# 2011 Fenland District Council election

The 2011 Fenland District Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Fenland District Council in Cambridgeshire, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

## Background

In the 2007 election, the Conservatives won 39 of the 40 seats, with the only other seat being won by an independent. However, in April 2010 Liberal Democrat Dave Patrick gained a seat at a by-election from the Conservatives in Kirkgate ward.
A total of 96 candidates stood in the election for the 40 seats on the council. 2 Conservatives candidates were unopposed at the election, Martin Curtis in Kingsmoor and Pop Jolley in Wimblington, a substantial drop from the number at the 2007 election. For the other 38 seats the candidates were 38 Conservatives, 20 Labour, 19 Liberal Democrats, 10 independents, 4 United Kingdom Independence Party and 3 Green Party. The most candidates were in Waterlees ward in Wisbech, where 9 candidates stood for 2 seats on the council.

## Election result

The Conservatives retained control of the council, but their majority was reduced slightly. They won 34 of the 40 seats on the council, after losing 4 seats, 3 to independents and 1 to the Liberal Democrats. The wins for the Conservatives included Will Sutton in Elm and Christchurch, where he defeated the former Conservative member of the cabinet Phil Webb, who been deselected before the election and stood as an independent. Conservative leader of the council Alan Melton, who comfortably held his own seat in Birch ward in Chatteris, said he was "ecstatic" at the results, which he said showed support for his party's policies.
The Conservatives losses came in Waterlees, where independents Michael and Virginia Bucknor gained both seats from the Conservatives, and in March West where independent Rob Skoulding took one of the three seats. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Gavin Booth gained one of the two seats in Parson Drove and Wisbech St Mary from the Conservatives. After independent Mark Archer and Liberal Democrat Dave Patrick held their seats, this meant the opposition on the council was 4 independent and 2 Liberal Democrat councillors.
Fenland Local Election Result 2011 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 34 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 85.0 | 59.9 | 24,602 | -7.7 |
| Independent | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 4,647 | +5.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5.0 | 10.9 | 4,463 | -8.4 |
| Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15.4 | 6,321 | +7.8 |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 541 | +1.3 |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 | 497 | +1.2 |

## Ward results
### Bassenhally (Whittlesey)

Bassenhally :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Ken Mayor | 392 | 79.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tracey Wilkes | 104 | 21.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 288 | 58.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 496 | 39.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Benwick, Coates and Eastrea

Benwick, Coates and Eastrea (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ralph Butcher | 880 | | |
| | Conservative | Alex Miscandlon | 530 | | |
| | Independent | Bob Wicks | 414 | | |
| | Labour | Aidan Hervey | 248 | | |
| | Green | Shane Alexander | 194 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,266 | 41.5 | +2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Birch (Chatteris

Birch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Melton | 424 | 55.4 | +4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine Colbert | 234 | 30.6 | −9.8 |
| | UKIP | Sandra Rylance | 107 | 14.0 | +14.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 190 | 24.8 | +14.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 765 | 40.6 | +8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Clarkson (Wisbech)

Clarkson :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Carol Cox | 258 | 56.7 |
| | Labour | Ann Purt | 127 | 27.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert McLaren | 70 | 15.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 131 | 28.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 455 | 26.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Delph

Delph :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Kay Mayor | 434 | 72.2 |
| | Labour | David Lewis | 167 | 27.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 267 | 44.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 601 | 39.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Doddington

Doddington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | David Connor | 554 | 76.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Janet Feekins | 169 | 23.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 385 | 53.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 723 | 42.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elm and Christchurch

Elm and Christchurch (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mac Cotterell | 711 | | |
| | Conservative | Will Sutton | 489 | | |
| | Independent | Phil Webb | 268 | | |
| | Labour | Nicholas Poole | 221 | | |
| | Independent | Robert Pinnock | 198 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Verity Roscoe | 118 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,005 | 34.3 | +6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Hill (Wisbech)

Hill (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Simon King | 797 | |
| | Conservative | Bruce Wegg | 677 | |
| | Labour | Dean Reeves | 366 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Luke Roscoe | 202 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,042 | 30.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Kingsmoor (Whittlesey))

Kingsmoor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Martin Curtis | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Kirkgate (Wisbech)

Kirkgate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Patrick | 311 | 48.6 |
| | Conservative | Robert Lawrence | 233 | 36.4 |
| | Labour | John White | 96 | 15.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 78 | 12.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 640 | 35.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |

### Lattersey (Whittlesey)

Lattersey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Steve Garratt | 453 | 67.9 |
| | Labour | Jes Hibbert | 162 | 24.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Adams | 52 | 7.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 291 | 43.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 667 | 35.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Manea

Manea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Mark Archer | 568 | 73.9 | +12.5 |
| | Conservative | James Carney | 201 | 26.1 | −12.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 367 | 47.7 | +24.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 769 | 47.7 | −6 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### March East

March East (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Clark | 1,154 | | |
| | Conservative | Bernard Keane | 1,002 | | |
| | Conservative | Fred Yeulett | 914 | | |
| | Labour | Martin Field | 727 | | |
| | Labour | Louis Sugden | 617 | | |
| | Labour | John Williams | 613 | | |
| | Independent | Reg Kemp | 537 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,564 | 38.4 | +4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### March North

March North (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mike Cornwell | 1,064 | | |
| | Conservative | Trevor Quince | 923 | | |
| | Conservative | Peter Tunley | 827 | | |
| | Labour | Matthew Routledge | 627 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | William McAdam | 468 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,909 | 34.8 | +6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### March West

March West (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kit Owen | 1,117 | | |
| | Independent | Rob Skoulding | 1,082 | | |
| | Conservative | Jan French | 1,019 | | |
| | Conservative | Adam Triggs | 813 | | |
| | Independent | Matt Broadfield | 483 | | |
| | Labour | Christopher Carter | 472 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Court | 460 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,446 | 43.3 | +11 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Medworth (Wisbech)

Medworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Farmer | 364 | 59.1 | −5.6 |
| | Labour | Mark Plum | 194 | 31.5 | −3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Randall | 58 | 9.4 | +9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 170 | 27.6 | −1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 616 | 30.5 | −2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Parson Drove & Wisbech St Mary

Parson Drove and Wisbech St Mary (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Robert Scrimshaw | 849 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gavin Booth | 652 | |
| | Conservative | Steve Tierney | 602 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Lane | 405 | |
| | Labour | David Goode | 303 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,811 | 42.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### Peckover (Wisbech)

Peckover :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | David Oliver | 446 | 69.8 |
| | Labour | Simon Massen | 131 | 20.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Heather Kinnear | 62 | 9.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 315 | 49.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 639 | 34.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Roman Bank

Roman Bank (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Michael Humphrey | 1,256 | |
| | Conservative | Philip Hatton | 1,092 | |
| | Conservative | Chris Seaton | 1,007 | |
| | Labour | Kay Scott | 590 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicholas Smith | 361 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,306 | 40.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Slade Lode

Slade Lode :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Florrie Newell | 301 | 46.5 | −0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Howes | 206 | 31.8 | −8.7 |
| | Labour | Grant Osbourn | 140 | 21.6 | +9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 95 | 14.7 | +8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 647 | 33.3 | +2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Staithe (Wisbech)

Staithe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Roger Green | 301 | 55.1 |
| | Labour | Reg Mee | 157 | 28.8 |
| | UKIP | Will Schooling | 88 | 16.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 144 | 26.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 546 | 29.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
St Andrews :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Derek Stebbing | 542 | 69.0 |
| | Green | David Chivall | 243 | 31.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 299 | 38.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 785 | 38.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
St Marys :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Ken Peachey | 364 | 46.0 |
| | Independent | Roy Gerstner | 324 | 40.9 |
| | Green | Hilary Chivall | 104 | 13.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 792 | 39.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
The Mills
The Mills :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Chambers | 422 | 57.3 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diane Baldry | 314 | 42.7 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 108 | 14.7 | +0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 736 | 36.1 | +1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Waterlees (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Virginia Bucknor | 392 | | |
| | Independent | Michael Bucknor | 381 | | |
| | Conservative | Ray Griffin | 298 | | |
| | Conservative | David Wheeler | 285 | | |
| | Labour | Barry Diggle | 186 | | |
| | Labour | Avis Gilliatt | 177 | | |
| | UKIP | Paul Clapp | 165 | | |
| | UKIP | Christopher Schooling | 137 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Hancox | 31 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,052 | 27.0 | −17 |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Wenneye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Murphy | 607 | 76.5 | +8.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Josie Ratcliffe | 186 | 23.5 | −8.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 421 | 53.1 | +16.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 793 | 39.8 | +4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Wimblington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pop Jolley | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |