# 1998 Eastbourne Borough Council election

The 1998 Eastbourne Borough Council election took place on 7 May 1998 to elect members of Eastbourne Borough Council in East Sussex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats stayed in overall control of the council.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
* Liberal Democrats 18
* Conservative 12

## Election result

2 seats were contested in Langney and Roselands wards after the resignation of the councillors Lesley Morris and John Ungar respectively. Overall turnout at the election was 31.77%, down from 36.35% in 1996.
Eastbourne local election result 1998 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes |
| Liberal Democrats | 6 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 50.0 | 48.2 | 11,993 |
| Conservative | 6 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 50.0 | 40.0 | 9,949 |
| Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 10.2 | 2,549 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 250 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 133 |

## Ward results

Devonshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Sheila Charlton | 737 | 42.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Beverley Berry | 735 | 42.7 |
| | Labour | Jacqueline Frisby | 249 | 14.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2 | 0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,721 | 31.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
Downside :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Albert Leggett | 1,337 | 69.5 |
| | Conservative | Christian Usher | 399 | 20.7 |
| | Labour | Robert Rossetter | 188 | 9.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 938 | 48.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,924 | 32.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
Hampden Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Pooley | 1,039 | 59.6 |
| | Labour | Alan French | 453 | 26.0 |
| | Conservative | Jeanie Sowerby | 251 | 14.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 586 | 33.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,743 | 28.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
Langney (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gary Potter | 1,413 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Kerr | 1,383 | |
| | Conservative | Ronald Hedger | 478 | |
| | Conservative | Leonard Meladio | 412 | |
| | Labour | Agnes Reid | 307 | |
| | Independent | Steven Wallis | 250 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,243 | 23.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
Meads :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Barry Taylor | 1,875 | 74.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Shirley Bloom | 658 | 26.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,217 | 48.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,533 | 38.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
Ocklynge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Mark Neeham | 995 | 48.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Walter James | 900 | 43.9 |
| | Labour | John Morrison | 154 | 7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 95 | 4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,049 | 37.1 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | |
Ratton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Frederick Higgins | 1,384 | 62.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Harris | 444 | 20.0 |
| | Labour | John Pettigrew | 256 | 11.5 |
| | Liberal | Mona-Theresia Williamson | 133 | 6.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 940 | 42.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,217 | 35.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
Roselands (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Beryl Healy | 1,269 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil Stanley | 1,070 | |
| | Conservative | Roger Gristwood | 434 | |
| | Conservative | Roger Wesson | 383 | |
| | Labour | Emile Habets | 222 | |
| | Labour | Jonathan Pettigrew | 216 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,594 | 28.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
St Anthony's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Robert Backhouse | 1,419 | 54.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Gleeson | 907 | 34.6 |
| | Labour | John Carmody | 295 | 11.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 512 | 19.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,621 | 33.8 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | |
Upperton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Robert Lacey | 1,182 | 53.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Whitby | 838 | 37.6 |
| | Labour | Eileen Cronin | 209 | 9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 344 | 15.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,229 | 33.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | |

## By-elections between 1998 and 1999

A by-election was held on 3 September 1998 in Ratton ward after the resignation of Scott Stevens. Conservative Barbara Goodall gained the seat from the Liberal Democrats.
Ratton by-election 3 September 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Barbara Goodall | 1,183 | 57.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jon Harris | 741 | 36.0 |
| | Labour | Robert Rossetter | 134 | 6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 442 | 21.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,058 | 32.6 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | |