1999 – 6th May – Kenilworth Town Council – Election

Abbey Ward (6 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Jack BastockLiberal Democrats1450
*Haydn Alan ThomasLiberal Democrats1328
*Helen PavierLiberal Democrats1266
*Ann BlacklockLiberal Democrats1263
*Michael CokerConservative Party1212
John HatfieldConservative Party1113
Lois DarleyLiberal Democrats1050
Andrea WoollerConservative Party1048
Joanna Mary IllingworthConservative Party929
Jacquelyn EarleConservative Party904
David PoolConservative Party897
Margi LevyLabour Party571
Rosemary EllisLabour Party561
Christopher PayneLabour Party483

Conservatives gain one from Liberal Democrats

Park Hill Ward (4 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Dave ShiltonLiberal Democrats855
*Doug GolbyLiberal Democrats716
*Judy RawsonLiberal Democrats696
*Graham WindybankConservative Party663
*Mary HarrisonLiberal Democrats622
Spencer HarrisonConservative Party544
Daphne HarrisonConservative Party536
Ursula DurrantConservative Party535
Chris EdgertonLabour Party287
Harry ScarboroughLabour Party216

Conservatives gain one from Liberal Democrats

St John’s Wards (6 seats)

CandidatePartyVotes
*Pauline EdwardsConservative Party1737
*Bob WoollerConservative Party1615
Alan CockburnConservative Party1582
*Felicity BunkerConservative Party1431
Tim PorterConservative Party1425
*Paul SpillmanConservative Party1366
Alan AinsworthLabour Party851
David PeggsLabour Party838
Janice FordLabour Party824
Richard DicksonLiberal Democrats737
Neil ClarkLiberal Democrats728
Barbara WardLiberal Democrats687
Graham ThomasLiberal Democrats676
Tina NasonLiberal Democrats637
*denotes retiring member

Conservatives hold six seats

TORIES BACK IN CONTROL ….. JUST

The Conservatives gained two seats but that was enough for them to overturn the 9-7 Lib-Dem majority into a 9-7 majority in their favour. When the Lib-Dems took control four years ago, they had a 10-6 majority. It was the first time since the inception of the Town Council 25 years ago that the Tories did not have control. But by the end of the term, that majority had dropped to only two, this was due to them losing one seat in a by-election, but they did hold onto a seat in another by-election, so preserving the status quo.

The two crucial gains for the Tories came in Abbey and Park Hill wards.

Graham Windybank was delighted at being re-elected to Park Hill following his switch from St John’s. He was also hoping that Spencer or Daphne Harrison would be elected but with the popularity of Dave Shilton and the other Lib-Dems, his chances along with the other Tories didn’t seem that high. But he managed to push out sitting Lib-Dem councillor Mary Harrison, the only candidate who was seeking re-elected not to get back in.

The Tories were very happy to see the return of John Hatfield, who had lost his seat in the 1995 poll. New to the Tory ranks are Tim Porter and Alan Cockburn, who were standing for the first time. Both were easily returned at St John’s, being well clear of their rivals. The Tory group are likely to take up all the chairmanships of the town committees.

Liberal Democrats group leader, Haydn Thomas, will lose his position as leader of the council, following the Tory victory. That will now be taken-up by Mr Coker. Mr Thomas was bitterly disappointed in the final results, which gave the Tories power at Southbank Road. But, he was glad they got most of their councillors re-elected but he was sad that they had lost control.

Lost Nomination Forms………

One other issue that angered Cllr Thomas was the ‘lost’ nomination forms of former Mayor, Pat Ryan (pictured), who was due to stand in Abbey ward. Election officers said they never received his papers, so he won’t be on the ballot paper. But as far as Mr Ryan was concerned he had filled in the forms correctly and that was the end of the matter. There is nothing that could be done except challenge it in court, Mr Ryan said he would be taking legal advice. Gillian Friar, elections officer at Warwick District Council, said extra checks had been made at Victoria Chambers and was satisfied the paperwork was not there.

She added, “We have not received his nomination. There is nothing the returning officer can do to let Mr Ryan stand as a candidate for the town election”. Mr Thomas, said “I took Pat’s papers along with mine and all the others to the election offices the Tuesday after Easter, and they were very busy. The officers say they cannot find Pat’s nomination forms, I am not sure what we can do, I am gutted at the news. I have searched high and low and have doubled checked that I have not left them at home”.

The lost forms meant that the Lib-Dems could only field five candidates in Abbey ward where six seats were available. Many believed that if Pat Ryan had stood he would have been elected.

Labour Woes

The Labour group had a bad day with not one of their eight candidates getting anywhere near elected. However, all their candidates in St John’s beat all five Lib-Dems. One of them, David Peggs said that he was disappointed that the voters of Kenilworth seemed to be out of touch with the rest of the district. “Now that the Tories are in power we are going to see even more griping about the district and very little positive action”

In the country, Tony Blair’s ‘New Labour’ government had been in power for the past two years. But the socalist vote in Kenilworth was still very low. Even with the town having a Labour MP, Andy King, this did not help the Labour group getting anywhere near winning seat in the town. Indeed, the last Labour candidate to be elected to the town council was Bill Wozencroft in 1979, but lost his seat in the 1983.

Polling stations were open from 8am to 9pm.

Kenilworth Town Councillors

9 Conservatives (M. Coker, A. Cockburn, P. Edwards, B. Wooller, F. Bunker, P. Spillman, T. Porter, G. Windybank, J. Hatfield)

7 Liberal Democrats (D. Shilton, D. Golby, J. Rawson, J. Bastock, H. Thomas, A. Blacklock, H. Pavier)

Mayors

1999-00 Dave Shilton

2000-01 Graham Windybank

2001-02 Felicity Bunker

2002-03 John Hatfield

Town Clerk – Susan Howell

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