Sheffield City Council elections took place on 5 May 2011. There were 28 seats up for election, one third of the council. The last election left the council with no overall control. Since the previous election, Liberal Democrat councillor Ben Curran, and Lib Dem-turned-independent Frank Taylor had defected to Labour leaving both parties equal at 41 councillors each. This election saw Labour regain control of the council that they lost in 2006, with nine gains from the Lib Dems. Overall turnout was 41.8%.[1]