Now that the dust from the local elections has cleared I can return to finding time to write a post. The election in Holme Valley North saw the defeat of the sitting Independent councillor - unforunately by a Tory and not the Lib Dem candidate. The ‘blue wave’ was seen in Kirklees as in most of the country. As well as HVN they also picked up Denby Dale from Labour - but failed in their assault on us in Lindley. Overall we were up one to 19, the Tories up 2 to 22, Labour down one to 21, the BNP down one to 2 and the Independents down one to 1. So the Tories are now the largest party but otherwise there is little strategic change. The AGM is next week and we shall have to wait to see exactly what the dispositions are.