Elections to Brighton and Hove City Council were held on 5 May 2011, in line with other local elections in the United Kingdom. The whole council, a unitary authority, was up for election with 54 councillors elected from 21 wards.

Quick Facts All 54 council seats 28 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

2011 Brighton and Hove City Council election

← 2007 5 May 2011 2015 →
All 54 council seats 28 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Party Green Conservative Labour Last election 13 seats, 20.7% 26 seats, 34.6% 13 seats, 24.7% Seats won 23 18 13 Seat change 10 8 Popular vote 73,832 64,837 71,738 Percentage 32.8% 28.8% 31.7% Swing 12.1% 6.1% 7.0%
Map of results of 2011 election
Previous Largest Party before election Conservative Subsequent Largest Party Green

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The Green Party made significant gains, overtaking the Conservatives to become the largest party with 23 seats, the largest Green group on any council. The Greens gained seats at the expense of all three other parties, taking the only ward previously in Liberal Democrat hands. The Conservatives lost not only to the Greens but to Labour Co-op candidates in different parts of the city.^[1]

The Greens, Conservatives and Labour Co-op fielded candidates for every seat on the council. The Liberal Democrats contested all but one ward. The UK Independence Party, European Citizens Party and Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts also fielded candidates. In addition, there were six independents standing, including re-standing councillor and former Liberal Democrat David Watkins.^[2]

Following the election the Labour Co-operative group rejected the possibility of forming a coalition with the Green Party, who then went on to form the first ever Green council administration in the UK, as a minority administration.^[3][4]

Following the election, the composition of the council was as follows:

Green: 23 Conservative: 18 Labour: 13

Since the 2007 Council Election there were a number of changes to the make up of the council:

In the Regency, Goldsmid and St. Peter's & North Laine wards there were by-elections, all of which were won or held by the Green Party. In Brunswick and Adelaide one councillor, David Watkins resigned from the Liberal Democrats and stood as an independent in this election. Jayne Bennett, who was elected as an Independent in the 2007 election in the Stanford/Hove Park ward, rejoined the Conservative Party (which she had left in 2002^[5]), and stood as such in 2011.

Two ward names were changed during the four-year period: Hollingbury and Stanmer became Hollingdean and Stanmer, and Stanford ward was renamed Hove Park, using the council's powers under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.