# 1997 Southend-on-Sea Borough Council election

The 1997 Southend-on-Sea Council election took place on 1 May 1997 to elect members of Southend-on-Sea Unitary Council in Essex, England. The whole council was up for election, although the ward boundaries remained the same.

## Results summary

1997 Southend-on-Sea 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 | 18 | 8 | 46.2 | 0 | 18 | 46.2 | 90,624 | 40.2 | +5.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 14 | 4 | 35.9 | 0 | 14 | 35.9 | 71,766 | 31.8 | +1.1 |
| | Labour | 7 | 4 | 17.9 | 0 | 7 | 17.9 | 61,792 | 27.4 | –7.5 |
| | Ind. Conservative | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1,233 | 0.5 | New |

## Ward results
### Belfairs

Belfairs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Aylen | 3,042 | 45.6 | |
| | Conservative | H. Briggs | 2,944 | | |
| | Conservative | G. Horrigan | 2,915 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | S. Pawson | 2,601 | 39.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | C. Ritchie | 2,145 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | D. Piper | 2,059 | | |
| | Labour | N. Boorman | 1,028 | 15.4 | |
| | Labour | A. Crook | 963 | | |
| | Labour | J. Norman | 952 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 76.6 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats |

### Blenheim

Blenheim :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | G. Longley | 2,756 | 44.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | C. Mallam | 2,724 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | B. Smith | 2,674 | | |
| | Conservative | G. Attridge | 2,096 | 33.4 | |
| | Conservative | P. Collins | 2,024 | | |
| | Conservative | G. Hart | 1,974 | | |
| | Labour | T. Merrison | 1,417 | 22.6 | |
| | Labour | J. Clinkscales | 1,378 | | |
| | Labour | M. Terry | 1,235 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 66.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Chalkwell

Chalkwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Latham | 2,400 | 34.5 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | B. Lister-Smith | 2,368 | 34.0 | |
| | Conservative | E. Sullivan | 2,151 | | |
| | Conservative | B. Trevelyan | 2,149 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | D. Durant | 2,050 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | A. Miller | 1,812 | | |
| | Ind. Conservative | J. Tobin | 1,233 | 17.7 | |
| | Labour | D. Homer | 959 | 13.8 | |
| | Labour | M. Humphrey | 957 | | |
| | Labour | N. Waymark | 784 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 64.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Eastwood

Eastwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | N. Goodman | 3,314 | 44.9 | |
| | Conservative | R. Weaver | 2,763 | 37.4 | |
| | Conservative | C. Walker | 2,714 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Betson | 2,696 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | R. Fisher | 2,579 | | |
| | Conservative | B. Horrigan | 2,556 | | |
| | Labour | V. Knights | 1,312 | 17.8 | |
| | Labour | A. Monteith | 1,263 | | |
| | Labour | G. Noakes | 1,218 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 71.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats |

### Leigh

Leigh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | A. Crystall | 3,052 | 46.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | P. Wexham | 2,884 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | A. Smulian | 2,581 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Lamb | 2,338 | 35.4 | |
| | Conservative | J. Rowswell | 2,207 | | |
| | Conservative | L. Salter | 2,121 | | |
| | Labour | P. Circus | 1,220 | 18.5 | |
| | Labour | A. Denny | 1,024 | | |
| | Labour | D. Norman | 1,006 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 70.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Milton

Milton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Davy | 1,753 | 39.5 | |
| | Labour | K. Lee | 1,751 | 39.4 | |
| | Conservative | J. Lambert | 1,747 | | |
| | Labour | P. Hawkins | 1,725 | | |
| | Labour | L. Felton | 1,678 | | |
| | Conservative | A. Khwaja | 1,503 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Overy | 937 | 21.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | L. Smith | 843 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | T. Ray | 819 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 52.6 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |

### Prittlewell

Prittlewell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Miller | 2,570 | 44.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | N. Baker | 2,505 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | D. Elf | 2,489 | | |
| | Conservative | B. Houssart | 1,732 | 29.8 | |
| | Conservative | H. Houssart | 1,633 | | |
| | Conservative | P. Manser | 1,564 | | |
| | Labour | L. Harley | 1,517 | 26.1 | |
| | Labour | P. White | 1,199 | | |
| | Labour | Z. Chaudhri | 1,178 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 62.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Shoebury

Shoebury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Ascroft | 4,561 | 46.4 | |
| | Conservative | A. North | 3,894 | | |
| | Conservative | V. Wilson | 3,621 | | |
| | Labour | L. Wisken | 3,317 | 33.8 | |
| | Labour | D. Singh | 2,650 | | |
| | Labour | R. Kennedy | 2,131 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | C. Cooper | 1,947 | 19.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | A. Newton | 1,761 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | S. Newton | 1,646 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 65.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |

### Southchurch

Southchurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Garston | 3,095 | 51.3 | |
| | Conservative | A. Holland | 2,940 | | |
| | Conservative | B. Kelly | 2,814 | | |
| | Labour | R. Merton | 1,899 | 31.5 | |
| | Labour | D. Garne | 1,568 | | |
| | Labour | I. Pope | 1,419 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Davis | 1,044 | 17.3 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | P. De Gregorio Macdonald | 930 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Woolcott | 873 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 68.0 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### St. Luke's

St. Luke's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Copley | 2,400 | 49.8 | |
| | Labour | J. Mapp | 2,132 | | |
| | Labour | M. Royston | 1,981 | | |
| | Conservative | E. Hodgson | 1,503 | 31.2 | |
| | Conservative | J. Garston | 1,486 | | |
| | Conservative | C. Langlands | 1,442 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | A. Smith | 921 | 19.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Skinner | 823 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | D. Wainwright | 654 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 60.0 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Thorpe

Thorpe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. White | 3,483 | 57.4 | |
| | Conservative | S. Ayre | 3,447 | | |
| | Conservative | S. Carr | 3,421 | | |
| | Labour | G. Farrer | 1,453 | 23.9 | |
| | Labour | W. McIntyre | 1,408 | | |
| | Labour | W. Vanderburg | 1,267 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Clark | 1,136 | 18.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | D. Holliday | 1,015 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Pilgrim | 918 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 66.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Victoria

Victoria :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Dunn | 2,907 | 53.2 | |
| | Labour | R. Crisp | 2,657 | | |
| | Labour | C. Dandridge | 2,623 | | |
| | Conservative | P. Jones | 1,706 | 31.2 | |
| | Conservative | D. Ayre | 1,697 | | |
| | Conservative | K. Norris | 1,669 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | P. Collins | 856 | 15.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | C. Etherington | 806 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | C. Verney | 741 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 56.3 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Westborough

Westborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | J. Sibley | 2,501 | 47.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | M. Lubel | 2,498 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | H. Gibeon | 2,238 | | |
| | Labour | B. Neal | 1,429 | 27.4 | |
| | Labour | M. Flewitt | 1,400 | | |
| | Labour | P. Hannan | 1,387 | | |
| | Conservative | S. Compton | 1,287 | 24.7 | |
| | Conservative | R. Brown | 1,149 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Samuel | 1,083 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 62.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |