title: Teesdale District Council elections
text: # Teesdale District Council elections
  
  Teesdale District Council elections were generally held every four years between the council's creation in 1974 and its abolition in 2009. Teesdale was a non-metropolitan district in County Durham, England. On 1 April 2009 the council's functions passed to Durham County Council, which became a unitary authority.
  
  ## Political control
  
  The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council from 1973 until its abolition in 2009 was held by the following parties:
  
  | Party in control | Party in control | Years |
  | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | 1973–2009 |
  
  ### Leadership
  
  The last leader of the council was:
  
  | Councillor | Party | Party | From | To |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Richard Betton | | Independent | pre-2008 | 31 Mar 2009 |
  
  ## Council elections
  
  | Election | Labour | Liberal Democrat | Conservative | Independent | Total | Notes |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1973 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 29 | |
  | 1976 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 29 | |
  | 1979 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 29 | |
  | 1983 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 31 | New ward boundaries |
  | 1987 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 31 | |
  | 1991 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 31 | District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same |
  | 1995 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 31 | |
  | 1999 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 31 | |
  | 2003 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 32 | New ward boundaries |
  | 2007 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 32 | |
  
  ## By-election results
  
  The following is an incomplete list of by-elections to Teesdale District Council.
  
  