elections to the district council are held in three out of every four years, with one-third of the 33 seats on the council being elected at each election. labour had a majority from the first election in 1973 until the 2002 election. from then until the 2008 election no party had a majority. the conservatives gained control in 2008, but lost it back to labour at the 2012 election and as of the 2018 election the council was composed of the following councillors:-