# Epping Forest District Council elections

The district of Epping Forest is in the county of Essex in England. It was created on 1 April 1974, following the merger of Epping Urban District, Chigwell Urban District, Waltham Holy Cross Urban District, and part of Epping and Ongar Rural District.
Until 2002, Epping Forest District Council was represented by 59 councillors. In 2002 the ward boundaries were reorganised, resulting in the loss of one council seat, and since then the district has had 58 councillors representing 32 wards. Each ward is represented by one, two or three councillors, depending on the ward's population, so that each councillor represents a roughly equal proportion of the district's electorate.
Councillors serve for a four-year term. They are elected on a "cycle of thirds", i.e. one third of the Council is elected each year, followed by one year without election.
New ward boundaries are being prepared to take effect from the 2024 elections.

## Summary of results since 2002

The table below summarises the number of seats held by each party after each year's elections (no elections took place in 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017). The council returned to Conservative control following the gain of a seat in a by-election in December 2006 after being under no overall control since 1994.
| Party | 2004 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 |
| BNP | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Conservative | 26 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 35 | 37 | 39 | 37 | 39 | 35 | 39 | 37 | 36 | 35 |
| For Britain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Independent | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Labour | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Liberal Democrats | 14 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Loughton Residents | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Council elections

* 1973 Epping Forest District Council election
* 1976 Epping Forest District Council election
* 1979 Epping Forest District Council election (New ward boundaries)
* 1980 Epping Forest District Council election
* 1982 Epping Forest District Council election
* 1983 Epping Forest District Council election
* 1984 Epping Forest District Council election
* 1986 Epping Forest District Council election
* 1987 Epping Forest District Council election (District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)
* 1988 Epping Forest District Council election
* 1990 Epping Forest District Council election (District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)
* 1991 Epping Forest District Council election
* 1992 Epping Forest District Council election
* 1994 Epping Forest District Council election (District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)
* 1995 Epping Forest District Council election (District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)
* 1996 Epping Forest District Council election
* 1998 Epping Forest District Council election
* 1999 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2000 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2002 Epping Forest District Council election (New ward boundaries reduced the number of seats by 1)
* 2003 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2004 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2006 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2007 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2008 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2010 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2011 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2012 Epping Forest District Council election (Some new ward boundaries)
* 2014 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2015 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2016 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2018 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2019 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2021 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2022 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2023 Epping Forest District Council election
* 2024 Epping Forest District Council election

## Results maps

* 2021 results map
* 2022 results map
* 2023 results map
* 2024 results map

## By-elections
### 1994-1998

Buckhurst Hill West By-Election 1 May 1997 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 1,388 | 36.7 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 1,094 | 28.9 | −31.4 |
| | Ratepayer | | 991 | 26.2 | +26.2 |
| | Labour | | 309 | 8.2 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 294 | 7.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,782 | 74.7 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Theydon Bois By-Election 1 May 1997 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 1,018 | 42.2 | +16.3 |
| | Independent | | 845 | 35.0 | −8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 286 | 11.9 | +1.7 |
| | Labour | | 263 | 10.9 | −9.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 173 | 7.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,412 | 77.8 | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Paternoster By-Election 3 July 1997 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | | 274 | 47.9 | −8.3 |
| | Conservative | | 253 | 44.3 | +0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 44 | 7.7 | +7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21 | 3.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 571 | 16.3 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### 1998-2002

Waltham Abbey East By-Election 22 October 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 633 | 60.2 | +8.6 |
| | Labour | | 336 | 31.9 | −9.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 83 | 7.9 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 297 | 28.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,052 | 18.2 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Sheering By-Election 25 February 1999 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 371 | 50.9 | +23.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 276 | 37.9 | −10.4 |
| | Labour | | 82 | 11.2 | −13.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 95 | 13.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 729 | 32.9 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Grange Hill By-Election 24 June 1999 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 621 | 51.8 | −3.1 |
| | Conservative | | 534 | 45.0 | +8.7 |
| | Labour | | 43 | 3.6 | −5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 | 6.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,198 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Debden Green By-Election 11 November 1999 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | | 514 | 68.8 | −6.7 |
| | Conservative | | 138 | 18.5 | −6.0 |
| | Independent | | 60 | 8.0 | +8.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 35 | 4.7 | +4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 376 | 50.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 747 | 19.2 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Buckhurst Hill East By-Election 6 July 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 711 | 69.2 | +9.2 |
| | Conservative | | 245 | 23.9 | −5.2 |
| | Labour | | 71 | 6.9 | −3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 466 | 46.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,027 | 31.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### 2002-2006

Waltham Abbey North East By-Election 7 November 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pat Brooks | 463 | 55.8 | +27.5 |
| | Conservative | David Porter | 321 | 38.7 | −33.0 |
| | Labour | Fitzherbert Harewood | 46 | 5.5 | +5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 142 | 17.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 830 | 25.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Waltham Abbey South West By-Election 7 November 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philip Chadburn | 287 | 56.5 | +26.7 |
| | Conservative | Margaret Williams | 172 | 33.9 | −36.3 |
| | Labour | Marion Taylor | 49 | 9.6 | +9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 115 | 21.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 508 | 18.3 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Lower Sheering By-Election 23 June 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Heather Harding | 208 | 70.7 | −1.4 |
| | Labour | Benjamin Slasberg | 64 | 21.8 | +21.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Rumble | 22 | 7.5 | −20.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 144 | 48.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 294 | 18.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Chigwell Village By-Election 30 June 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Scrutton | 363 | 59.3 | +12.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Lion | 249 | 40.7 | +29.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 114 | 18.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 612 | 19.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### 2006-2010

Grange Hill By-Election 14 December 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kewal Chana | 609 | 39.4 | −12.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Lion | 586 | 37.9 | −4.9 |
| | BNP | Jacqueline Carne | 302 | 19.5 | +19.5 |
| | Labour | Roger Salmon | 48 | 3.1 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23 | 1.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,545 | 32.8 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Loughton Alderton By-Election 30 August 2007 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BNP | Tony Frankland | 393 | 32.2 | −5.4 |
| | Loughton Residents | Rose Brookes | 367 | 30.1 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil Woollcott | 172 | 14.1 | +10.5 |
| | Conservative | Edward Stacey | 163 | 13.3 | −3.1 |
| | Labour | Stephen Barnes | 98 | 8.0 | −5.2 |
| | UKIP | Andrew Smith | 28 | 2.3 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26 | 2.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,221 | 36.7 | |
| | BNP hold | BNP hold | Swing | | |
Waltham Abbey Honey Lane By-Election 4 June 2009 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Adam Clark | 719 | 49.0 | −7.3 |
| | BNP | Tony Frankland | 372 | 25.4 | +25.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Phil Chadburn | 223 | 15.2 | +15.2 |
| | Labour | Mitch Diamond-Conway | 152 | 10.4 | +7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 347 | 23.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,466 | 32.0 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Grange Hill By-Election 8 October 2009 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Lion | 453 | 52.4 | −31.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gavin Chambers | 411 | 47.6 | +31.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 42 | 4.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 864 | 17.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Lower Sheering By-Election 5 November 2009 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charlotte Edwards | 302 | 76.5 | +0.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ingrid Black | 93 | 23.5 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 209 | 53.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 395 | 21.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### 2010-2014

Waltham Abbey Honey Lane By-Election 2 May 2013 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | UKIP | Rod Butler | 465 | 50.5 | +50.5 |
| | Conservative | Christine Ball | 455 | 49.5 | −13.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 920 | | |
| | UKIP gain from Conservative | UKIP gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### 2014-2018

Broadley Common, Epping Upland and Nazeing By-Election 7 August 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Glozier | 155 | 50.5 | −33.4 |
| | UKIP | Ron McEvoy | 122 | 39.7 | +39.7 |
| | Green | William Hartington | 23 | 7.5 | −2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Arnold Verrall | 7 | 2.3 | −3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33 | 10.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 307 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Epping Hemnall By-Election 7 August 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kim Adams | 607 | 43.3 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative | Nigel Avey | 386 | 27.6 | +6.5 |
| | UKIP | Andrew Smith | 339 | 24.2 | −1.4 |
| | Green | Anna Widdup | 69 | 4.9 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 221 | 15.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,401 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Chigwell Village By-Election 23 February 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Darshan Singh Sunger | 453 | 76.0 | +0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joanne Alexander-Sefre | 143 | 24.0 | +24.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 310 | 52.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 596 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Lower Sheering By-Election 19 October 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Stalker | 220 | 80.9 | +11.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ingrid Black | 52 | 19.1 | +19.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 168 | 61.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 272 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### 2022-2026

Waltham Abbey South West By-Election 13 October 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Joseph Parsons | 260 | 55.2 | −13.9 |
| | Green | David Plummer | 211 | 44.8 | +39.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 49 | 10.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 471 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Green | Conservative gain from Green | Swing | | |