Voters in the Bournemouth, Poole, and Broadstone areas have elected 50 new town councillors following local elections held on 7 May 2026. The new representatives will serve on three newly established authorities that legally came into existence on 1 April 2026, marking a significant change in how local community issues are managed across the region overseen by BCP Council.
The election results were announced on 8 May 2026 after votes were verified and counted at the Bournemouth International Centre. Reform UK secured the largest number of seats on both the new Bournemouth Town Council and Poole Town Council. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats hold the most seats on the Broadstone Town Council. Voter turnout varied across the three areas, with Broadstone recording the highest participation at 49.77%, followed by Poole at 37.35% and Bournemouth at 34.13%.
These new councils were established following a community governance review, despite opposition expressed during public consultations. Records show that 78% of respondents in the Bournemouth area and 59% of those in Broadstone were against the creation of the new bodies. The decision to proceed followed a BCP Council vote that rejected a proposal to delay the establishment of these councils until 2027.
To fund the new authorities, residents will see an additional charge on their Council Tax bills, known as a precept. The annual cost for a Band D property is set at £29.47 for Bournemouth, £32.56 for Poole, and £60.34 for Broadstone. In total, the three councils are expected to collect approximately £4.18 million annually to support their operations.
The town councils will focus on local concerns such as managing community facilities, parks, green spaces, and allotments. They will also oversee local events and provide grants to community groups. These bodies will not be responsible for major infrastructure services, including highway maintenance, social care, waste and recycling, or planning decisions, which remain under the remit of the main unitary authority.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
