Eastbourne Borough Council election, 2007

Map of the results of the 2007 Eastbourne Borough Council election. Liberal Democrats in yellow and Conservatives in blue.

The 2007 Eastbourne Borough Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Eastbourne Borough Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats gained overall control of the council from the Conservative party.^[1]

Background

After the 2006 election the Conservatives controlled the council with a majority of 3,^[2] with 15 seats, compared to 12 for the Liberal Democrats.^[3] For 2007 the council changed from the previous system whereby a third of the council was elected each year, to instead have the whole council elected every 4 years, after a unanimous vote by the council.^[2] Earlier in 2007 Norman Marsh left the Liberal Democrats to sit as an independent, while Liberal Democrat Irene Sims resigned from the council.^[2]

A record 89 candidates stood at the election,^[3] up from the previous high of 81 in 2002 when the entire council was last elected.^[2] Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats stood a full 27 candidates, compared to 12 for Labour, 9 Green Party and 5 UK Independence Party.^[2] Councillors standing down at the election included Conservatives Patrick Bowker and David Stevens, Liberal Democrat Robert Slater and independent Norman Marsh.^[3]

Election result

The Liberal Democrats made 9 gains to take control of the council from the Conservatives^[4] for the first time since 2004, with 8 of the gains being from the Conservatives.^[5] The Liberal Democrats gained seats in Old Town, Sovereign and Upperton wards to hold 20 seats and have a majority of 13, while the Conservatives were reduced to 7 seats.^[6] The Conservatives losses included the leader of the council, Ian Lucas, in Old Town and the cabinet member for finance, Chris Williams, in Sovereign.^[7] Overall turnout at the election was 42.26%,^[8] compared to 40.70% in 2006.^[9]

The Liberal Democrat victory was attributed to the introduction of parking charges in Eastbourne by Conservative controlled East Sussex County Council and to a decision by borough councillors to increase their expenses by 52%.^[6] Following the election David Tutt became the new leader of the council, while the national Liberal Democrat Menzies Campbell came to Eastbourne to celebrate the result.^[10][11][12]

Ward results

References

Council elections in East Sussex East Sussex County Council 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 Brighton and Hove City Council 1996 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Eastbourne Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2011 2015 Hastings Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 Lewes District Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Rother District Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Wealden District Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Brighton Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 Abolished Hove Borough Council 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 Abolished

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