Local elections are being held this week across the UK, with South Tyneside one of five areas in the region where voters are going to the polls.
Though dominated by Labour, there are sure to be plenty of things to watch this polling day. One major change has already been put in place, with voters now forced to show photo ID to cast their ballot.
Here is your guide to what's happening in South Tyneside on May 4.
Read more: Local elections 2023: Your guide to what's happening in Tyne and Wear on May 4
When is the count being held and when will we know the results?
South Tyneside will start to count its ballots as soon as the polls close at 10pm at the Temple Park Centre in South Shields. Results are expected between 11:45pm on Thursday and 1am on May 5.
How many councillors are up for election?
A third of the council's seats are up for grabs, one in each of South Tyneside's wards. In total, 18 councillors will be elected on the night and you can find a full list of every candidate standing at the bottom of this article.
The Labour Group and Green Party are standing candidates in all 18 wards and the Conservatives are standing candidates in 15. 16 independent candidates are also standing across the majority of the borough's wards. A number of councillors will stand down their terms at the end of the year, so a raft of fresh faces are expected once the results are in.
What is the current make up of the council?
Labour has been in power in South Tyneside since 1979. Following last year's elections, the party had an overwhelming majority of the council's 54 seats with 41.
The remaining 13 seats saw the Green Party and Independents taking six each, with the one remaining belonging to the Conservative Party.
Who is the leader of the council?
Coun Tracey Dixon is the leader of South Tyneside Council and represents the Whitburn and Marsden ward for Labour. She took the role in November 2020 following the resignation of long-term council leader Iain Malcolm.
What else is to watch out for on election night?
One matter to keep an eye on is the fight for Cleadon and East Boldon, the only seat currently held by a Conservative councillor. Jeff Milburn, a former Conservative councillor who was disqualified from his position after receiving a suspended jail term for taking a knife into South Tyneside Magistrates' Court, will stand as an independent candidate for the ward.
Full list of candidates standing in South Tyneside 2023 local elections:
BEACON AND BENTS
David Roger Francis (Green Party)
Ali Hayder (Conservative Party)
Masuda Piya Rahman (Labour Party)
David Wood (Independent)
BEDE
John Michael Chilton (Green Party)
Sean McDonagh (Labour Party)
Keith Roberts (Independent)
William Smith (Conservative Party)
BIDDICK AND ALL SAINTS
Natalie Bell (Independent)
Moynul Hussain (Labour Party)
Rachael Milne (Green Party)
John Wood (Conservative Party)
BOLDON COLLIERY
Fay Cunningham (Labour Party)
Simon Kevin Oliver (Independent)
Darius Seago (Green Party)
Donald Wood (Conservative Party)
CLEADON AND EAST BOLDON
Shirley Florence Ford (Green Party)
Georgia Jamieson (Labour Party)
Jeff Milburn (No description)
Stan Wildhirt (Conservative Party)
CLEADON PARK
Steven Harrison (Independent)
John Gordon Riley (Green Party)
Chris Sanderson (Conservative Party)
Susan Malcolm Traynor (Labour Party)
FELLGATE AND HEDWORTH
Nic Cook (Green Party)
Ian Jason Diamond (Independent)
Jay Potts (Labour Party)
HARTON
Rhiannon Sian Curtis (Green Party)
Neil Maxwell (Labour Party)
Jim Mouat (Reform UK)
Lawrence Nolan (Independent)
HEBBURN NORTH
Adam Ellison (Labour Party)
Tia Jade McMurray Sinclair (Conservative Party)
Colin Robert Tosh (Green Party)
Shay Whitehead (Liberal Democrats)
HEBBURN SOUTH
Carl Duncan (Conservative Party)
Brian Goodman (Independent)
Shane Andrew Smith (Labour Party)
Briony Elizabeth Sommers (Green Party)
HORSLEY HILL
Ruth Rachael Berkley (Labour Party)
Phil Brown (Independent)
Chloe Joanne Grant (Conservative Party)
Carrie Richardson (Green Party)
MONKTON
Chris Davies (Green Party)
Michael Robert Ferry (Conservative Party)
Margaret Mary Meling (Labour and Co-operative Party)
PRIMROSE
Kevin Brydon (Labour Party)
Emmanuel John Velasco Michael (Green Party)
Paul James Milburn (Independent)
Luke Andrew Robson (Conservative Party)
SIMONSIDE AND REKENDYKE
Aaron Michael Cain (Conservative Party)
Judith Helen Taylor (Labour Party)
Bethany Dionne Telford (Green Party)
Kenneth George Wood (Independent)
WEST PARK
Julie Angela Angell (Independent)
Shaun Connolly (Conservative Party)
Anne Mellanby Hetherington (Labour Party)
Justin Knight (Independent)
Jim Yare (Green Party)
WESTOE
Georgina Holt (Green Party)
Mark Ireland (Liberal Democrats)
Nigel Mark Reedman (Independent)
Glenn Michael Thompson (Independent)
Michelle Teresa Turnbull (Labour Party)
WHITBURN AND MARSDEN
Edward Littley (Green Party)
Joyce Welsh (Labour and Co-operative Party)
Heidi Wildhirt (Conservative Party)
WHITELEAS
Robin Anthony Coombes (Independent)
Ernest Matthew Gibson (Labour Party)
Dawn Wildhirt (Conservative Party)
Sophie Jane Williams (Green Party)
Read next
All the candidates standing for election onto South Tyneside Council on May 4
The complete list of polling stations across the North East for local elections 2023
Newcastle City Council local elections 2023: All the candidates, big issues, and seats to watch
Political rivals prepare for Newcastle election showdown as Labour leadership battle reignites
Photo ID, face coverings and proxy ballots: Voting guidance for upcoming local elections
