Abbey Ward (6 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| *Jack Bastock | Liberal Democrats | 1450 |
| *Haydn Alan Thomas | Liberal Democrats | 1328 |
| *Helen Pavier | Liberal Democrats | 1266 |
| *Ann Blacklock | Liberal Democrats | 1263 |
| *Michael Coker | Conservative Party | 1212 |
| John Hatfield | Conservative Party | 1113 |
| Lois Darley | Liberal Democrats | 1050 |
| Andrea Wooller | Conservative Party | 1048 |
| Joanna Mary Illingworth | Conservative Party | 929 |
| Jacquelyn Earle | Conservative Party | 904 |
| David Pool | Conservative Party | 897 |
| Margi Levy | Labour Party | 571 |
| Rosemary Ellis | Labour Party | 561 |
| Christopher Payne | Labour Party | 483 |
Conservatives gain one from Liberal Democrats
Park Hill Ward (4 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| *Dave Shilton | Liberal Democrats | 855 |
| *Doug Golby | Liberal Democrats | 716 |
| *Judy Rawson | Liberal Democrats | 696 |
| *Graham Windybank | Conservative Party | 663 |
| *Mary Harrison | Liberal Democrats | 622 |
| Spencer Harrison | Conservative Party | 544 |
| Daphne Harrison | Conservative Party | 536 |
| Ursula Durrant | Conservative Party | 535 |
| Chris Edgerton | Labour Party | 287 |
| Harry Scarborough | Labour Party | 216 |
Conservatives gain one from Liberal Democrats
St John’s Wards (6 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| *Pauline Edwards | Conservative Party | 1737 |
| *Bob Wooller | Conservative Party | 1615 |
| Alan Cockburn | Conservative Party | 1582 |
| *Felicity Bunker | Conservative Party | 1431 |
| Tim Porter | Conservative Party | 1425 |
| *Paul Spillman | Conservative Party | 1366 |
| Alan Ainsworth | Labour Party | 851 |
| David Peggs | Labour Party | 838 |
| Janice Ford | Labour Party | 824 |
| Richard Dickson | Liberal Democrats | 737 |
| Neil Clark | Liberal Democrats | 728 |
| Barbara Ward | Liberal Democrats | 687 |
| Graham Thomas | Liberal Democrats | 676 |
| Tina Nason | Liberal Democrats | 637 |
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.
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.
Following the Tory victory, Liberal Democrats group leader, Haydn Thomas, will lose his position as leader of the council. 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.
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. “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