# Purbeck District Council elections

Purbeck District Council in Dorset, England existed from 1973 to 2019. One-third of the council was elected each year, followed by one year where there was an election to Dorset County Council instead. The council was abolished and subsumed into Dorset Council in 2019.

## Political control

From the first election to the council in 1973 until its abolition in 2019 political control of the council was held by the following parties:
| Party in control | Years |
| Independent | 1973–1986 |
| No overall control | 1986–1999 |
| Conservative | 1999–2008 |
| No overall control | 2008–2015 |
| Conservative | 2015–2019 |

### Leadership

The leaders of the council from 2009 until the council's abolition in 2019 were:
| Councillor | Party | From | To |
| Gary Suttle | Conservative | 2008 | 2009 |
| David Budd | Liberal Democrats | 2009 | 2 Aug 2011 |
| Gary Suttle | Conservative | 2 Aug 2011 | 31 Mar 2019 |

## Council elections

* 1973 election
* 1976 election
* 1979 election
* 1980 election
* 1982 election
* 1983 election
* 1984 election
* 1986 election
* 1987 election
* 1988 election
* 1990 election
* 1991 election
* 1992 election
* 1994 election
* 1995 election
* 1996 election
* 1998 election
* 1999 election
* 2000 election
* 2002 election
* 2003 election
* 2004 election
* 2006 election
* 2007 election
* 2008 election
* 2010 election
* 2011 election
* 2012 election
* 2014 election
* 2015 election
* ↑ New ward boundaries
* ↑ District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same
* ↑ New ward boundaries
* ↑ New ward boundaries

## Results maps

* 2012 results map
* 2014 results map
* 2015 results map

## By-election results
### 1997–2001

Swanage North By-Election 26 June 1997 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | | 502 | 66.5 | +39.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 253 | 33.5 | +13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 249 | 33.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 755 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
Bere Regis By-Election 22 February 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | | 322 | 43.1 | +4.9 |
| | Independent | | 267 | 35.7 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 158 | 21.2 | +21.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 55 | 7.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 747 | 47.1 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
Castle By-Election 29 March 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 341 | 49.4 | −17.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 281 | 40.7 | +7.3 |
| | Labour | | 68 | 9.9 | +9.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 60 | 8.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 690 | 43.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### 2001–2005

Lytchett Minster & Upton East By-Election 14 June 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 1,080 | 59.1 | +28.0 |
| | Conservative | | 746 | 40.9 | −28.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 334 | 18.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,826 | 58.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
St Martin By-Election 27 June 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 598 | 56.8 | +13.0 |
| | Conservative | | 454 | 43.2 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 144 | 13.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,052 | 50.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### 2005–2009

Castle By-Election 9 June 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nigel Dragon | 418 | 57.8 | +20.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 230 | 31.8 | −27.7 |
| | Labour | | 74 | 10.2 | +7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 188 | 26.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 722 | 46.4 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Lytchett Matravers By-Election 9 June 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Peacock | 688 | 63.4 | +20.0 |
| | Conservative | | 397 | 36.5 | −20.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 291 | 26.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,085 | 37.5 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Swanage South By-Election 15 June 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Pratt | 642 | 45.4 | +9.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anita Chennell | 409 | 28.9 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | Cherry Bartlett | 363 | 25.7 | −4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 233 | 16.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,414 | 30.0 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### 2009-2013

Lytchett Matravers By-Election 7 July 2011 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Webb | 669 | 52.8 | +5.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Taylor | 599 | 47.2 | −5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 70 | 5.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,268 | 30.0 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |