The 2004 Colchester Borough Council election took place on 10 June 2004 to elect members of Colchester Borough Council in Essex, England. This was the same day as the 2004 European Parliament election and other local elections across the United Kingdom. One third of the seats were up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.
Background
Following the previous election, Bob Newman (Wivenhoe Quay) left the Labour group to sit as an independent, reducing Labour to 4 councillors. Labour then went into opposition after refusing to work with the Conservatives and a new cabinet was formed with 4 Conservative and 4 Liberal Democrat members.
A by-election took place in Wivenhoe Quay ward after the death of sitting Independent councillor Richard Davies. The by-election was won by Labour, increasing their seat count to 5.
Summary The Conservatives gained 4 seats to become the largest party on the council with 28 seats, 3 short of a majority. They overtook the Liberal Democrats who held 23 seats, Labour with 6 seats and 3 independents. Overall turnout at the election was 34.4%.
As a result, the Conservatives took all the seats on the council cabinet for the first time since that style of government was introduced in Colchester, with the Conservative group leader John Jowers becoming the new leader of the council.
Election result
Ward results
Berechurch
Castle
No Green candidate as previous (8.0%).
Dedham & Langham
East Donyland
Harbour
Highwoods
Lexden
Marks Tey
Mile End
No Independent (9.4%) or Green (3.0%) candidates as previous.
New Town
Prettygate
St. Andrew's
No Socialist Alliance candidate as previous (3.1%).
St. Anne's
No Socialist Alliance candidate as previous (2.1%).
St. John's
Shrub End
No Socialist Alliance candidate as previous (1.5%).
Stanway
Tiptree
West Mersea
Wivenhoe Cross
Wivenhoe Quay
By-elections
Berechurch
References