# Commons (ward)

Commons is a ward of Christchurch, Dorset. Since 2019, the ward has elected 2 councillors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

## History

The ward comprises the former Christchurch Borough Council wards of St Catherine's & Hum and Jumpers now defunct Jumpers ward formerly elected 2 councillors to Christchurch Borough Council.

## Geography

The ward covers the Jumpers Common and Fairmile areas of Christchurch. The southern border of the ward follows the River Stour. Other rural parts of the ward include; Hurn, East Parley and Parley Common. The ward is the largest in the council. Commons ward includes Bournemouth International Airport.

## Councillors
### Commons

| Election | Councillors | Councillors |
| 2019 | Colin Bungey (Independent) | Margaret Phipps (Independent) |
| 2021 by-election | Vanessa Ricketts (Christchurch Independents) | Margaret Phipps (Independent) |
| 2023 | Vanessa Ricketts (Christchurch Independents) | Margaret Phipps (Christchurch Independents) |

### Former Wards
#### St Catherine's and Hurn Ward

| Election | Councillors | Councillors |
| 2003 | David Fox (Conservative) | Susan Spittle (Conservative) |
| 2007 | David Fox (Conservative) | Susan Spittle (Conservative) |
| 2011 | Tavis Fox (Conservative) | Susan Spittle (Conservative) |
| 2015 | Margaret Phipps (Conservative) | Susan Spittle (Conservative) |

#### Jumpers

| Election | Councillors | Councillors |
| 2003 | Colin Bungey (Independent) | Robert McArthur (Independent) |
| 2005 by-election | Colin Bungey (Independent) | Robert McArthur (Independent) |
| 2007 | Colin Bungey (Independent) | Robert McArthur (Independent) |
| 2011 | Colin Bungey (Independent) | Robert McArthur (Independent) |
| 2015 | Colin Bungey (Independent) | Robert McArthur (Independent) |

## Election results
### 2023

Commons :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | CI | Margaret Phipps‡ | 1,757 | 59.5 | +9.4 |
| | CI | Vanessa Helen Ricketts‡ | 1,574 | 53.3 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative | Tara Jane Fox | 414 | 14.0 | ±0.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Stuart Davies | 380 | 12.9 | −1.8 |
| | Independent | Robin Thomas Adamson | 355 | 12.0 | N/A |
| | Green | Carol Ann Gardiner | 310 | 10.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | Peter Stokes | 294 | 9.9 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Cat Gold | 226 | 7.6 | −5.0 |
| | Conservative | Lynda Price | 226 | 7.6 | −5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,955 | 37.13 | |
| | CI hold | CI hold | Swing | | |
| | CI hold | CI hold | Swing | | |

### 2021 by-election

The seat was won by independent candidate Vanessa Helen Ricketts.
Commons (1 seat of 2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Christchurch Independents | Vanessa Helen Ricketts | 1,310 | 44.67 |
| | Conservative | Lisle Carol Smith | 822 | 28.03 |
| | Independent | Fred Neale | 296 | 10.09 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carol Ann Gardiner | 242 | 8.25 |
| | Labour | Peter Stokes | 214 | 7.29 |
| | UKIP | Peter James Bailey | 48 | 1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | | |

### 2019

2019 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election: Commons (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Colin Bungey | 1,623 | 51.9 | |
| | Independent | Margaret Phipps | 1,567 | 50.1 | |
| | No party description | Jim Biggin | 469 | 15.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carol Gardiner | 458 | 14.7 | |
| | Conservative | Victoria Hallam | 438 | 14.0 | |
| | Conservative | Lisle Smith | 403 | 12.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Fenella Vick | 394 | 12.6 | |
| | Labour | Peter Stokes | 223 | 7.1 | |
| | Labour | Antoinette Pearce | 208 | 6.7 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,125 | 40.53% | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### 2015

2015 Christchurch Borough Council election: Jumpers (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Colin Bungey | 1,014 | | |
| | Independent | Fred Neale | 982 | | |
| | Conservative | Norma Fox | 678 | | |
| | Conservative | Will Edwards | 652 | | |
| | Labour | Robin Thorpe | 270 | | |
| | Green | Robert Staite | 214 | | |
| | Labour | Howard Wortley | 211 | | |
| | Green | Nigel Ware | 174 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,195 | 70.5 | +24.2 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |