Here is everything you need to know about South Tyneside Council ahead of election day on Thursday, May 5, from registration deadlines to potentially swinging seats.
Roughly 70 candidates registered their interest in the latest round of elections in South Tyneside, each holding high hopes of representing one of the borough's 18 wards.
This article was published in advance of the local elections but the winning candidates are indicated in bold below. Full results by ward including how every candidate scored are here.
Here is the full list of election results from the night.
How many councillors are up for election?
At least one seat in each of the electoral wards is up for grabs on polling day itself, with two available in Harton after the death of long-serving councillor of Rob Dix in February.
In total, 19 councillors will be elected on the night. You can find a full list of every candidate standing at the bottom of this article.
What is the current makeup of the council?
The Labour Party currently have the controlling share of South Tyneside Council with 45 seats. It also has four independent councillors, three Green Party and two Conservatives. Labour has been in power for almost the entirety of the council's history since being formed in 1974, minus a year of no control from 1978 to 1979.
The results of the last local elections of 2021 saw the ruling party lose two seats to the Greens, one to the Conservatives, and one to an independent candidate. Labour also dropped five seats in 2019.
Read more: Local elections LIVE 2022
Who is the leader of the council?
Tracey Dixon has led South Tyneside Council since 2020. She was previously deputy to Iain Malcolm, who had been in charge since 2008 but resigned amid allegations of bullying council staff and creating a 'culture of fear'.
Which seats are being fought?
Labour will no doubt hope not to lose any more ground in the four wards that they lost in the 2021 local elections, a turn of events which was considered a 'bruising' for the controlling party. Green Party's Sue Stonehouse took a further seat in Beacon and Bents with a majority of more than 700 that night, while colleague Peter Bristow also won over West Park.
In Beacon and Bents, Angela Hamilton is stepping down this year. She recently released a tearful video announcing her decision, having repeatedly clashed with Labour Party bosses in the borough and quitting the council's Labour group last year. Fay Cunningham will hope to cling onto that seat for Labour, but a victory for Sarah Mckeown would see it become an all-Green ward. Independent David Wood and Tory Ali Hayder are also in the running.
Cleadon and East Boldon is also one to watch. Ian Forster became the only Tory on the council when he won there in May 2021 and was then joined by Stan Wildhirt later in the year, when he claimed a narrow 46-vote victory in a by-election last September. Coun Wildhirt is on the ballot again next month hoping to defend his seat, once more vying with Green challenger David Herbert and Labour's Philip Toulson.
Primrose was the other ward Labour lost in last year, as independent David Kennedy claimed a 110-vote majority. The ruling party have another seat to defend there this time around, with Moira Smith bidding to hold onto her place.
How can I get a postal vote?
Postal vote applications must be also received by Tuesday, April 19 at 5pm. Those wishing to vote by proxy must submit their application by Tuesday, April 26 at 5pm. The deadline for registring to vote was Thursday, April 14.
Full list of candidates standing in South Tyneside's 2022 local elections:
Beacon and Bents
Fay Cunningham (Labour)
Ali Hayder (Conservatives)
Sarah Jean McKeown (Green)
David Wood (Independent)
Bede
John Michael Chilton (Green)
Stephen Dean (Labour)
Bill Smith (Conservatives)
Joanna Tuck (Independent)
Biddick and All Saints
Mark Ashley Auton (Conservatives)
Katharine Emma Maxwell (Labour)
Rachel Milne (Green)
Boldon Colliery
Peter Collins (Green)
Simon Kevin Oliver (Independent)
Vincent John Richardson (North East)
Alison Strike (Labour)
Donald Wood (Conservative)
Cleadon and East Boldon
David Herbert (Green)
Philip Toulson (Labour)
Stan Wildhirt (Conservatives)
Cleadon Park
Jim Foreman (Labour)
Steven Alexander Harrison (Independent)
John Gordon Riley (Green)
Chris Sanderson (Conservatives)
Fellgate and Hedworth
Ian Jason Diamond (Independent)
Nicky Glynn (Green)
Geraldine Margaret Teresa Kilgour (Labour and Cooperative)
David Albert Morris (Independent)
Anthony Maurice Spinks (Conservative)
Harton
Michael Henry Clare (Labour)
Chloe Joanne Grant (Conservative)
Neil Maxwell (Labour)
Lawrence Nolan (Independent)
Sophie-Jane Williams (Green)
Hebburn North
Costi Dumitru (Conservative)
Emmanuel John Velasco Michael (Green)
Richie Porthouse (Labour)
Hebburn South
Brian Goodman (Independent)
Angela Lamonte (Labour)
Tia Jade McMurray Sinclair (Conservative)
Colin Robert Tosh (Green)
Horsley Hill
Phil Brown (Independent)
Carl Duncan (Conservative)
Eileen Leask (Labour)
Carrie Danielle Richardson (Green)
Monkton
Rhiannon Sian Curtis (Green)
Paul Dean (Labour)
Simon Mark Salloway (Conservative)
Marian Elizabeth Stead (Independent)
Primrose
Kevin Alderson (Green)
John Andrew Robertson (Independent)
Moira Smith (Labour and Cooperative)
Margaret Theresa Snowling (Conservative)
Simonside and Rekendyke
Leyla Al-Sayadi (Green)
Julie Angela Angell (Independent)
Lynne Ann Proudlock (Labour)
Craig Slater (Conservative)
West Park
Moyra Day (Conservative)
Andrew James Guy (Green)
Masuda Piya Rahman (Labour)
Westoe
Paul Daniel Brenen (Independent)
Georgie Holt (Green)
Nigel Mark Reedman (Independent)
Michelle Teresa Turnbull (Labour)
Whitburn and Marsden
Jane Carter (Labour)
Rachel Louise Lowe (Green)
Dawn Wildhirt (Conservative)
Whiteleas
Ken Dawes (Labour)
Bethany Dionne Telford (Green)
Heidi Wildhirt (Conservative)
Kenneth George Wood (Independent)
