2012 UK local government election
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]
After the election, the composition of the council was
Liberal Democrats 26 Conservative 23 Labour 8 Independent 3[1] 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] Party This election Full council This election Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/− Liberal Democrats 9 45.0 17 26 43.3 10,073 32.6 +5.1 Conservative 6 1 30.0 17 23 38.3 8,917 28.9 –7.6 Labour 4 1 20.0 4 8 13.3 7,401 24.0 +2.1 Independent 1 5.0 2 3 5.0 1,405 4.5 –1.6 Green 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 2,268 7.3 –0.3 UKIP 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 824 2.7 +2.3
Ward results Map of the results of the 2012 Colchester council election. Berechurch Berechurch Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Labour Co-op Kim Alan Naish* 1,044 58.2 -6.4 Liberal Democrats Shibbir Ahmed 286 16.0 +2.2 UKIP John Pitts 219 12.2 N/A Conservative Hayley Louise Crumb 192 10.7 -7.9 Green Tobie Glenny 52 2.9 -0.1 Majority 758 42.3 -3.7 Turnout 1,793 27.6 -10.7 Registered electors 6,529 Labour Co-op hold Swing 4.3
Castle Castle Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Josephine Hayes 861 40.4 +0.3 Green Peter James Lynn 395 18.6 -7.1 Conservative Mohammed Shamim Rashid 382 17.9 -3.1 Labour Robert Fisher 285 13.4 +0.2 UKIP Ron Levy 206 9.7 N/A Majority 466 21.9 +7.6 Turnout 2,129 30.0 -9.5 Registered electors 7,157 Liberal Democrats hold Swing 3.7
Dedham & Langham Dedham & Langham Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Mark Ashley Cable 596 71.3 -11.5 Liberal Democrats Carolyn Catney 81 9.7 +0.3 Labour Paul Henry Fryer-Kelsey 81 9.7 +5.4 Green Clarice Elizabeth Mort 78 9.3 +5.8 Majority 515 61.6 -11.8 Turnout 836 34.2 -11.4 Registered electors 2,445 Conservative hold Swing 5.9
East Donyland East Donyland Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Labour Michael Edward Charles Lilley 488 64.5 +21.7 Conservative Peter James Hare 209 27.6 -14.4 Green Roger Edwin Bamforth 39 5.2 -1.9 Liberal Democrats Susan Mary Waite 21 2.8 -5.4 Majority 279 36.9 +36.0 Turnout 757 37.3 -3.9 Registered electors 2,030 Labour hold Swing 18.1
Harbour Harbour Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Julia Pauline Havis 663 54.7 -3.2 Labour Jordan Alexander Newall 298 24.6 +11.5 UKIP Mark Robert Cole 91 7.5 N/A Conservative Anthony Baines 84 6.9 -16.4 Green Clare Teresa Palmer 77 6.3 +0.6 Majority 365 30.1 -4.6 Turnout 1,213 27.6 -28.3 Registered electors 4,403 Liberal Democrats hold Swing 7.4
Highwoods Highwoods Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Independent Beverley Anne Oxford 1,211 67.8 +6.4 Conservative Tatiana Mills 167 9.4 -7.3 Labour Michael Finbarr Gilheany 145 8.1 -0.1 Liberal Democrats Barry Ronald Woodward 110 6.2 -3.0 UKIP William John Rowley 80 4.5 N/A Green David John Davis 72 4.0 -0.5 Majority 1,044 58.5 +13.8 Turnout 1,785 26.3 -10.7 Registered electors 6,791 Independent hold Swing 6.9
Lexden Lexden Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Brian David Henry Jarvis 833 54.2 -1.3 Liberal Democrats Julia Suzanne Nelson 399 26.0 -8.8 Labour John Christopher Wood 174 11.3 +5.9 Green Beverley Ann Maltby 131 8.5 +4.3 Majority 434 28.2 +7.5 Turnout 1,537 35.7 -36.4 Registered electors 4,303 Conservative hold Swing 3.8
Marks Tey Marks Tey Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Elizabeth Jewell Blundell* 313 54.4 -9.3 Labour John Spademan 162 28.2 +10.8 Green Robert Charles Brannan 50 8.7 +2.3 Liberal Democrats Gillian Mary Collings 50 8.7 -8.7 Majority 151 26.3 -20.0 Turnout 575 28.5 -6.0 Registered electors 2,026 Conservative hold Swing 10.1
Mile End Mile End Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Martin Andrew Goss* 1,467 64.4 +3.5 Conservative Benjamin Harvey Locker 535 23.5 -1.1 Labour Michael John Donnachie 184 8.1 -1.8 Green Mary Hilda Bryan 91 4.0 -0.6 Majority 932 40.9 +4.6 Turnout 2,277 30.7 -10.0 Registered electors 7,433 Liberal Democrats hold Swing 2.3
New Town New Town Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Peter Michael Higgins 771 52.8 +3.4 Labour Stephen Paul Pattison 273 18.7 -4.7 Green Robert Paul Spence 166 11.4 -2.7 Conservative Lauren Grace McManus 131 9.0 -4.1 UKIP Christopher David Treloar 120 8.2 N/A Majority 498 34.1 +8.1 Turnout 1,461 23.5 -10.5 Registered electors 6,243 Liberal Democrats hold Swing 4.1
Prettygate Prettygate Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Beverly Ann Davies* 1,048 47.2 +0.2 Liberal Democrats John Martin Loxley 665 29.9 -8.0 Labour Co-op Michael Edward Dale 332 14.9 +4.4 Green Peter Charles Appleton 177 8.0 +3.3 Majority 383 17.2 +8.1 Turnout 2,222 37.3 -18.1 Registered electors 5,988 Conservative hold Swing 4.1
St. Andrew's St Andrew's Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Labour Tina Jane Dopson* 926 61.3 -6.3 Independent Robert Rex Hunt 194 12.8 N/A Liberal Democrats Owen Leslie Bartholomew 175 11.6 -1.9 UKIP Harry Raymond Royle 108 7.2 N/A Conservative Alexander Jordan Evelyn 107 7.1 -7.4 Majority 732 48.5 -4.5 Turnout 1,510 24.5 -5.5 Registered electors 6,211 Labour hold Swing N/A
St. Anne's St Anne's Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Helen Chuah* 825 55.2 +5.3 Labour Luke Michael Powell Dopson 305 20.4 +1.0 Conservative Alexandra Claire Hutchinson 234 15.7 -7.8 Green Lucinda Helen Glover 130 8.7 +1.5 Majority 520 34.8 +8.4 Turnout 1,494 23.3 -10.0 Registered electors 6,433 Liberal Democrats hold Swing 2.2
St. John's St John's Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Paul Edward Smith* 994 64.4 +2.3 Conservative Charles Christian McKay 333 21.6 -5.9 Labour Jennifer Mary Fisher 136 8.8 +1.4 Green David Traynier 81 5.2 +2.2 Majority 661 42.8 +8.2 Turnout 1,544 37.6 -34.3 Registered electors 4,102 Liberal Democrats hold Swing 4.1
Shrub End Shrub End Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats David Nigel Offen* 745 43.8 +10.1 Conservative Darius Grant Laws 514 30.3 -9.0 Labour Bruce John Tuxford 334 19.7 -1.6 Green Walter Schwarz 106 6.2 +0.5 Majority 231 13.6 N/A Turnout 1,699 25.0 -7.9 Registered electors 6,824 Liberal Democrats hold Swing 9.6
Stanway Stanway Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Laura Ann Sykes* 1,134 55.0 +4.4 Conservative Bryan Campbell Johnston 520 25.2 -6.0 Labour David Alexander Hough 297 14.4 +0.2 Green Pamela Elizabeth Nelson 111 5.4 +1.5 Majority 614 29.8 +10.4 Turnout 2,062 32.7 -10.9 Registered electors 6,327 Liberal Democrats hold Swing 5.2
Tiptree Tiptree Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Richard Martin* 772 48.1 -10.5 Labour Martyn Keith Warnes 580 36.1 +10.2 Green Katherine Helen Bamforth 156 9.7 +2.4 Liberal Democrats Beth Eileen Margaret Gudgeon 97 6.0 -2.3 Majority 192 12.0 -20.7 Turnout 1,605 26.8 -13.6 Registered electors 6,040 Conservative hold Swing 10.4
West Mersea West Mersea Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Glenn Darren Granger 1,196 69.1 +13.9 Labour Barbara Rosemary Nichols 267 15.4 +5.1 Green Francis Ian Barton 138 8.0 +3.5 Liberal Democrats Jennifer Stevens 130 7.5 +0.4 Majority 929 53.7 +21.3 Turnout 1,731 29.2 -20.4 Registered electors 5,940 Conservative hold Swing 4.4
No Independent candidate as previous (22.8%).
Wivenhoe Cross Wivenhoe Cross Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Democrats Jonathan Simon Manning* 477 52.8 +1.5 Conservative Mo Metcalf-Fisher 192 21.3 +2.7 Labour Co-op Tyron Ashleigh Wilson 175 19.4 -3.7 Green Maria Iacovou 59 6.5 -0.6 Majority 285 31.6 +3.4 Turnout 903 25.0 -11.8 Registered electors 3,650 Liberal Democrats hold Swing 0.6
Wivenhoe Quay Wivenhoe Quay Ward Party Candidate Votes % ±% Labour Co-op Cyril Patrick Liddy 915 52.1 -5.0 Conservative Robert Arthur Needham 559 31.9 +6.3 Green Sandra Adele Moog 159 9.1 -0.6 Liberal Democrats Benjamin David Edward Richards 122 7.0 -0.7 Majority 356 20.3 -11.2 Turnout 1,755 41.7 -11.6 Registered electors 4,214 Labour Co-op gain from Conservative Swing 5.7
By-elections West Mersea A by-election was called due to the resignation of Cllr Glenn Granger.
West Mersea: 2 May 2013 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative Peter Sheane 1,208 67.0 -2.1 Labour Bernard Ready 288 16.0 +0.6 Green Sue Bailey 208 11.5 +3.5 Liberal Democrats Owen Batholomew 100 5.5 -2.0 Majority 920 51.0 -2.7 Turnout 1,804 Conservative hold Swing 1.4
References ^ a b "Colchester". BBC News Online . 4 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2014 . ^ a b c "We'll give borough a new lease of life". The Gazette . NewsBank . 13 April 2012. ^ Calnan, James (17 April 2012). "Colchester Lib Dems want to build on achievements since 2008". Daily Gazette . Retrieved 2 June 2014 . ^ "Hazel joins Labour campaign trail around town". The Gazette . NewsBank . 20 April 2012. ^ a b "Colchester Council: Labour gain one seat from Conservatives". Daily Gazette . 4 May 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2014 . ^ "Food waste priority as coalition stays at helm in Colchester". The Gazette . NewsBank . 21 May 2012. ^ "Declaration of result of poll". Colchester Borough Council. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2014 .