2006 Havant Borough Council election
The 2006 Havant Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Havant Borough Council in Hampshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council. After the election, the composition of the council was: Background. After the last election in 2004 the Conservatives had 27 seats, compared to 6 for Labour and 5 for the Liberal Democrats. However, in 2005 a Liberal Democrat councillor for Hart Plain, Ron Purkis, defected to the Conservatives. Election result. The Conservatives increased  their majority on the council to hold 30 of the 38 seats on the council after getting a swing in their favour. Labour lost 2 seats in Leigh Park, with sitting councillors Ralph Cousins and Barry Gardner losing to the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats respectively. Overall turnout at the election was 33.5%. Following the election Conservative David Gillett remained as leader of the council after surviving a leadership challenge within the Conservative group from David Guest by 4 votes. By-elections between 2006 and 2007. Battins. A by-election was held in Battins ward on 2 November 2006 after the  death of Conservative councillor Jane Rayner. The seat was gained for the Liberal Democrats by Faith Ponsonby with a majority of 137 votes. Hart Plain. A by-election was held in Hart Plain ward on 30 November 2006 after Liberal Democrat councillor Tricia Pearce resigned from the council. Conservative Elaine Shimbart gained the seat from the Liberal Democrats by a majority of 246 votes.