# 2003 St Albans City and District Council election

The 2003 St Albans City and District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of St Albans District Council in Hertfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
* Liberal Democrats 23
* Conservative 21
* Labour 13
* Independent 1

## Background

Following the last election in 2002 the Conservatives were the largest party with 21 seats, compared to 20 for the Liberal Democrats, 15 for Labour, 1 independent and 1 seat was vacant. However the Liberal Democrats gained a seat from the Conservatives at a by-election in Verulam, which meant that going into the 2003 election both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats needed to gain 8 seats to win a majority.

## Voting trial

The election saw a trial of various voting methods. Voters could choose between e-voting, either by computer or on a touchscreen at a polling booth, voting by phone or by post, or on a traditional ballot paper. The period for voting was also increased to allow voting from the 28 April to the 1 May 2003.
However problems occurred at 15 polling stations where the system did not recognise voters pin numbers, which meant that traditional paper ballots had to be used in those polling stations. The issues meant the election nearly had to be voided, with the count only able to start over 3 hours after polls had closed.
However turnout was up by 5% on the previous election in 2002 at 43%.

## Election result

The Liberal Democrats gained 2 seats from Labour to become the largest party on the council with 23 councillors. The Conservatives remained on 21 seats and there was still 1 independent, while the losses for Labour in Ashley and St Peter's wards reduced them to 13 seats.
Following the election the Liberal Democrat group on the council chose Robert Donald as their new leader taking over from Brian Peyton.
St Albans local election result 2003 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Liberal Democrats | 12 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 57.1 | 43.8 | 18,710 | +5.0% |
| Conservative | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23.8 | 35.4 | 15,126 | -0.4% |
| Labour | 4 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 19.0 | 20.6 | 8,784 | -4.5% |
| No Candidate Deserves My Vote! | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 63 | -0.2% |

## Ward results

Ashley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Marshall | 942 | 43.4 | +6.9 |
| | Labour | Alistair Cooper | 759 | 35.0 | −6.3 |
| | Conservative | Alec Campbell | 468 | 21.6 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 183 | 8.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,169 | 44.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Batchwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Martin Leach | 873 | 47.1 |
| | Conservative | Lee Foster | 492 | 26.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Debbie Williams | 488 | 26.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 381 | 20.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,853 | 37.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
Clarence :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sheila Burton | 1,315 | 65.3 | +6.1 |
| | Labour | Clive Newport | 356 | 17.7 | −5.2 |
| | Conservative | Louisa-Jane Rosalki | 343 | 17.0 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 959 | 47.6 | +11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,014 | 45.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Colney Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Brazier | 972 | 58.1 | +21.7 |
| | Conservative | David Johns | 522 | 31.2 | −12.8 |
| | Labour | David Mclean | 179 | 10.7 | −8.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 450 | 26.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,673 | 43.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Cunningham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Donald | 1,281 | 61.3 | +18.0 |
| | Labour | Rebecca Gumbrell-Mccormick | 416 | 19.9 | −16.1 |
| | Conservative | James Vessey | 394 | 18.8 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 865 | 41.4 | +34.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,091 | 46.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Waddilove | 1,149 | 50.2 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative | Elizabeth Stevenson | 854 | 37.3 | −1.0 |
| | Labour | David Crew | 286 | 12.5 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 295 | 12.9 | +4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,289 | 45.5 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Albert Pawle | 1,046 | 51.1 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rachel Andrew | 785 | 38.4 | −3.2 |
| | Labour | Rosemary Ross | 214 | 10.5 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 261 | 12.7 | +6.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,045 | 41.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Foster | 1,340 | 61.7 | −1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Canfield | 616 | 28.4 | +5.1 |
| | Labour | David Lawlor | 216 | 9.9 | −3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 724 | 33.3 | −6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,172 | 43.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Daly | 1,319 | 56.3 | −3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Skinner | 753 | 32.1 | +7.0 |
| | Labour | Benjamin Dearman | 271 | 11.6 | −3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 566 | 24.2 | −10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,343 | 43.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
London Colney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Malcolm Macmillan | 1,062 | 57.7 | −4.2 |
| | Conservative | Gilbert Massara | 472 | 25.6 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carol Prowse | 308 | 16.7 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 590 | 32.1 | −6.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,842 | 33.2 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Marshalswick North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey Churchard | 1,003 | 48.5 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative | John Foster | 782 | 37.8 | +1.3 |
| | Labour | John Baughan | 282 | 13.6 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 221 | 10.7 | −0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,067 | 43.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Marshalswick South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kathleen Morris | 1,364 | 53.3 | −4.5 |
| | Conservative | Richard Bretherton | 858 | 33.5 | +5.0 |
| | Labour | Jane Cloke | 338 | 13.2 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 506 | 19.8 | −9.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,560 | 52.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Park Street :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephanie White | 1,130 | 57.7 | −7.8 |
| | Conservative | Timothy Randall | 554 | 28.3 | +6.8 |
| | Labour | Janet Blackwell | 276 | 14.1 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 576 | 29.4 | −14.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,960 | 38.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Redbourn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher O'Donovan | 1,019 | 50.5 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative | Maria Maynard | 836 | 41.4 | +1.9 |
| | Labour | Linda Spiri | 164 | 8.1 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 183 | 9.1 | −3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,019 | 45.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Sandridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Whiteside | 769 | 54.7 | +13.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Klyhn | 465 | 33.1 | −6.9 |
| | Labour | John Baker | 171 | 12.2 | −4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 304 | 21.6 | +20.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,405 | 39.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Sopwell (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Eileen Harris | 781 | 49.6 | −8.7 |
| | Labour | Janet Smith | 777 | 49.4 | −8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Sinfield | 397 | 25.2 | +8.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Terrar | 375 | 23.8 | +6.6 |
| | Conservative | Eileen Brown | 356 | 22.6 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative | Margaret Brownlie | 344 | 21.9 | +0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,574 | 32.4 | +9.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
St Peters :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Biddle | 927 | 46.1 | +8.0 |
| | Labour | Lynette Warren | 715 | 35.6 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative | Virginia Walker | 367 | 18.3 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 212 | 10.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,009 | 42.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |
St Stephen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gordon Myland | 1,247 | 58.1 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Louise Searle | 634 | 29.5 | −0.2 |
| | Labour | Patricia Allen | 266 | 12.4 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 613 | 28.6 | +3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,147 | 43.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Verulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Frearson | 1,457 | 52.6 | +15.5 |
| | Conservative | Robin Streames | 1,033 | 37.3 | −11.4 |
| | Labour | Richard Bruckdorfer | 217 | 7.8 | −4.9 |
| | No Candidate Deserves My Vote! | Peter Goodall | 63 | 2.3 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 424 | 15.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,770 | 56.3 | +17.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Wheathampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Oxley | 1,330 | 59.8 | +16.8 |
| | Conservative | Linda Brent | 730 | 32.8 | −15.6 |
| | Labour | Mary Cheale | 165 | 7.4 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 600 | 27.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,225 | 48.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections between 2003 and 2004

A by-election was held in Verulam ward on 5 April 2004 after the resignation of Conservative councillor Pauline Buffham, who was moving abroad. The seat was gained for the Liberal Democrats by Susan Campbell with a majority of 265 votes over the Conservatives.
Verulam by-election 5 April 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Campbell | 1,173 | 49.4 | −3.2 |
| | Conservative | Katherine Cramer | 908 | 38.2 | +0.9 |
| | St Albans Party | Janet Girsman | 167 | 7.0 | +7.0 |
| | Labour | Larry Heyman | 90 | 3.8 | −4.0 |
| | Green | Marc Scheimann | 37 | 1.6 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 265 | 11.2 | −4.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,375 | 48.1 | −8.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |