2012 Colchester Borough Council election

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2012 Colchester Borough Council election
Flag of Essex.svg
  2011 3 May 2012 (2012-5-3) 2014  

20 out of 60 seats to Colchester Borough Council
31 seats needed for a majority
Turnout29.4% (Decrease2.svg11.9%)
 First partySecond party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
Party Liberal Democrats Conservative
Seats before2621
Seats won96
Seats after2620
Seat changeSteady2.svgDecrease2.svg 1
Popular vote10,0738,917
Percentage32.6%28.9%
SwingIncrease2.svg 5.1%Decrease2.svg 7.6%

 Third partyFourth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
Party Labour Independent
Seats before73
Seats won41
Seats after83
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Steady2.svg
Popular vote7,4011,405
Percentage24.0%4.5%
SwingIncrease2.svg 2.1%Decrease2.svg 1.6%

Leader of the council before election

Anne Turrell
Liberal Democrats

Leader of the council after election

Anne Turrell
Liberal Democrats

The 2012 Colchester Borough Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Colchester Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control. [1]

Contents

After the election, the composition of the council was

Campaign

Before the election a coalition between the Liberal Democrats with 26 seats, Labour with 7 seats and the 3 independents ran the council, while the 24 Conservatives were in opposition. [2] 20 of the seats were contested at the election with the Conservatives aiming to regain seats they had lost at the 2008 election, while the Local Government Information Unit called the election one of the top 50 contests in the 2012 local elections. [2]

The Conservatives called for the council to change to full council elections every four years, for food waste pick ups to be introduced immediately and for a push to keep the town centre clean. [2] However the Liberal Democrats defended their record in leading the council pointing to a freeze in council tax, recycling rates and contrasted their record in control with the former Conservative administration. [3] Meanwhile, Labour was supported during the campaign by a visit from the former Labour cabinet minister Hazel Blears. [4]

Election result

The only change at the election saw Labour gain one seat from the Conservatives in Wivenhoe Quay. [5] Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats remained the largest party on the council with 26 seats despite losing seats across the country. [5] The existing coalition between the Liberal Democrats, Labour and independents stayed in control of the council after the election. [6]

2012 Colchester Borough Council election [7]
PartyThis electionFull councilThis election
SeatsNetSeats %OtherTotalTotal %VotesVotes %+/−
  Liberal Democrats 9Steady2.svg45.0172643.310,07332.6+5.1
  Conservative 6Decrease2.svg 130.0172338.38,91728.9–7.6
  Labour 4Increase2.svg 120.04813.37,40124.0+2.1
  Independent 1Steady2.svg5.0235.01,4054.5–1.6
  Green 0Steady2.svg0.0000.02,2687.3–0.3
  UKIP 0Steady2.svg0.0000.08242.7+2.3

Ward results

Map of the results of the 2012 Colchester council election. Colchester UK local election 2012 map.svg
Map of the results of the 2012 Colchester council election.

Berechurch

Berechurch Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Kim Alan Naish* 1,044 58.2 −6.4
Liberal Democrats Shibbir Ahmed28616.0+2.2
UKIP John Pitts21912.2N/A
Conservative Hayley Louise Crumb19210.7−7.9
Green Tobie Glenny522.9−0.1
Majority75842.3−3.7
Turnout 1,79327.6−10.7
Registered electors 6,529
Labour Co-op hold Swing Decrease2.svg4.3

Castle

Castle Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Josephine Hayes 861 40.4 +0.3
Green Peter James Lynn39518.6−7.1
Conservative Mohammed Shamim Rashid38217.9−3.1
Labour Robert Fisher28513.4+0.2
UKIP Ron Levy2069.7N/A
Majority46621.9+7.6
Turnout 2,12930.0−9.5
Registered electors 7,157
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase2.svg3.7

Dedham & Langham

Dedham & Langham Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Mark Ashley Cable 596 71.3 −11.5
Liberal Democrats Carolyn Catney819.7+0.3
Labour Paul Henry Fryer-Kelsey819.7+5.4
Green Clarice Elizabeth Mort789.3+5.8
Majority51561.6−11.8
Turnout 83634.2−11.4
Registered electors 2,445
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg5.9

East Donyland

East Donyland Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Michael Edward Charles Lilley 488 64.5 +21.7
Conservative Peter James Hare20927.6−14.4
Green Roger Edwin Bamforth395.2−1.9
Liberal Democrats Susan Mary Waite212.8−5.4
Majority27936.9+36.0
Turnout 75737.3−3.9
Registered electors 2,030
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg18.1

Harbour

Harbour Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Julia Pauline Havis 663 54.7 −3.2
Labour Jordan Alexander Newall29824.6+11.5
UKIP Mark Robert Cole917.5N/A
Conservative Anthony Baines846.9−16.4
Green Clare Teresa Palmer776.3+0.6
Majority36530.1−4.6
Turnout 1,21327.6−28.3
Registered electors 4,403
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease2.svg7.4

Highwoods

Highwoods Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Beverley Anne Oxford 1,211 67.8 +6.4
Conservative Tatiana Mills1679.4−7.3
Labour Michael Finbarr Gilheany1458.1−0.1
Liberal Democrats Barry Ronald Woodward1106.2−3.0
UKIP William John Rowley804.5N/A
Green David John Davis724.0−0.5
Majority1,04458.5+13.8
Turnout 1,78526.3−10.7
Registered electors 6,791
Independent hold Swing Increase2.svg6.9

Lexden

Lexden Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Brian David Henry Jarvis 833 54.2 −1.3
Liberal Democrats Julia Suzanne Nelson39926.0−8.8
Labour John Christopher Wood17411.3+5.9
Green Beverley Ann Maltby1318.5+4.3
Majority43428.2+7.5
Turnout 1,53735.7−36.4
Registered electors 4,303
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.svg3.8

Marks Tey

Marks Tey Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Elizabeth Jewell Blundell* 313 54.4 −9.3
Labour John Spademan16228.2+10.8
Green Robert Charles Brannan508.7+2.3
Liberal Democrats Gillian Mary Collings508.7−8.7
Majority15126.3−20.0
Turnout 57528.5−6.0
Registered electors 2,026
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg10.1

Mile End

Mile End Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Martin Andrew Goss* 1,467 64.4 +3.5
Conservative Benjamin Harvey Locker53523.5−1.1
Labour Michael John Donnachie1848.1−1.8
Green Mary Hilda Bryan914.0−0.6
Majority93240.9+4.6
Turnout 2,27730.7−10.0
Registered electors 7,433
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase2.svg2.3

New Town

New Town Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Peter Michael Higgins 771 52.8 +3.4
Labour Stephen Paul Pattison27318.7−4.7
Green Robert Paul Spence16611.4−2.7
Conservative Lauren Grace McManus1319.0−4.1
UKIP Christopher David Treloar1208.2N/A
Majority49834.1+8.1
Turnout 1,46123.5−10.5
Registered electors 6,243
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase2.svg4.1

Prettygate

Prettygate Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Beverly Ann Davies* 1,048 47.2 +0.2
Liberal Democrats John Martin Loxley66529.9−8.0
Labour Co-op Michael Edward Dale33214.9+4.4
Green Peter Charles Appleton1778.0+3.3
Majority38317.2+8.1
Turnout 2,22237.3−18.1
Registered electors 5,988
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.svg4.1

St. Andrew's

St Andrew's Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tina Jane Dopson* 926 61.3 −6.3
Independent Robert Rex Hunt19412.8N/A
Liberal Democrats Owen Leslie Bartholomew17511.6−1.9
UKIP Harry Raymond Royle1087.2N/A
Conservative Alexander Jordan Evelyn1077.1−7.4
Majority73248.5−4.5
Turnout 1,51024.5−5.5
Registered electors 6,211
Labour hold Swing N/A

St. Anne's

St Anne's Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Helen Chuah* 825 55.2 +5.3
Labour Luke Michael Powell Dopson30520.4+1.0
Conservative Alexandra Claire Hutchinson23415.7−7.8
Green Lucinda Helen Glover1308.7+1.5
Majority52034.8+8.4
Turnout 1,49423.3−10.0
Registered electors 6,433
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase2.svg2.2

St. John's

St John's Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Edward Smith* 994 64.4 +2.3
Conservative Charles Christian McKay33321.6−5.9
Labour Jennifer Mary Fisher1368.8+1.4
Green David Traynier815.2+2.2
Majority66142.8+8.2
Turnout 1,54437.6−34.3
Registered electors 4,102
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase2.svg4.1

Shrub End

Shrub End Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats David Nigel Offen* 745 43.8 +10.1
Conservative Darius Grant Laws51430.3−9.0
Labour Bruce John Tuxford33419.7−1.6
Green Walter Schwarz1066.2+0.5
Majority23113.6N/A
Turnout 1,69925.0−7.9
Registered electors 6,824
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase2.svg9.6

Stanway

Stanway Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Laura Ann Sykes* 1,134 55.0 +4.4
Conservative Bryan Campbell Johnston52025.2−6.0
Labour David Alexander Hough29714.4+0.2
Green Pamela Elizabeth Nelson1115.4+1.5
Majority61429.8+10.4
Turnout 2,06232.7−10.9
Registered electors 6,327
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase2.svg5.2

Tiptree

Tiptree Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Richard Martin* 772 48.1 −10.5
Labour Martyn Keith Warnes58036.1+10.2
Green Katherine Helen Bamforth1569.7+2.4
Liberal Democrats Beth Eileen Margaret Gudgeon976.0−2.3
Majority19212.0−20.7
Turnout 1,60526.8−13.6
Registered electors 6,040
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg10.4

West Mersea

West Mersea Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Glenn Darren Granger 1,196 69.1 +13.9
Labour Barbara Rosemary Nichols26715.4+5.1
Green Francis Ian Barton1388.0+3.5
Liberal Democrats Jennifer Stevens1307.5+0.4
Majority92953.7+21.3
Turnout 1,73129.2−20.4
Registered electors 5,940
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.svg4.4

No Independent candidate as previous (22.8%).

Wivenhoe Cross

Wivenhoe Cross Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Simon Manning* 477 52.8 +1.5
Conservative Mo Metcalf-Fisher19221.3+2.7
Labour Co-op Tyron Ashleigh Wilson17519.4−3.7
Green Maria Iacovou596.5−0.6
Majority28531.6+3.4
Turnout 90325.0−11.8
Registered electors 3,650
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease2.svg0.6

Wivenhoe Quay

Wivenhoe Quay Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Cyril Patrick Liddy 915 52.1 −5.0
Conservative Robert Arthur Needham55931.9+6.3
Green Sandra Adele Moog1599.1−0.6
Liberal Democrats Benjamin David Edward Richards1227.0−0.7
Majority35620.3−11.2
Turnout 1,75541.7−11.6
Registered electors 4,214
Labour Co-op gain from Conservative Swing Decrease2.svg5.7

By-elections

West Mersea

A by-election was called due to the resignation of Cllr Glenn Granger.

West Mersea: 2 May 2013
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Peter Sheane 1,208 67.0 −2.1
Labour Bernard Ready28816.0+0.6
Green Sue Bailey20811.5+3.5
Liberal Democrats Owen Batholomew1005.5−2.0
Majority92051.0−2.7
Turnout 1,804
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg1.4

References

  1. 1 2 "Colchester". BBC News. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "We'll give borough a new lease of life". The Gazette. 13 April 2012 via NewsBank.
  3. Calnan, James (17 April 2012). "Colchester Lib Dems want to build on achievements since 2008". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  4. "Hazel joins Labour campaign trail around town". The Gazette. 20 April 2012 via NewsBank.
  5. 1 2 "Colchester Council: Labour gain one seat from Conservatives". Daily Gazette. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  6. "Food waste priority as coalition stays at helm in Colchester". The Gazette. 21 May 2012 via NewsBank.
  7. "Declaration of result of poll". Colchester Borough Council. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2014.