be held by August 2029.
How much is council tax in Hartlepool?
Band D council tax in Hartlepool is £2,558 for 2026–27. Your bill depends on your home’s band, from A (6/9 of Band D) to H (18/9).
Who controls Hartlepool Borough Council?
No party has a majority. As elected, Labour 17 · Reform UK 13 · Independent 3 · Conservative 3 of 36 seats; a majority needs 19. The council’s website lists who leads it now.
Who won the 2026 council election in Hartlepool?
In Hartlepool’s wards on 7 May 2026, Reform UK 12 of the 12 seats up. Reform UK had the largest share of votes, 49.7%.
Sources: ONS ward, county division, parish, constituency lookups (Census 2021 output areas; Open Government Licence v3.0) · GOV.UK local council finder · Democracy Club candidates (CC BY 4.0) and EveryElection · UK Parliament Members API (Open Parliament Licence v3.0) · MHCLG Band D council tax, parish precepts and Revenue Account budgets 2026–27 (OGL v3.0) · ONS mid-2025 population estimates. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.