An election to Essex County Council took place on 7 May 2005 as part of the 2005 United Kingdom local elections. 75 councillors were elected from various electoral divisions, which returned either one or two county councillors each by first-past-the-post voting for a four-year term of office. The electoral divisions were redrawn for this election.
The Conservative Party retained control with an increased majority, winning 52 of the 75 seats. Labour and the Liberal Democrats both lost seats.
Previous composition 2001 election Party Seats 49 19 10 1Total79
Composition of council seats before election Party Seats 48 18 11 1 1Total79
Results summary
|-bgcolor=#F6F6F6 | colspan=2 style="text-align: right; margin-right: 1em" | Total | style="text-align: right;" | 75 | colspan=5 | | style="text-align: right;" | | style="text-align: right;" |
Election of Group Leaders
Paul White (Stock) was re elected leader of the Conservative Group, Tom Smith-Hughes (Chelmsford North) was elected leader of the Liberal Democratic Group and Paul Kirkman (Pitsea) was elected leader of the Labour Group.
Election of Leader of the Council
Paul White the leader of the conservative group was duly elected leader of the council and formed a conservative administration.
Results by District
Basildon
District summary
PartySeats+/-Votes%+/-Conservative 5 57,459 45.8 +2.8Labour 4 1 39,537 31.5 −7.8Liberal Democrat 0 22,787 18.2+0.8Green 0 5,101 4.1+4.1English Democrats 0 457 0.4 +0.4
Division results
Between 2001 and 2005, the seat was won by the Liberal Democrats candidate in a by-election, however it is shown as a hold as it is compared to the previous full council election.
Braintree
District summary
PartySeats+/-Votes%+/-Conservative 6 29,212 43.2 +3.1Labour 2 1 20,732 30.7−5.1Liberal Democrat 0 11,808 17.5 +0.2Green 0 4,613 6.8 UKIP 0 1,256 1.9 +1.9
Division results
Brentwood
District summary
PartySeats+/-Votes%+/-Conservative 4 17,868 49.3+7.8Liberal Democrat 0 110,750 29.6 −3.5Labour 0 4,665 12.9 −3.4UKIP 0 1,930 5.3+5.3Green 0 1,054 2.9 −0.2
Division results
Castle Point
District summary
PartySeats+/-Votes%+/-Conservative 5 120,774 50.2+1.4Labour 0 2 14,185 34.3−5.6Liberal Democrat 0 4,470 10.8+0.3Green 0 1,936 4.7+3.9
Division results
Chelmsford
District summary
PartySeats+/-Votes%+/-Liberal Democrat 5 1 25,143 31.7 +0.4Conservative 4 34,553 43.6 +3.4Labour 0 1 14,265 18.0 −6.6Green 0 3,927 5.0 +1.1SWFCTA 0 807 1.0 +1.0UKIP 0 464 0.6 +0.6Veritas 0 158 0.2 +0.2
Division results
Colchester
District summary
PartySeats+/-Votes%+/-Conservative 4 27,580 37.4 −1.0Liberal Democrat 3 23,089 31.3 −0.6Labour 2 16,940 23.0 −5.4Green 0 4,845 6.6 +5.4Independent 0 1,263 1.7 +1.7
Division results
Epping Forest
District summary
PartySeats+/-Votes%+/-Conservative 6 1 28,519 49.1 +3.0Loughton Residents 1 2,734 4.7 +0.4Liberal Democrat 0 2 13,167 22.7 −1.8Labour 0 10,171 17.5 −7.5Green 0 1,712 2.9+2.9BNP 0 1,391 2.4 +2.4English Democrats 0 368 0.6 +0.6
Division results
Harlow
District summary
PartySeats+/-Votes%+/-Labour 3 220,154 41.4−3.5Conservative 1 118,094 37.2+5.3Liberal Democrat 0 8,368 17.2−6.0Green 0 2,011 4.1+4.1
Division results
Maldon
District summary
PartySeats+/-Votes%+/-Conservative 3 15,622 51.3+2.8Labour 0 7,235 23.8−5.1Liberal Democrat 0 5,233 17.2+1.0Green 0 2,351 7.7+1.2
Division results
Rochford
District summary
PartySeats+/-Votes%+/-Conservative 5 20,369 50.1 +3.0Labour 0 9,504 23.4−4.0Liberal Democrat 0 8,353 20.5−1.8Green 0 2,463 6.1+6.1
Division results
Tendring
District summary
PartySeats+/-Votes%+/-Conservative 5 28,408 40.9+3.4Labour 2 118,857 27.2−9.4CRP 1 1 6,003 8.6+3.2Liberal Democrat 0 13,072 18.8−0.9Green 0 3,101 4.5+4.1
Division results
Uttlesford
District summary
PartySeats+/-Votes%+/-Conservative 4 18,095 48.3+0.4Liberal Democrat 0 12,724 34.0+1.7Labour 0 3,587 9.6−8.8Green 0 2,582 6.9+5.5UKIP 0 462 1.2+1.2
Division results
By-elections
Brentwood Rural
No UKIP (6.4%) or Green (3.1%) candidates as previous.
References