2008 Hart District Council election

The 2008 Hart Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Hart District Council in Hampshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control, with the Conservatives as the largest party.[1]

2008 Hart District Council election
1 May 2008
12 of 35 seats to Hart District Council
18 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Conservative Liberal Democrats Community Campaign Hart
Seats before 15 12 6
Seats won 8 3 1
Seats after 17 10 6
Popular vote 10,021 4,795 1,459
Percentage 60.1 28.7 8.7
Results by Ward
Council control before election

No overall control

 Council control after election

No overall control

After the election, the composition of the council was

Campaign

12 seats were being contested in the election with the Conservatives defending 6 seats, the Liberal Democrats 5 and the Community Campaign (Hart) 1 seat.[3] In total there were 30 candidates standing in the election with the Conservatives the only party to stand in all of the seats.[3] Other candidates included 10 from the Liberal Democrats, 5 from Labour, 2 Community Campaign (Hart) and 1 from the British National Party.[4] Before the election a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Community Campaign (Hart) and the 2 independents ran the council with the Conservatives forming the opposition.[4]

Issues in the election included facilities for teenagers, cleaner streets, recycling and reducing crime.[5] The Conservatives wanted to improve the value for money the council produced, develop the infrastructure for new housing and to keep roads in good condition.[5] However the Liberal Democrats pledged to improve recycling, get more affordable housing and keep crime levels low.[5]

During the campaign the national Conservative leader, David Cameron, visited the area to campaign for the party.[6]

Election result

The results saw the council remain with no party having a majority, but with the Conservatives gaining 2 seats to hold 17 of the 35 seats.[2] Both Conservative gains came from the Liberal Democrats, taking Fleet Courtmoor by 391 votes and Fleet Pondtail by 493 votes.[2] The Conservatives won 60% of the vote and claimed a mandate to take control of the council.[7][8] However the 2 independents held the balance of power between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrat/Community Campaign (Hart) alliance.[2] Overall turnout in the election was 36.9%.[9]

At the annual council meeting after the election the Conservatives took control of the council.[8][10] Their leader Ken Crookes won 18 votes compared to 17 for Liberal Democrat leader David Neighbour, with 1 of the 2 independents, Susan Band, backing the Conservatives.[10] The other independent, Denis Gotel, and the Community Campaign (Hart) backed the Liberal Democrat leader.[10] As a result, the council cabinet was made up of all Conservatives, except for independent Susan Band who would continue to be responsible for housing and health.[8][11]

Hart Local Election Result 2008[2][9]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 8 2 0 +2 66.7 60.1 10,021 +9.3%
  Liberal Democrats 3 0 2 -2 25.0 28.7 4,795 -4.3%
  Community Campaign Hart 1 0 0 0 8.3 8.7 1,459 -1.9%
  Labour 0 0 0 0 0 2.0 327 -0.9%
  BNP 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 84 -1.9%

Ward results

Blackwater and Hawley
Blackwater and Hawley[9][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Brian Blewett 669 61.3 +3.9
Conservative Richard Fielden 423 38.7 -3.9
Majority 246 22.5 +7.7
Turnout 1,092 32.2 -10.7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Church Crookham East
Church Crookham East[9][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Community Campaign Hart James Radley 942 66.4 +11.6
Conservative Debbie Moss 476 33.6 -6.1
Majority 466 32.9 +17.8
Turnout 1,418 37.8 -5.6
Community Campaign Hart hold Swing

Crondall
Crondall[9][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nippy Singh 804 60.9 +11.0
Community Campaign Hart Chris Hannan 517 39.1 -11.0
Majority 287 21.7
Turnout 1,321 43.4 +3.1
Conservative hold Swing

Fleet Central
Fleet Central[9][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Hunt 1,040 72.1 +26.1
Liberal Democrats Richard Robinson 335 23.2 +23.2
Labour David Jenkins 68 4.7 -1.7
Majority 705 48.9
Turnout 1,443 34.1 -3.6
Conservative hold Swing

Fleet Courtmoor
Fleet Courtmoor[9][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Butler 1,113 58.6 +14.4
Liberal Democrats Paul Einchcomb 722 38.0 +38.0
Labour Ruth Williams 65 3.4 -1.7
Majority 391 20.6
Turnout 1,900 51.3 +5.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Fleet Pondtail
Fleet Pondtail[9][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Healey 1,211 62.8 +15.9
Liberal Democrats Sue Fisher 718 37.2 -5.8
Majority 493 25.6 +21.7
Turnout 1,929 53.1 -1.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Fleet West
Fleet West[9][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tim Davies 1,005 77.2
Liberal Democrats Sarah Horton 227 17.4
Labour Janet Young 70 5.4
Majority 778 59.8
Turnout 1,302 34.2 -4.9
Conservative hold Swing

Hook
Hook[9][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Haffey 1,515 78.3 +6.4
Liberal Democrats Penny Potts 419 21.7 -6.4
Majority 1,096 56.7 +13.0
Turnout 1,934 31.0 -2.3
Conservative hold Swing

Long Sutton
Long Sutton[9][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Kennett 467 82.2 +11.0
Liberal Democrats Roger Carter 101 17.8 +3.3
Majority 366 64.4 +7.7
Turnout 568 31.2 -5.3
Conservative hold Swing

Odiham
Odiham[9][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen Gorys 1,067 78.5 -5.1
Liberal Democrats Chris Griffin 293 21.5 +5.1
Majority 774 56.9 -10.3
Turnout 1,360 37.1 -3.8
Conservative hold Swing

Yateley East
Yateley East[9][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Stuart Bailey 722 57.9 +0.9
Conservative Sue Perkins 478 38.4 +2.5
Labour John Davies 46 3.7 -3.4
Majority 244 19.6 -1.4
Turnout 1,246 31.2 -1.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Yateley West
Yateley West[9][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Murr 589 50.2 +4.9
Conservative Sue Dunning 422 36.0 +7.8
BNP Geoffrey Crompton 84 7.2 -7.8
Labour Joyce Still 78 6.6 -5.0
Majority 167 14.2 -2.9
Turnout 1,173 30.4 -1.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

References
  1. "Hart". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  2. "Who will run Hart?". gethampshire. 8 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  3. "Fight for seats on two councils". gethampshire. 10 April 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  4. "Candidates get ready to contest borough poll". gethampshire. 8 April 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  5. "BNP to field candidate in borough poll". gethampshire. 8 April 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  6. "Tory leader visits town". gethampshire. 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  7. "Tories launch bid to take control of Hart". gethampshire. 9 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  8. "Tories gain control with aid of Independent Band". Basingstoke Gazette. 18 May 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  9. "Election Results for 1 May 2008". Hart District Council. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  10. "Tories take control of Hart from coalition". gethampshire. 13 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  11. "Tories take control". gethampshire. 15 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  12. "Hart District Council election results". gethampshire. 2 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
Preceded by
2007 Hart Council election		 Hart local elections Succeeded by
2010 Hart Council election
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