# 2007 Rother District Council election

The 2007 Rother District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Rother District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

## Background

At the last election in 2003 the Conservatives retained control of the council with 25 councillors, while the Liberal Democrats had 8, Labour had 3 and there were 2 independents. However, by the time of the 2007 election the Liberal Democrat group had been reduced to 6 councillors, while 2 of the 3 Labour councillors, Helen and Keith Bridger, had left the Labour party in December 2006 and stood at the election as independents. Meanwhile, the Conservative leader of the council Graham Gubby stood down at the election.

## Election result

The Conservatives increased their majority on the council after making a net gain of 2 seats to have 28 of the 38 councillors. The Conservatives narrowly defeated Liberal Democrat councillor John Kemp in Crowhurst by 2 votes after 3 recounts, while also taking out the only Labour councillor Samuel Souster in Rye. This meant Rother was one of more than 10 councils in which Labour lost their last presence on the council in the 2007 local elections.
The Liberal Democrats also gained 2 seats to have 8 councillors, after defeating Conservative councillors in Bexhill St Michael's and Battle Town ward. Meanwhile, the independents were reduced from 5 to 2 councillors, with Keith and Helen Bridger being defeated in Bexhill Sidley, while Eric Armstrong lost in Bexhill Old Town.
Following the election Conservative Carl Maynard became the new leader of the council.
Rother local election result 2007 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 28 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 73.7 | 59.7 | 27,840 | +2.2% |
| Liberal Democrats | 8 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 21.1 | 27.2 | 12,670 | -3.0% |
| Independent | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 2,784 | +1.7% |
| Labour | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 6.6 | 3,071 | -1.4% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 252 | +0.5% |

## Ward results

Battle Town (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kathryn Field | 892 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kevin Dixon | 759 | | |
| | Conservative | Paula Fisher | 649 | | |
| | Conservative | Bob White | 532 | | |
| | Labour | John Gately | 165 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,997 | 42.6 | +5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Bexhill Central (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Ensor | 672 | | |
| | Conservative | Joy Hughes | 667 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil Francis | 420 | | |
| | Labour | Maurice Watson | 252 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,011 | 33.7 | +1.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Bexhill Collington (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ronald Dyason | 1,159 | | |
| | Conservative | Christopher Starnes | 1,158 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Warburton | 497 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,814 | 44.4 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Bexhill Kewhurst (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brian Kentfield | 1,237 | | |
| | Conservative | Martin Kenward | 1,096 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joseph Ammoun | 468 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,801 | 42.3 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Bexhill Old Town (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stuart Wood | 454 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Frances Winterborn | 419 | | |
| | Conservative | Richard Carroll | 351 | | |
| | Conservative | Annabelle West | 332 | | |
| | Independent | Eric Armstrong | 295 | | |
| | Labour | Mark Sivyer | 135 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,986 | 37.3 | +5.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Bexhill Sackville (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Deirdre Williams | 660 | | |
| | Conservative | Keith Standring | 642 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jill Forster | 564 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nick Hollington | 533 | | |
| | Independent | Peter Webb | 200 | | |
| | Labour | Abdullah Khan | 114 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,713 | 40.9 | +7.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Bexhill Sidley (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Jim Carroll | 489 |
| | Conservative | Robert Wheeler | 425 |
| | Independent | Keith Bridger | 415 |
| | Independent | Helen Bridger | 402 |
| | Labour | Philipa Coughlan | 252 |
| | Labour | Stephanie Webb | 225 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brett Mclean | 192 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,400 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing |
Bexhill St Marks (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Joanne Gadd | 1,136 | | |
| | Conservative | Patrick Douart | 990 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rachel Hills | 605 | | |
| | Labour | John Heasman | 133 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,864 | 44.7 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Bexhill St Michaels (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Charles Clark | 787 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martyn Forster | 565 | | |
| | Conservative | Peter Fairhurst | 493 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,845 | 36.2 | +5.6 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Bexhill St Stephens (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bridget George | 722 | | |
| | Conservative | Paul Lendon | 690 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Molly Webb | 381 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Zipperlen | 340 | | |
| | Labour | Dominic Coughlan | 211 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,344 | 36.3 | −2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Brede Valley (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Johnson | 905 | | |
| | Conservative | Carl Maynard | 873 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Smith | 459 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Frances James | 431 | | |
| | Labour | Mark Kenward | 127 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,795 | 40.6 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Crowhurst :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Angharad Davies | 416 | 46.3 | +10.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Kemp | 414 | 46.1 | −9.4 |
| | Labour | Tim MacPherson | 69 | 7.7 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2 | 0.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 899 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Darwell (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Vereker | 1,072 | | |
| | Independent | Wendy Miers | 685 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tom Sayer | 469 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,226 | 42.0 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
Eastern Rother (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Osborne | 970 | | |
| | Conservative | Nick Ramus | 939 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicholas Cleveland-Stevens | 394 | | |
| | Labour | Jan Mears | 350 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,653 | 44.2 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Ewhurst and Sedlescombe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Ganly | 657 | 66.4 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Hardy | 332 | 33.6 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 325 | 32.9 | −2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 989 | 49.5 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Marsham (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robin Patten | 1,120 | | |
| | Conservative | Roger Bird | 1,063 | | |
| | Labour | Nicholas Warren | 264 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,447 | 45.5 | −2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Rother Levels (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Martin Mooney | 1,006 | | |
| | Conservative | Ron Parren | 1,000 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jennifer Als | 492 | | |
| | Labour | Marie Hodgson | 199 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,697 | 43.1 | +8.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Rye (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sonia Holmes | 691 | | |
| | Conservative | David Russell | 684 | | |
| | Labour | Samuel Souster | 575 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,950 | 43.7 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Salehurst (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sue Prochak | 857 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Hearn | 668 | | |
| | Conservative | Graham Browne | 661 | | |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Goodsell | 578 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,764 | 45.8 | +3.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Ticehurst and Etchingham (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Elliston | 993 | | |
| | Conservative | Ian Jenkins | 803 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Trevor Seemann | 374 | | |
| | Green | Don Nicholls | 252 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,422 | 41.1 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections between 2007 and 2011
### Bexhill Collington

A by-election was held in Bexhill Collington on 12 June 2008 after the death of Conservative councillor Ron Dyason. The seat was held for the Conservatives by Gillian Wheeler with a majority of 677 votes over the Liberal Democrats.
Bexhill Collington by-election 12 June 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gillian Wheeler | 893 | 75.2 | +5.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine Purdy | 216 | 18.2 | −11.8 |
| | Labour | Nicholas Coughlan | 78 | 6.6 | +6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 677 | 57.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,187 | 31.8 | −12.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Bexhill Sackville

A by-election was held in Bexhill Sackville on 3 July 2008 after Conservative councillor Keith Standring resigned from the council. The seat was held for the Conservatives by Richard Carroll with a majority of 80 votes over the Liberal Democrats.
Bexhill Sackville by-election 3 July 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Carroll | 571 | 49.4 | +6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Webb | 491 | 42.5 | +5.8 |
| | Labour | Paul Theaker | 93 | 8.1 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 80 | 6.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,155 | 31.5 | −9.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |