# 2014 Colchester Borough Council election

The 2014 Colchester Borough Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of Colchester Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.

## Background

Before the election a coalition between the 26 Liberal Democrats, 7 Labour and 3 independents ran the council, while the 23 Conservatives were in opposition. There were also one seat vacant after the death of the Labour councillor for Wivenhoe Quay Steve Ford.
20 seats were being contested, with the candidates including a full slate from the Green party and 13 from the UK Independence Party, more than the party had put forward at any previous local election in Colchester. 6 sitting councillors stood down at the election including the then mayor, Colin Sykes.

## Election result

Only one seat changed hands at the election, with Labour's Chris Pearson gaining Berechurch from the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats held the other 9 seats they had been defending, holding Castle by 46 votes over the Conservatives and Old Heath (formerly Harbour ward) by 69 votes from Labour. The Conservatives gained an increased share of the vote at the election, but did not gain any more seats.
Meanwhile, the UK Independence Party picked up 16% of the vote, coming second in 9 wards, but failed to take any seats. This was despite the party topping the polls in Colchester with 35% at the European parliamentary election that was held at the same time as the council election, and coming closest to taking a seat in Tiptree where the Conservatives held the seat by 85 votes.
Following the election, councillor Laura Sykes left the Liberal Democrats and joined the Highwoods Independent group on the council (renamed to Highwoods & Stanway Independents), after a long-standing dispute with another Liberal Democrat councillor. The coalition between the Liberal Democrats, Labour and independents continued to run the council.
2014 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 % | +/− |
| | Liberal Democrats | 9 | 1 | 45.0 | 16 | 25 | 41.7 | 8,988 | 23.0 | –9.6 |
| | Conservative | 8 | | 40.0 | 15 | 23 | 38.3 | 13,144 | 33.6 | +4.7 |
| | Labour | 2 | 1 | 10.0 | 7 | 9 | 15.0 | 6,334 | 16.2 | –7.8 |
| | Independent | 1 | | 5.0 | 2 | 3 | 5.0 | 1,127 | 2.9 | –1.6 |
| | UKIP | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 6,179 | 15.8 | +13.1 |
| | Green | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3,385 | 8.6 | +1.3 |

## Ward results
### Berechurch

Berechurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Chris Pearson | 852 | 40.0 | −18.2 |
| | UKIP | Paul Mulvey | 479 | 22.5 | +10.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Hislop | 417 | 19.6 | +3.6 |
| | Conservative | Michael Brown | 305 | 14.3 | +3.6 |
| | Green | Stuart Welham | 77 | 3.6 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 373 | 17.5 | −24.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,130 | 32 | +4 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |

### Birch & Winstree

Birch & Winstree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kevin Bentley | 963 | 54.6 | −14.1 |
| | UKIP | John Pitts | 478 | 27.1 | New |
| | Labour | John Spademan | 136 | 7.7 | −5.8 |
| | Green | Maria Iacovou | 102 | 5.8 | −0.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Debby Bloomfield | 86 | 4.9 | −6.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 485 | 27.5 | −27.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,765 | 41 | −6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bill Frame | 693 | 25.8 | −14.6 |
| | Conservative | Darius Laws | 647 | 24.1 | +6.2 |
| | Labour | Ben Howard | 478 | 17.8 | +4.4 |
| | Green | Peter Lynn | 462 | 17.2 | −1.4 |
| | UKIP | Ron Levy | 403 | 15.0 | +5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 46 | 1.7 | −20.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,683 | 38 | +8 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Christ Church

Christ Church :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nick Cope | 467 | 32.5 | −10.5 |
| | Conservative | Annesley Hardy | 413 | 28.7 | −4.4 |
| | Labour | Elisa Vasquez-Walters | 239 | 16.6 | +5.2 |
| | Green | Clare Palmer | 212 | 14.8 | +2.4 |
| | UKIP | Alexei Kunpffer | 106 | 7.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 3.8 | −6.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,437 | 44 | −9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Fordham & Stour

Fordham & Stour :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Arnold | 1,046 | 65.5 | −1.8 |
| | Green | Sue Bailey | 219 | 13.7 | +6.0 |
| | Labour | Ian Yates | 201 | 12.6 | −2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barry Woodward | 132 | 8.3 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 827 | 51.8 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,598 | 38 | −7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Highwoods

Highwoods :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Gerard Oxford | 1,117 | 52.1 | −15.7 |
| | UKIP | Tony Terry | 286 | 13.3 | +8.8 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Hayter | 266 | 12.4 | +3.0 |
| | Labour | Bob Fisher | 208 | 9.7 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ann Oakes-Odger | 176 | 8.2 | +2.0 |
| | Green | Robbie Spence | 91 | 4.2 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 831 | 38.8 | −19.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,144 | 33 | +7 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Lexden

Lexden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roger Buston | 985 | 55.5 | +1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robin James | 370 | 20.8 | −5.2 |
| | Green | Steve Ford | 230 | 13.0 | +4.5 |
| | Labour | John Wood | 190 | 10.7 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 615 | 34.6 | +6.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,775 | 41 | +5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Mile End

Mile End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dominic Graham | 1,124 | 40.7 | −23.7 |
| | Conservative | Ben Locker | 857 | 31.0 | +7.5 |
| | UKIP | Simon Collins | 410 | 14.8 | New |
| | Labour | Kevin Stannard | 210 | 7.6 | −0.5 |
| | Green | Mary Bryan | 160 | 5.8 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 267 | 9.7 | −31.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,761 | 36 | +5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### New Town

New Town :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Theresa Higgins | 766 | 41.6 | −11.2 |
| | UKIP | Tony Hardy | 334 | 18.1 | +9.9 |
| | Labour | Lillie Dopson | 273 | 14.8 | −3.9 |
| | Green | Mark Goacher | 247 | 13.4 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Matthew Neall | 222 | 12.1 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 432 | 23.5 | −10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,842 | 29 | +6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Old Heath

Prior to the election, Old Heath was known as Harbour ward.
Old Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Justin Knight | 463 | 31.5 | −23.2 |
| | Labour | Lee Scordis | 394 | 26.8 | +2.2 |
| | UKIP | Stephen Galvin | 334 | 22.7 | +15.2 |
| | Conservative | Samuel Nolan | 177 | 12.0 | +5.1 |
| | Green | Bob Brannan | 104 | 7.1 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 4.7 | −25.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,472 | 34 | +6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Prettygate

Prettygate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sue Lissimore | 1,489 | 57.9 | +10.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Loxley | 545 | 21.2 | −8.7 |
| | Labour | Mike Dale | 304 | 11.8 | −3.1 |
| | Green | Luke O'Loughlin | 233 | 9.1 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 944 | 36.7 | +19.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,571 | 44 | +7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Pyefleet

Pyefleet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Davidson | 587 | 64.2 | +20.4 |
| | Green | Tim Glover | 131 | 14.3 | +10.0 |
| | Labour | Alison Inman | 124 | 13.6 | +4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Owen Bartholomew | 73 | 8.0 | −34.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 456 | 49.8 | +48.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 915 | 45 | −30 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### St. Andrew's

St. Andrew's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Julie Young | 925 | 61.6 | +0.3 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Hill | 237 | 15.8 | +8.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wayne Boughton | 179 | 11.9 | +0.3 |
| | Green | Leonie Greene | 160 | 10.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 688 | 45.8 | −2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,501 | 27 | +2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### St. Anne's

St. Anne's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Hogg | 783 | 39.7 | −15.5 |
| | UKIP | William Faram | 500 | 25.4 | New |
| | Conservative | Alexandra Hutchinson | 299 | 15.2 | −0.5 |
| | Labour | Amanda Stannard | 265 | 13.4 | −7.0 |
| | Green | Callum Fauser | 125 | 6.3 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 283 | 14.4 | −20.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,972 | 31 | +8 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### St. John's

St. John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ray Gamble | 841 | 48.6 | −15.8 |
| | UKIP | Edwin Gretton | 355 | 20.5 | New |
| | Conservative | Charles McKay | 352 | 20.4 | −1.2 |
| | Labour | Jennie Fisher | 106 | 6.1 | −2.7 |
| | Green | David Trayner | 75 | 4.3 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 486 | 28.1 | −14.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,729 | 43 | +5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Shrub End

Shrub End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lyn Barton | 778 | 33.4 | −10.4 |
| | UKIP | Sarah Hardy | 510 | 21.9 | New |
| | Conservative | Mike Hardy | 480 | 20.6 | −9.7 |
| | Labour | Bruce Tuxford | 458 | 19.7 | +0.0 |
| | Green | Walter Schwarz | 92 | 4.0 | −2.2 |
| | Independent | Christina Perdicou | 10 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 268 | 11.5 | −2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,328 | 32 | +7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Stanway

Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jessica Scott-Boutell | 786 | 33.7 | −21.3 |
| | Conservative | Janice Perren | 704 | 30.2 | +5.0 |
| | UKIP | Christopher Treloar | 486 | 20.8 | New |
| | Labour | David Hough | 237 | 10.2 | −4.2 |
| | Green | Pam Nelson | 120 | 5.1 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 82 | 3.5 | −26.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,333 | 36 | +3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Tiptree

Tiptree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Elliott | 940 | 41.3 | −6.8 |
| | UKIP | Harry Royle | 855 | 37.5 | New |
| | Labour | Robert Spademan | 283 | 12.4 | −23.7 |
| | Green | Kathy Bamforth | 120 | 5.3 | −4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gill Collings | 79 | 3.5 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 85 | 3.7 | −8.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,277 | 39 | +12 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green

West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dennis Willetts | 984 | 61.8 | +7.0 |
| | Green | Roger Bamforth | 274 | 17.2 | +11.7 |
| | Labour | Barbara Nichols | 201 | 12.6 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sue Waite | 134 | 8.4 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 710 | 44.6 | +13.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,593 | 43 | −7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### West Mersea

West Mersea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Jowers | 1,191 | 51.1 | −18.0 |
| | UKIP | David Broise | 643 | 27.6 | New |
| | Labour | Bernard Ready | 250 | 10.7 | −4.7 |
| | Green | Steve McGough | 151 | 6.5 | −1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jenny Stevens | 96 | 4.1 | −3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 548 | 23.5 | −30.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,331 | 40 | +11 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections
### Wivenhoe Quay

A by-election was held in Wivenhoe Quay on 3 July 2014 following the death of Labour councillor Steve Ford. The seat was held for Labour by Rosalind Scott with a majority of 228 votes over the Conservatives.
Wivenhoe Quay: 3 July 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rosalind Scott | 857 | 46.7 | −5.4 |
| | Conservative | Peter Hill | 629 | 34.3 | +2.4 |
| | UKIP | John Pitts | 129 | 7.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Shaun Boughton | 127 | 6.9 | −0.1 |
| | Green | Tim Glover | 90 | 4.9 | −4.2 |
| | Patriotic Socialist | Dave Osborn | 2 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 228 | 12.4 | −7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,834 | 43.0 | +1.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.9 | |