# 2015 Colchester Borough Council election

The 2015 Colchester Borough Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect one third of the members of Colchester Borough Council in England. This was the same day as other local elections and as the General Election. Colchester Borough Council is made up of 60 councillors: 20 councillors were up for election.
Prior to the elections, Liberal Democrat councillor for New Town ward, Theresa Higgins, was appointed Mayor of Colchester for a term of one-year.

## Composition of council seats before election

Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
| 24 | 9 | 4 | 23 |
| Liberal Democrats | Labour | Ind | Conservative |
After the election, the composition of the council was:
| 20 | 9 | 4 | 27 |
| Liberal Democrats | Labour | Ind | Conservative |

## Candidates by party

The Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Labour Party and Green Party all stood a full slate of 20 candidates. UKIP stood 15 candidates and 3 independents (including a candidate with the description 'Patriotic Socialist Party') stood for election.

## Results summary

With 30 seats required for a dead-heat majority (of 0), no single grouping of councillors remained in overall control of policy decision-making. Conservatives fell 3 short this time whereas at the last election a five-becoming-six seat deficit existed during the four-year term for the largest grouping which had been the Liberal Democrats.
2015 Colchester Borough Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Conservative | 13 | 4 | 65.0 | 14 | 27 | 45.0 | 28,023 | 40.1 | +6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 3 | 4 | 15.0 | 17 | 20 | 33.3 | 13,827 | 19.8 | –3.2 |
| | Labour | 3 | | 15.0 | 6 | 9 | 15.0 | 12,940 | 18.5 | +2.3 |
| | Independent | 1 | | 5.0 | 3 | 4 | 6.7 | 1,543 | 2.4 | –0.5 |
| | UKIP | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 7,775 | 11.1 | –4.7 |
| | Green | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 5,767 | 8.2 | –0.4 |

## Ward results

No turnout figures were provided by the council.

### Berechurch

Berechurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dave Harris* | 1,958 | 50.3 | +10.3 |
| | Conservative | Michael Brown | 858 | 22.0 | +8.7 |
| | UKIP | Paul Mulvey | 521 | 13.4 | −9.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Hislop | 406 | 10.4 | −9.2 |
| | Green | Clare Palmer | 152 | 3.9 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,100 | 28.3 | +10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,895 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.8 | |

### Birch & Winstree

Birch & Winstree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andrew Ellis* | 1,913 | 59.7 | +5.3 |
| | UKIP | John Pitts | 569 | 17.8 | −10.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gill Collings | 291 | 9.1 | +4.2 |
| | Labour | John Spademan | 287 | 9.0 | +1.3 |
| | Green | Jan Plummer | 145 | 4.5 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,344 | 41.9 | +14.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,205 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 8.0 | |

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Darius Laws | 1,667 | 35.9 | +11.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Owen Howell | 1,172 | 25.2 | −0.5 |
| | Green | Andrew Canessa | 982 | 21.2 | +4.0 |
| | Labour | Andrew Murphy | 821 | 17.7 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 495 | 10.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,642 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 6.2 | |
No UKIP candidate as previous (-15.0).

### Christ Church

Christ Church :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Annesley Hardy | 964 | 38.0 | +9.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robin James | 670 | 26.4 | −6.1 |
| | Labour | Elisa Vasquez-Walters | 433 | 17.1 | +0.5 |
| | Green | Charles Ham | 319 | 12.6 | −2.2 |
| | UKIP | Ron Levy | 148 | 5.8 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 294 | 11.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,534 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 7.7 | |

### Copford & West Stanway

Copford & West Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jackie Maclean | 673 | 59.8 | −6.9 |
| | UKIP | Chris Treloar | 177 | 15.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert James | 115 | 10.2 | −2.7 |
| | Labour | Barbara Nichols | 115 | 10.2 | −3.4 |
| | Green | Emma-Jane Kemp | 46 | 4.1 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 496 | 44.1 | −9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,126 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Fordham & Stour

Fordham & Stour :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nigel Chapman* | 2,023 | 65.4 | −0.1 |
| | Labour | Kevin Stannard | 396 | 12.8 | +0.2 |
| | Green | Sue Bailey | 337 | 10.9 | −1.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barry Woodward | 337 | 10.9 | +2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,627 | 52.6 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,093 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.2 | |

### Great Tey

Great Tey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Chillingworth* | 979 | 58.6 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Waite | 257 | 15.4 | +6.4 |
| | Labour | Matt Creamer | 170 | 10.2 | +0.4 |
| | UKIP | David Holmes | 162 | 9.7 | −5.1 |
| | Green | Robert Brannan | 104 | 6.2 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 722 | 43.2 | −2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,672 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.1 | |

### Highwoods

Highwoods :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Phil Oxford* | 1,592 | 36.9 | −15.2 |
| | Conservative | Chris Hayter | 1,192 | 27.7 | +15.3 |
| | Labour | Gary Braddy | 479 | 11.1 | +1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Baker | 466 | 10.6 | +2.6 |
| | UKIP | Jamie Middleditch | 395 | 9.2 | −4.1 |
| | Green | Robbie Spencer | 187 | 4.3 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 400 | 9.2 | −29.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,311 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | 15.3 | |

### Mile End

Mile End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ben Locker | 2,101 | 38.4 | +7.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ciaran Patrick McGonagle | 1,769 | 32.3 | −8.4 |
| | Labour | Martin Camroux | 707 | 12.9 | +5.2 |
| | UKIP | Tony Terry | 533 | 9.7 | −5.1 |
| | Green | Mary Bryan | 368 | 6.7 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 332 | 6.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,478 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 7.9 | |

### New Town

New Town :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Annie Feltham* | 1,289 | 32.1 | −9.5 |
| | Conservative | Matt Neall | 834 | 20.8 | +8.4 |
| | Labour | Lee Scordis | 772 | 19.2 | +4.4 |
| | Green | Mark Goacher | 631 | 15.7 | +2.3 |
| | UKIP | Alex Knupffer | 493 | 12.3 | −5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 455 | 11.3 | −12.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,719 | 56.3 | +27.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 9.0 | |

### Prettygate

Prettygate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Will Quince* | 2,269 | 51.1 | −6.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Loxley | 967 | 21.8 | +0.6 |
| | Labour | Mike Dale | 522 | 11.8 | ±0.0 |
| | UKIP | Steve Galvin | 489 | 11.0 | N/A |
| | Green | Luke O'Loughlin | 196 | 4.4 | −4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,302 | 29.3 | −7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,443 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.7 | |

### Shrub End

Shrub End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pauline Hazell* | 1,517 | 35.2 | +14.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sharron Lawrence | 1,157 | 25.9 | −7.9 |
| | UKIP | Simon Collins | 757 | 16.9 | −5.0 |
| | Labour | Gary Griffiths | 736 | 16.5 | −2.2 |
| | Green | Stuart Welham | 251 | 5.6 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 360 | 9.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,418 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 11.3 | |

### St. Andrew's

St. Andrew's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tim Young | 1,462 | 48.8 | −12.8 |
| | Conservative | Chris Hill | 715 | 23.9 | +8.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Verity Woolley | 447 | 14.9 | +3.0 |
| | Green | Joshua Murray | 370 | 12.4 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 747 | 24.9 | −20.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,994 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 10.5 | |

### St. Anne's

St. Anne's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barrie Cook* | 1,173 | 31.2 | −8.5 |
| | Conservative | Peter Klejna-Wendt | 976 | 26.0 | +10.8 |
| | UKIP | Bill Faram | 770 | 20.5 | −4.9 |
| | Labour | Amanda Stannard | 600 | 16.0 | +2.6 |
| | Green | Stephen Ford | 241 | 6.4 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 197 | 5.2 | −9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,760 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 9.7 | |

### Stanway

Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Fiona Maclean | 1,861 | 42.8 | +12.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lesley Scott-Boutell | 1,611 | 37.0 | +3.3 |
| | Labour | Carole Spademan | 616 | 14.2 | +4.0 |
| | Green | Tim Glover | 261 | 6.0 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
No UKIP candidate as previous (-20.8).

### Tiptree

Tiptree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Margaret Crowe | 1,873 | 42.8 | +1.5 |
| | UKIP | Stuart Gulleford | 1,313 | 32.5 | −5.0 |
| | Labour | Robert Spademan | 535 | 13.2 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Miah Ahmed | 194 | 4.8 | +1.3 |
| | Green | Katherine Bamforth | 129 | 3.2 | −2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green

West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marcus Harrington | 1,578 | 54.7 | −7.1 |
| | UKIP | Ben Clark | 370 | 12.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | Ian Yates | 306 | 10.6 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gemma Graham | 265 | 9.2 | +0.8 |
| | Green | Roger Bamforth | 204 | 7.1 | −10.1 |
| | Independent | Julian McCallum | 151 | 5.2 | N/A |
| | Patriotic Socialist | Dave Osbourne | 12 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### West Mersea

West Mersea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Patricia Moore | 2,154 | 51.9 | +0.8 |
| | UKIP | David Broise | 988 | 23.8 | −3.8 |
| | Labour | Alison Inman | 402 | 9.7 | +1.0 |
| | Green | Lisa Britton | 330 | 8.0 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jenny Stevens | 278 | 6.7 | +2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Wivenhoe Cross

Wivenhoe Cross :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Cory | 668 | 44.9 | −8.1 |
| | Labour | Phil Finn | 328 | 22.1 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative | Natalie Jukes | 271 | 18.2 | −3.1 |
| | Green | Christopher Flossman | 130 | 8.7 | +2.2 |
| | UKIP | Carole Morse | 90 | 6.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Wivenhoe Quay

Wivenhoe Quay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rosalind Scott | 1,295 | 40.9 | −11.8 |
| | Conservative | Peter Hill | 1,251 | 39.5 | +7.6 |
| | Green | Laura Poutney | 325 | 10.3 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Shaun Boughton | 295 | 9.3 | +2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections
### Dedham & Langham

In June 2015, in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, Conservative councillor Mark Cable "ceased to be a member of the council" after failing to attend a council meeting since December 2014 (6 months). A by-election was called and the ward was subsequently held by the Conservatives.
Dedham & Langham: 22 October 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anne Brown | 545 | 77.9 | +8.6 |
| | UKIP | Bill Faram | 60 | 8.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Penny | 57 | 8.1 | −1.6 |
| | Labour | John Spademan | 38 | 5.4 | −4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 700 | 29.1 | −5.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |