# 2000 Colchester Borough Council election

The 2000 Colchester Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2000 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.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
* Liberal Democrats 23
* Conservative 22
* Labour 14
* Tiptree Residents Association 1

## Background

Before the election the Liberal Democrats had the most seats on the council with 25, compared to 18 for the Conservative Party, 15 for the Labour Party, 1 for the Tiptree Residents' Association and 1 other Independent. Among the 20 councillors who were defending seats at the election were the Liberal Democrat leader of the council for the last two years, Colin Sykes in Stanway, and the Liberal Democrat mayor Martin Hunt in Prettygate.
Four Liberal Democrat and three Labour councillors stood down at the election including the Liberal Democrat former leader of the council, Steve Cawley in Shrub End.

## Election result

The Conservatives gained four seats, while the Liberal Democrats suffered a net loss of two seats. The Liberal Democrats just remained the largest party, but among those to lose their seats to the Conservatives were the council leader Colin Sykes in Stanway by 54 votes and the mayor Martin Hunt in Prettygate by 213 votes. Labour remained third after losing two seats, but also gaining one, while Tony Webb was the only Independent to remain on the council after holding his seat in Tiptree.
Following the election Bill Frame was chosen as leader of the Liberal Democrat group defeating Terry Sutton and he then became the new leader of the council.
2000 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 | 6 | 3 | 30.0 | 17 | 23 | 38.3 | 10,192 | 33.1 | –3.8 |
| | Conservative | 9 | 4 | 45.0 | 12 | 21 | 35.0 | 11,951 | 38.8 | +6.3 |
| | Labour | 4 | 1 | 20.0 | 11 | 15 | 25.0 | 7,429 | 24.1 | –6.5 |
| | Tiptree Residents | 1 | | 5.0 | 0 | 1 | 1.7 | 727 | 2.4 | N/A |
| | Independent | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 478 | 1.6 | N/A |
| | Natural Law | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 39 | 0.1 | N/A |

## Ward results
### Berechurch

Berechurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dave Smith | 874 | 44.3 | −3.2 |
| | Labour | Dave Harris | 788 | 40.0 | −3.0 |
| | Conservative | Pat Armstrong | 310 | 15.7 | +6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 86 | 4.4 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,972 | 34.0 | −4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,763 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 0.1 | |

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Henry Spyvee* | 788 | 42.9 | −1.4 |
| | Conservative | Neil Stock | 525 | 28.6 | +8.2 |
| | Labour | Kim Naish | 486 | 26.4 | −9.0 |
| | Natural Law | Loretta Basker | 39 | 2.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 263 | 14.3 | +5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,838 | 31.0 | −1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,971 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 4.8 | |

### Dedham

Dedham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wendy Scattergood* | 582 | 73.9 | +39.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Caroline West | 168 | 21.3 | −36.6 |
| | Labour | Jean Quinn | 38 | 4.8 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 414 | 52.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 788 | 52.0 | −7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,526 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 37.9 | |

### East Donyland

East Donyland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Patricia Sanderson | 321 | 43.4 | +25.5 |
| | Labour | Tina Cooke* | 248 | 33.5 | −14.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elizabeth Flanagan | 171 | 23.1 | −6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 73 | 9.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 740 | 42.0 | −5.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,784 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 20.2 | |

### Fordham

Fordham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Cannon* | 418 | 76.0 | +27.6 |
| | Labour | Richard Bartholomew | 68 | 12.4 | −6.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Craig Sutton | 64 | 11.6 | −19.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 350 | 63.6 | +45.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 550 | 39.0 | −12.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,420 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 17.2 | |
No Independent Conservative candidate as previous (1.7%).

### Harbour

Harbour :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Terry Brady | 696 | 40.1 | +3.6 |
| | Labour | Paul Bishop | 553 | 31.9 | −15.2 |
| | Conservative | Mike Segal | 306 | 17.6 | +1.2 |
| | Residents | Peter Farley | 181 | 10.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 143 | 8.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,736 | 28.0 | −1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,322 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 9.4 | |

### Lexden

Lexden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sonia Lewis* | 1,252 | 64.6 | +13.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Martin | 573 | 29.6 | −11.8 |
| | Labour | Edna Salmon | 113 | 5.8 | −2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 679 | 35.0 | +25.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,938 | 45.0 | −5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,284 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 12.8 | |

### Marks Tey

Marks Tey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Gower* | 447 | 65.4 | +30.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Treloar | 134 | 19.6 | −11.0 |
| | Labour | John Coombes | 103 | 15.1 | −16.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 313 | 45.8 | +42.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 684 | 33.0 | −11.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,090 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 20.9 | |

### Mile End

Mile End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gerard Oxford | 1,094 | 41.1 | +9.3 |
| | Conservative | David Adams | 934 | 35.1 | −0.1 |
| | Labour | Lucy Wood* | 634 | 23.8 | −9.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 160 | 6.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,662 | 25.0 | −0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,548 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | 4.7 | |

### New Town

New Town :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sandra Gray | 681 | 57.2 | −5.4 |
| | Labour | Dave Speed | 309 | 25.9 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative | Mike Coyne | 201 | 16.9 | +5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 372 | 31.2 | −5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,191 | 23.0 | −4.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,157 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 2.8 | |

### Prettygate

Prettygate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian McCord | 1,034 | 48.7 | +11.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Hunt | 821 | 38.7 | −6.2 |
| | Labour | Andy Frost | 267 | 12.6 | −5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 213 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,122 | 36.0 | −1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,910 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 8.7 | |

### St Andrew's

St Andrew's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Don Quinn | 559 | 57.2 | −9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Gant | 216 | 22.1 | −5.6 |
| | Conservative | Richard Lambeth | 203 | 20.8 | +14.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 343 | 35.1 | −3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 978 | 17.0 | −7.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,846 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.7 | |

### St Anne's

St Anne's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tina Dopson | 738 | 43.4 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Fellows | 731 | 42.9 | −4.5 |
| | Conservative | Debbie White | 233 | 13.7 | +6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,702 | 34.0 | −6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,083 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.2 | |

### St John's

St John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ray Gamble* | 958 | 49.4 | −6.2 |
| | Conservative | Derek Smith | 674 | 34.8 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | Peter Brine | 206 | 15.8 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 284 | 14.7 | −12.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,938 | 33.0 | −0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,587 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 6.4 | |

### St Mary's

St. Mary's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roger Buston | 840 | 48.4 | +12.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Una Jones | 631 | 36.3 | −8.0 |
| | Labour | Edmund Chinnery | 265 | 15.3 | −4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 209 | 12.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,736 | 33.0 | −3.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,263 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 10.1 | |

### Shrub End

Shrub End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Richard Bourne | 435 | 38.5 | −7.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Williamson | 424 | 37.5 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative | Ron Levy | 272 | 24.0 | +7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11 | 1.0 | −7.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,131 | 19.0 | −2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,973 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 3.6 | |

### Stanway

Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Pyman | 866 | 44.7 | +12.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Colin Sykes* | 812 | 41.9 | −9.7 |
| | Labour | Ian Yates | 259 | 13.4 | −2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 2.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,937 | 32.0 | −0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,121 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 11.2 | |

### Tiptree

Tiptree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tiptree Residents | Tony Webb* | 727 | 41.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Richard Martin | 418 | 23.7 | −13.0 |
| | Labour | Tania Rogers | 324 | 18.3 | −28.5 |
| | Independent | Helen Bunney | 297 | 16.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 309 | 17.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,766 | 28.0 | +5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,301 | | |
| | Tiptree Residents hold | Tiptree Residents hold | Swing | N/A | |

### West Mersea

West Mersea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Jowers | 1,342 | 76.5 | +13.6 |
| | Labour | Bry Mogridge | 258 | 14.7 | −8.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sally Scott | 154 | 8.8 | −5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,084 | 61.8 | +21.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,754 | 30.0 | +0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,813 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 10.9 | |

### Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bob Newman* | 778 | 44.4 | −5.5 |
| | Conservative | Judith Kennerdale | 773 | 44.1 | +4.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Lancaster | 202 | 11.5 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5 | 0.3 | −10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,753 | 25.0 | −3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,152 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.2 | |

## By-elections
### Lexden

Lexden By-Election 19 October 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 939 | 55.9 | −8.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 639 | 38.0 | +8.4 |
| | Labour | | 103 | 6.1 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 300 | 17.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,681 | 39.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Prettygate

Prettygate By-Election 7 June 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 1,674 | 41.4 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative | | 1,498 | 37.1 | −11.7 |
| | Labour | | 869 | 21.5 | +8.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 176 | 4.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,041 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Mile End

A by-election took place in Mile End on 22 November 2001 after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor David Goatley due to pressure of work.
Mile End By-Election 22 November 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 529 | 33.6 | −7.7 |
| | Conservative | | 468 | 29.7 | −5.5 |
| | Labour | | 443 | 28.1 | +4.6 |
| | Independent | | 135 | 8.6 | +8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 61 | 3.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,575 | 14.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |