Eastbourne Borough Council election, 1998

The 1998 Eastbourne Borough Council election took place on 7 May 1998 to elect members of Eastbourne Borough Council in East Sussex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats stayed in overall control of the council.[1]

After the election, the composition of the council was

Election result

2 seats were contested in Langney and Roselands wards after the resignation of the councillors Lesley Morris and John Ungar respectively.[2] Overall turnout at the election was 31.77%, down from 36.35% in 1996.[2]

Eastbourne local election result 1998[2][3]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal Democrat 6 0 3 -3 50.0 48.2 11,993
  Conservative 6 3 0 +3 50.0 40.0 9,949
  Labour 0 0 0 0 0 10.2 2,549
  Independent 0 0 0 0 0 1.0 250
  Liberal 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 133

Ward results

Devonshire[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sheila Charlton 737 42.8
Liberal Democrat Beverley Berry 735 42.7
Labour Jacqueline Frisby 249 14.5
Majority 2 0.1
Turnout 1,721 31.1
Conservative hold Swing
Downside[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Albert Leggett 1,337 69.5
Conservative Christian Usher 399 20.7
Labour Robert Rossetter 188 9.8
Majority 938 48.8
Turnout 1,924 32.3
Liberal Democrat hold Swing
Hampden Park[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Mary Pooley 1,039 59.6
Labour Alan French 453 26.0
Conservative Jeanie Sowerby 251 14.4
Majority 586 33.6
Turnout 1,743 28.7
Liberal Democrat hold Swing
Langney (2 seats)[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Gary Potter 1,413
Liberal Democrat Robert Kerr 1,383
Conservative Ronald Hedger 478
Conservative Leonard Meladio 412
Labour Agnes Reid 307
Independent Steven Wallis 250
Turnout 4,243 23.1
Liberal Democrat hold Swing
Liberal Democrat hold Swing
Meads[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barry Taylor 1,875 74.0
Liberal Democrat Shirley Bloom 658 26.0
Majority 1,217 48.0
Turnout 2,533 38.4
Conservative hold Swing
Ocklynge[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Neeham 995 48.6
Liberal Democrat Walter James 900 43.9
Labour John Morrison 154 7.5
Majority 95 4.6
Turnout 2,049 37.1
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
Ratton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederick Higgins 1,384 62.4
Liberal Democrat John Harris 444 20.0
Labour John Pettigrew 256 11.5
Liberal Mona-Theresia Williamson 133 6.0
Majority 940 42.4
Turnout 2,217 35.5
Conservative hold Swing
Roselands (2 seats)[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Beryl Healy 1,269
Liberal Democrat Neil Stanley 1,070
Conservative Roger Gristwood 434
Conservative Roger Wesson 383
Labour Emile Habets 222
Labour Jonathan Pettigrew 216
Turnout 3,594 28.9
Liberal Democrat hold Swing
Liberal Democrat hold Swing
St Anthony's[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Backhouse 1,419 54.1
Liberal Democrat James Gleeson 907 34.6
Labour John Carmody 295 11.3
Majority 512 19.5
Turnout 2,621 33.8
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
Upperton[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Lacey 1,182 53.0
Liberal Democrat Brian Whitby 838 37.6
Labour Eileen Cronin 209 9.4
Majority 344 15.4
Turnout 2,229 33.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing

By-elections between 1998 and 1999

A by-election was held on 3 September 1998 in Ratton ward after the resignation of Scott Stevens.[2] Conservative Barbara Goodall gained the seat from the Liberal Democrats.[2]

Ratton by-election 3 September 1998[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barbara Goodall 1,183 57.4
Liberal Democrat Jon Harris 741 36.0
Labour Robert Rossetter 134 6.5
Majority 442 21.4
Turnout 2,058 32.6
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Policy and politics: Local Elections: Analysis: Council poll results". The Guardian. 9 May 1998. p. 16.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 "Borough elections". Eastbourne Borough Council. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "Local Elections results". The Times. 9 May 1998. p. 46.