77 electoral divisions returned one county councillor each by first-past-the-post voting for a four-year term of office.

Those who were temporarily away from their ordinary address (for example, away working, on holiday, in student accommodation or in hospital) were also entitled to vote in the local elections,[1] although those who had moved abroad and registered as overseas electors cannot vote in the local elections.

It is possible to register to vote at more than one address (such as a university student who had a term-time address and lives at home during holidays) at the discretion of the local Electoral Register Office, but it remains an offence to vote more than once in the same local government election.

The party previously enjoyed a sizable majority, holding around three quarters of the seats.

[5] UKIP lost six of its councillors to defections shortly after the election, and as a result Labour became the official opposition.