Abbey (6 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| *Jack Bastock | Lib-Dems | 1450 |
| *Haydn Alan Thomas | Lib-Dems | 1328 |
| *Helen Pavier | Lib-Dems | 1266 |
| *Ann Blacklock | Lib-Dems | 1263 |
| *Michael Coker | Conservative | 1212 |
| John Hatfield | Conservative | 1113 |
| Lois Darley | Lib-Dems | 1050 |
| Andrea Wooller | Conservative | 1048 |
| Joanna Mary Illingworth | Conservative | 929 |
| Jacquelyn Earle | Conservative | 904 |
| David Pool | Conservative | 897 |
| Margi Levy | Labour | 571 |
| Rosemary Ellis | Labour | 561 |
| Christopher Payne | Labour | 483 |
Cons gain one from Lib-Dems
Park Hill (4 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| *Dave Shilton | Lib-Dems | 855 |
| *Doug Golby | Lib-Dems | 716 |
| *Judy Rawson | Lib-Dems | 696 |
| *Graham Windybank | Conservative | 663 |
| *Mary Harrison | Lib-Dems | 622 |
| Spencer Harrison | Conservative | 544 |
| Daphne Harrison | Conservative | 536 |
| Ursula Durrant | Conservative | 535 |
| Chris Edgerton | Labour | 287 |
| Harry Scarborough | Labour | 216 |
Cons gain one from Lib-Dems
St John’s (6 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| *Pauline Edwards | Conservative | 1737 |
| *Bob Wooller | Conservative | 1615 |
| Alan Cockburn | Conservative | 1582 |
| *Felicity Bunker | Conservative | 1431 |
| Tim Porter | Conservative | 1425 |
| *Paul Spillman | Conservative | 1366 |
| Alan Ainsworth | Labour | 851 |
| David Peggs | Labour | 838 |
| Janice Ford | Labour | 824 |
| Richard Dickson | Lib-Dems | 737 |
| Neil Clark | Lib-Dems | 728 |
| Barbara Ward | Lib-Dems | 687 |
| Graham Thomas | Lib-Dems | 676 |
| Tina Nason | Lib-Dems | 637 |
Cons 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 first took control four years ago, they had a four seat majority. This 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 shrunk to just two. This was due to them losing one seat in a by-election, but 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.
Graham Windybank was elected in Park Hill following his switch from St John’s. He was also hoping that Spencer or Daphne Harrison would get elected but with the popularity of Dave Shilton and the other Lib-Dems, their chances along with the other Tories weren’t very high.
The Tories were very happy to see the return of John Hatfield, who had lost his seat in 1995. New to the Tory ranks are Tim Porter and Alan Cockburn, who were both standing for the first time. They 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.
Following the Tory victory, the Liberal Democrats group leader, Haydn Thomas, will lose his position as leader of the council. That will now be taken-up by Michael Coker. Cllr Thomas was bitterly disappointed with the final results, which put the Tories in control at Southbank Road. But, he was glad they got most of their councillors re-elected, but he was sad that they had lost control.
The Mystery of the 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 couldn’t be on the ballot paper. But as far as Mr Ryan was concerned he had filled in the forms 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”. 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. He added; “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 gaining a seat in the town. Indeed, the last Labour candidate to be elected to the town council was Bill Wozencroft in 1979, but he finally lost his seat in 1983.
Polling stations were open from 8am to 9pm.
Kenilworth Town Councillors
9 Conservatives (Coker, Cockburn, Edwards, Wooller, Bunker, Spillman, Porter, Windybank, Hatfield)
7 Lib-Dems (Shilton, Golby, Rawson, Bastock, Thomas, Blacklock, Pavier)
Mayors
1999-00 Dave Shilton
2000-01 Graham Windybank
2001-02 Felicity Bunker
2002-03 John Hatfield
Town Clerk – Susan Howell