# 2018 Colchester Borough Council election

Elections to Colchester Borough Council took place on 3 May 2018. Seventeen members of the council - one-third of the whole — were elected, one from each of the seventeen wards. It was the first standard election to take place following comprehensive boundary changes in 2016. This set of seats were last up for election in 2016, with the third-placed elected candidates being up for election in 2018.

## Summary

The four main parties put up a full slate of candidates, and Independents stood in eight wards.

### Result

2018 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 | 10 | 2 | 58.8 | 15 | 25 | 49.0 | 15,765 | 40.4 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2 | 2 | 11.8 | 10 | 12 | 23.5 | 8,472 | 19.9 | -2.7 |
| | Labour | 4 | | 23.5 | 7 | 11 | 21.6 | 10,783 | 25.3 | +3.1 |
| | Independent | 1 | | 5.9 | 2 | 3 | 5.9 | 3,130 | 7.1 | +3.0 |
| | Green | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2,880 | 7.0 | -2.6 |

### Composition

Prior to the election, the composition of the council was:
| 14 | 11 | 3 | 23 |
| Liberal Democrats | Labour | Ind | Conservative |
After the election, the composition of the council was:
| 12 | 11 | 3 | 25 |
| Liberal Democrats | Labour | Ind | Conservative |

### New Administration

The Liberal Democrats, Labour Party, and Independent groups reached a deal that would continue their coalition, with Cllr Mark Cory to replace the unseated Paul Smith as Leader of the Council.

## Ward results
### Berechurch

Berechurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Martyn Warnes* | 1,275 | 62.6 | +0.5 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Bright | 510 | 25.0 | +11.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mick Spindler | 178 | 8.7 | +2.1 |
| | Green | Andy Brooke | 75 | 3.7 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 765 | 37.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,038 | 27.2 | −5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,481 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | -5.6 | |
No UKIP candidate as previous (−12.8).

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Simon Crow | 931 | 30.7 | +2.2 |
| | Green | Mark Goacher | 920 | 30.3 | +4.3 |
| | Labour | Norma Dinnie-Weall | 750 | 24.7 | +8.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jo Hayes | 434 | 14.3 | −15.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,035 | 39.6 | +2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,655 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.1 | |

### Greenstead

Greenstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tina Bourne* | 1,078 | 51.5 | +11.3 |
| | Conservative | Fabian Green | 502 | 24.0 | +5.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Baker | 245 | 11.7 | −1.9 |
| | Independent | Christopher Lee | 203 | 9.7 | +3.3 |
| | Green | John Clifton | 67 | 3.2 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 576 | 27.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,095 | 24.4 | −5.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,572 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.3 | |
No UKIP candidate as previous (−14.8)

### Highwoods

Highwoods :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Phil Oxford* | 926 | 45.4 | +4.7 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Rowe | 563 | 27.6 | +2.7 |
| | Labour | Gary Braddy | 314 | 15.4 | +4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Turrell | 161 | 7.9 | −2.0 |
| | Green | Robbie Spence | 75 | 3.7 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 363 | 18.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,039 | 27.6 | −5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,335 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
No UKIP candidate as previous (−9.1).

### Lexden & Braiswick

Lexden & Braiswick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brian Jarvis* | 1,812 | 66.2 | +8.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Thomas Stevenson | 407 | 14.9 | −2.6 |
| | Labour | John Challen | 338 | 12.3 | +0.9 |
| | Green | Sue Bailey | 181 | 6.6 | −6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,405 | 51.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,738 | 37.8 | −2.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,243 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.4 | |

### Marks Tey & Layer

Marks Tey & Layer :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jackie Maclean* | 1,493 | 71.2 | +23.2 |
| | Labour | John Spademan | 275 | 13.1 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Hull | 224 | 10.7 | −0.8 |
| | Green | Matt Stemp | 106 | 5.1 | −5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,218 | 41.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,512 | 34.7 | −1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,239 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +11.5 | |
No UKIP candidate as previous (−17.6).

### Mersea & Pyefleet

Mersea & Pyefleet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Davidson* | 1,373 | 42.0 | −3.8 |
| | Independent | John Akker | 1,202 | 36.8 | New |
| | Green | Peter Banks | 374 | 11.4 | −1.4 |
| | Labour | Barry Gilheany | 219 | 6.7 | −7.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gemma Graham | 99 | 3.0 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 171 | 5.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,267 | 40.5 | +1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,075 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -20.3 | |
No UKIP candidate as previous (−21.4).

### Mile End

Mile End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | David King | 1,179 | 49.1 | −8.2 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Rowe | 728 | 30.3 | +5.1 |
| | Labour | Pauline Bacon | 353 | 14.7 | +4.3 |
| | Green | Amanda Kirke | 88 | 4.1 | −3.0 |
| | Independent | Jason Leonard | 44 | 1.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 451 | 18.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,402 | 30.9 | −6.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,779 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -6.7 | |

### New Town & Christ Church

New Town & Christ Church :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lorcan Whitehead | 1,319 | 41.7 | +19.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Catherine Spindler | 816 | 25.8 | −11.0 |
| | Conservative | Annesley Hardy | 780 | 24.6 | +1.7 |
| | Green | Bob Brannan | 177 | 5.6 | −12.3 |
| | Independent | Edmund Chinnery | 74 | 2.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 503 | 15.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,166 | 33.8 | −0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,364 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +15.2 | |

### Old Heath & The Hythe

Old Heath & The Hythe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lee Scordis* | 1,525 | 61.5 | +20.7 |
| | Conservative | Michael McDonnell | 505 | 20.4 | +4.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matthew Craven | 228 | 9.2 | −17.9 |
| | Green | Andrew Canessa | 129 | 5.2 | −11.1 |
| | Independent | Chris Hill | 93 | 3.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,020 | 41.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,480 | 30.8 | −4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,055 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.1 | |

### Prettygate

Prettygate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roger Buston* | 1,820 | 61.0 | +5.4 |
| | Labour Co-op | Mike Dale | 592 | 19.8 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ed Hill | 355 | 11.9 | −5.9 |
| | Green | Clare Palmer | 216 | 7.2 | −2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,228 | 41.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,983 | 37.6 | −3.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,942 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 | |

### Rural North

Rural North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Chillingworth* | 2,015 | 68.5 | +8.7 |
| | Labour | Judith Short | 348 | 11.8 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | William Brown | 298 | 10.1 | −4.8 |
| | Green | Roger Bamforth | 281 | 9.6 | −5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,667 | 56.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,942 | 34.6 | −1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,508 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.5 | |

### Shrub End

Shrub End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pauline Hazell* | 777 | 38.2 | +19.0 |
| | Labour | Isobel Merry | 622 | 30.6 | +18.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sam McCarthy | 507 | 24.9 | −10.1 |
| | Independent | Mike Clark | 77 | 3.8 | New |
| | Green | Wolfgang Fauser | 50 | 2.5 | −5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 155 | 7.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,033 | 25.5 | −3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,979 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
No UKIP (−13.8) or Independent (−12.7) candidates as previous.

### St. Anne's & St. John's

St. Anne's & St. John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Hayter | 1,206 | 43.4 | +25.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Smith* | 1,026 | 36.9 | −9.1 |
| | Labour | Gregory Edwards | 346 | 12.4 | +3.5 |
| | Green | Megan Maltby | 106 | 3.8 | −2.4 |
| | Independent | Kristine Lee | 97 | 3.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 180 | 6.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,781 | 34.2 | −1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,136 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +17.1 | |
No UKIP candidate as previous (−20.6).

### Stanway

Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Dundas | 1,014 | 46.0 | +5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jessica Scott-Boutell* | 874 | 39.6 | −1.1 |
| | Labour | Carole Spademan | 230 | 10.4 | −2.4 |
| | Green | Katie Francis | 87 | 3.9 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 140 | 6.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,205 | 33.2 | −3.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,648 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +3.2 | |

### Tiptree

Tiptree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Derek Loveland | 1,423 | 66.6 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | Barbara Nichols | 404 | 18.9 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Daniel Eriksson | 197 | 9.2 | New |
| | Green | Peter Lynn | 114 | 5.3 | −8.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,019 | 47.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,138 | 29.4 | −2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,165 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.8 | |

### Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrea Luxford-Vaughn | 1,542 | 49.5 | +21.2 |
| | Labour Co-op | Rosalind Scott* | 1,143 | 36.7 | +8.1 |
| | Conservative | Liam Gallagher | 328 | 10.5 | −12.0 |
| | Green | Claudia Uller | 105 | 3.4 | −3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 399 | 12.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,118 | 39.8 | −13.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,830 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Co-op | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Co-op | Swing | +6.5 | |
No Independent candidate as previous (−13.6).