Category: K.T.C Elections

Abbey (5 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Ann Blacklock	Lib-Dems	1405
*Michael Francis Coker	Conservative	1390
*George Reginald Illingworth	Conservative	1288
Daphne Rose Harrison	Conservative	1224
*Patrick Joseph Ryan	Lib-Dems	1170
Katherine Sara Dickson	Lib-Dems	1152
Thomas Anthony Dalton	Conservative	1135
Alan Rickers	Conservative	1130
John Richard Whitehouse	Lib-Dems	1063
Susan Helen Edwards	Lib-Dems	1036

Turnout 51%

Electorate 5136

Ballot Papers Issued 2625 (23 Spoilt)

Park Hill (6 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*David John Shilton	Conservative	1673
*Felicity Gena Bunker	Conservative	1611
Andrew James Mobbs	Conservative	1528
*Spencer Charlton Harrison	Conservative	1506
Patricia May Cain	Conservative	1482
*Ursula Stella Durrant	Conservative	1443
*Alison Rita Margaret Tyler	Lib-Dems	1018
*Douglas Alan Golby	Lib-Dems	1006
Kevin Holt	Lib-Dems	918
Eric Lewis Deal	Lib-Dems	891
Mary Latham Harrison	Lib-Dems	860
Ian Malcolm Fenwick	Lib-Dems	843
Maureen Teresa Hazelwood	Labour	310

Turnout 45%

Electorate 6375

Ballot Papers Issued 2889 (15 Spoilt)

St John’s (6 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Richard Ivor Graham Davies	Conservative	1686
*Pauline Winifred Edwards	Conservative	1674
*John Edmond Hatfield	Conservative	1656
*Alan James Lancaster Cockburn	Conservative	1635
*Norman John Vincent	Conservative	1577
*Susan Vera Howell	Conservative	1567
Richard Guy Dickson	Lib-Dems	777
Richard Sweeney	Lib-Dems	707
John Steven Wilson	Lib-Dems	687
Peter Joseph Sheils	Labour	630
Matthew John Feeley	Labour	613
Robin Rain Winn	Labour	588
George Albert Jones	BNP	294

Turnout 49%

Electorate 5850

Ballot Papers Issued 2847 (25 Spoilt)

TORIES DOMINATE – AFTER TECHNICAL HITCH

Following gremlins with the new electronic counting system, in which two counts had to be abandoned, the counting in the end, had to be done the good old fashioned-way – manually. This delayed the results by a several days, the count began on Thursday night – 3rd May – but didn’t end until Tuesday 7th May.

The Conservatives stormed to a convincing victory over their rivals, with a 13-seat-majority. They totally dominated St Johns and Park Hill, taking all 12 seats. In Abbey they got three from five seats, the other two went to the Lib-Dems, Ann Blacklock and Pat Ryan. Overall the Lib-Dems lost three seats, leaving them with only two seats on the council. Doug Golby lost his seat in Park Hill which he had held since 1995. Also in Park Hill, Alison Tyler, failed to retain her seat having been elected in the 2004 by-election.

Although switching from the Lib-Dems to the Tories, Dave Shilton still retained his seat on the council, coming top-of-the-pile in Park Hill. The other eleven Tories who stood for re-election were all successful, including Susan Howell who retained her seat following her by-election victory last year. New faces on the Tory benches include, Andrew Mobbs, Patricia Cain and Daphne Harrison. Michael Coker said he was delighted at the results, the Liberal Democrats were virtually wiped-out with the exception of Ann Blacklock and Pat Ryan, who we are glad to see elected as he is to become the Mayor next week. It will be two or three days before we celebrate, we have a lot of hard work to do.

Independent member, Trevor Martin of Kenilworth Regeneration, who was elected to the council four years ago, did not seek re-election.

Kenilworth Town Councillors

15 Conservative (R. Davies, P. Edwards, J. Hatfield, A. Cockburn, N. Vincent, S. Howell, D. Shilton, F. Bunker, A. Mobbs, S. Harrison, P. Cain, U. Durrant, M. Coker, G. Illingworth, D. Harrison)

2 Lib-Dems (A. Blacklock, P. Ryan)

Mayors

Abbey (5 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Michael Francis Coker	Conservative	1526
*George Reginald Illingworth	Conservative	1417
Katherine Sara Dickson	Lib-Dems	1386
*Patrick Joseph Ryan	Lib-Dems	1339
John Anthony Cooke	Conservative	1335
Susan McGowan	Lib-Dems	1241
Andrew John Guy Garsed	Conservative	1234
Rowena Ann Hill	Conservative	1227

Registered Voters 5099

Ballot Papers Issued 2935 (134 spoilt)

Turnout 57.6%

Park Hill (6 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Dave John Shilton	Conservative	2036
*Felicity Gena Bunker	Conservative	1898
*Andrew James Mobbs	Conservative	1808
Shirley Beatrice Shilton	Conservative	1711
Michael Charles Hitchins	Conservative	1638
Mark Vivian Lewis	Conservative	1631
Alison Rita Margaret Tyler	Lib-Dems	1271
Mary Latham Harrison	Lib-Dems	1228
Andrew Christopher Tulloch	Lib-Dems	1185

Registered Voters 6397

Ballot Papers Issued 3432 (164 spoilt)

Turnout 53.6%

St John’s (6 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Alan James Cockburn	Conservative	1712
Erica Davies	Conservative	1677
*Pauline Winifred Edwards	Conservative	1629
*Richard Ivor Davies	Conservative	1614
John Stephen Dagg	Conservative	1550
*Norman John Vincent	Conservative	1546
Gillian Ann Palmer	Lib-Dems	1167
Richard Guy Dickson	Lib-Dems	1146
Ian Malcolm Fenwick	Lib-Dems	990

Registered Voters 5808

Ballot Papers Issued 3122 (151 spoilt)

Turnout 53.7%

TORIES CONSOLIDATE

The Conservatives retained their majority of 13, from the 2007 election. The only change being seven new councillors, including two married couples.

Tory, John Cooke returns to the town council after 20 long years, he had previously served from 1979 to 1991. New to the Tories is John Dagg, who was easily elected in St. John’s.

The Lib-Dems have a new face on the council, Katherine Dickson, who was elected in Abbey ward along with veteran Pat Ryan, who retained his seat. He had been on the council for the past eight years.

Spoilt Papers Galore

A not so good statistic of the election was the amount of spoilt ballot papers. Each ward having over 100, totalling 449 in all, a record by a long way. The official reasons given for the spoilt papers were: ‘being un-marked’, ‘wholly void for uncertainty’ or for ‘voting for too many candidates’. However, it has to be noted that the Labour party did not put forward any candidates in the election, which probably resulted in some sort of ‘protest vote’ from their supporters.

Lib-Dem, John Whitehouse, WCC member for Abbey ward, said that he found it very interesting that the Lib-Dems called for a smaller town council, and then people voted for fewer councillors than the number they were allowed to vote for on their ballot paper.

Spencer Harrison

Veteran Councillor Spencer Harrision, after a short illness, died on the 23rd December 2010, he was 85. He had been first elected to the town council in 1983, and a member (on-and-off) for a total of 19 years. He also had the distinction of being a ‘Triple’ Mayor.

Arrival of Jubilee House

In late 2011, the council held its last meeting at Southbank Road (Wilton House) before moving to the newly built Jubilee House, in Smalley Place. It had been their home since 1946.

Kenilworth Town Councillors

15 Conservatives (D. Shilton, S. Shilton, E. Davies, R. Davies, A. Cockburn, P. Edwards, J. Dagg, N. Vincent, M. Lewis, M. Hitchins, F. Bunker, A. Mobbs, M. Coker, J. Cooke, G. Illingworth)

2 Lib-Dems (K. Dickson, P. Ryan)

Mayors

Abbey (5 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Michael Francis Coker	Conservative	1580
*George Reginald Illingworth	Conservative	1516
Rowena Ann Hill	Conservative	1481
Helen Delaney	Conservative	1406
*Katherine Sara Dickson	Liberal Democrats	1378
James Maher	Conservative	1239
John Richard Whitehouse	Lib-Dems	1217
Alison Rita Margaret Tyler	Lib-Dems	1165
Andrew Tulloch	Lib-Dems	1131
Andrew Brierley	Lib-Dems	1042
Joshua Payne	Labour	743
Rhiannon Freguelli	Trade Union & Social Coalition	241

Park Hill (6 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Dave John Shilton	Conservative	2873
*Felicity Gena Bunker	Conservative	2777
*Andrew James Mobbs	Conservative	2709
Richard John Hales	Conservative	2599
*Shirley Beatrice Shilton	Conservative	2475
*Michael Charles Hitchins	Conservative	2344
Jeremy Eastaugh	Labour	1736

St John’s (6 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
Patricia May Cain	Conservative	2448
*Richard Ivor Davies	Conservative	2383
Marilyn Bates	Conservative	2356
*John Anthony Cooke	Conservative	2341
Alastair Bates	Conservative	2248
Clive Nelson	Conservative	1718
Richard Guy Dickson	Lib-Dems	1615
Gillian Ann Palmer	Lib-Dems	1431
Richard Grimes	Labour	1161
Lynn Annette Pollard	Lib-Dems	1115
Mary Latham Harrison	Lib-Dems	1088
Nicholas Hoten	Labour	1065
Ian Malcolm Fenwick	Lib-Dems	1061
Peter Joseph Shiels	Labour	1036
John Steven Wilson	Lib-Dems	939

LANDSLIDE FOR CONSERVATIVES

It was hardy a contest in the town election this year, which left only one non-Tory on the council. Lib-Dem, Kate Dickson was the soul survivor, retaining her seat in Abbey ward.

In Park Hill, if it wasn’t for Jeremy Eastaugh of the Labour Party, there wouldn’t have been an election at all. With six seats up for grabs, only seven candidates stood. The Lib-Dems deeming it a Tory stronghold, so wasn’t worth contesting. They were dead right.

Lib-Dem, Patrick Ryan, who had been on the council (Abbey Ward) for the last 12 years, did not seek re-election. He first stood in a town election way back in 1987, and was eventually elected to the council from 1991 to 1999.

Following retirements and resignations, the Conservatives have seven newcomers to Jubilee House. Helen Delaney and Rowena Hill in Abbey, Richard Hales in Park Hill, and Pat Cain, Marilyn Bates, Alastair Bates and Clive Nelson in St. John’s. John Cooke will become the leader of the council and Michael Coker, the Mayor.

Kenilworth Town Councillors

16 Conservatives (M.Coker, J. Cooke, P. Cain, R. Davies, M. Bates, A. Bates, C. Nelson, D. Shilton, S. Shilton, F. Bunker, A. Mobbs, R. Hales, M. Hitchins, G. Illingworth, R. Hill, H. Delaney)

1 Liberal Democrats (K. Dickson)

Mayors

St. John’s

Candidate	Party	Votes	Vote %
Richard Guy Dickson	Lib-Dems	1297	42.91
Joe Carter	Conservative	1202	39.77
Jeremy Eastaugh	Labour	299	9.89
Alix Margaret Dearing	Greens	127	4.20
Susan Mabel Chambers	UKIP	99	3.27

Electorate 6679 (Turnout 49%)

Ballot Papers Issued 3024 (2 Spoilt)

RICHARD JOINS WIFE ON COUNCIL

The election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative, Alistar Bates who was moving to New Zealand. He had been elected to the council two years previously.

Kenilworth Town Councillors

15 Conservatives (M.Coker, J. Cooke, P. Cain, R. Davies, M. Bates, C. Nelson, D. Shilton, S. Shilton, F. Bunker, A. Mobbs, R. Hales, M. Hitchins, G. Illingworth, R. Hill, H. Delaney)

2 Liberal Democrats (K. Dickson, R. Dickson)

Abbey (2 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Michael Francis Coker	Conservative	416
*John Anthony Cooke	Conservative	413
Patrick Joseph Ryan	Lib-Dems	379
Andy Tulloch	Lib-Dems	327
James Nicholas Harrison	Green	219
George Martin	Green	199
Josh Payne	Labour	89
Peter Joseph Shiels	Labour	81

Electorate 2400 (turnout 47%)

Ballot Papers Issued 1124 (25 spoilt)

St. John’s (4 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Richard Guy Dickson	Lib-Dems	1172
Andrew William Milton	Lib-Dems	983
Samanha Anne Cooke	Lib-Dems	946
Jack Edward Pritchard Worrall	Lib-Dems	889
*Marilyn Joyce Bates	Conservative	698
*Patrica May Cain	Conservative	655
Gordon Harry Cain	Conservative	614
*Richard Ivor Graham Davies	Conservative	611
Nick Hoten	Labour	269

Electorate 4312 (turnout 44%)

Ballot Papers Issued 1911 (23 spoilt)

Park Hill (4 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
John Alfred Dearing	Green	1069
Alix Margaret Dearing	Green	982
Philippa Celcily Austin	Green	940
Robert Jonathan Barry	Green	702
*Felicity Gena Bunker	Conservative	631
*Richard John Hales	Conservative	594
*Andrew James Mobbs	Conservative	546
*Michael Charles Hitchins	Conservative	520
Rob Easton	Lib-Dems	254
Audrey Elizabeth Mullender	Labour	174
Andrew Keith Roadnight	Labour	167

Electorate 4036 (turnout 43%)

Ballot Papers Issued 1735 (17 spoilt)

Dalehouse (4 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
Alison Firth	Green	884
Peter James Jones	Green	855
Tracey Jane Drew	Green	838
Alistar James Kennedy	Green	832
*Dave John Shilton	Conservative	550
*George Reginald Illingworth	Conservative	499
*Rowena Ann Hill	Conservative	393
Bryan Anthony Poole	Conservative	369
Andy Brierley	Lib-Dems	274
Stephen Snart	Labour	154

Electorate 3828 (turnout 40%)

Ballot Papers Issued 1546 (19 spoilt)

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Katherine Sara Dickson	Lib-Dems	1124
Alan Gordon Chalmers	Lib-Dems	947
Grahame Derek Hyde	Lib-Dems	932
Joanna Mary Illingworth	Conservative	405
Jan Kenyon	Conservative	400
*Clive John Nelson	Conservative	349
Martin John McMahon	Labour	241

Electorate 3436 (turnout 46%)

Ballot Papers Issued 1581 (19 spoilt)

*denotes retiring councillor

ARRIVAL OF THE GREENS – TORIES ROUTED

The ward system was restructed in Kenilworth for this election. Ever since 1983, three large wards had existed; Abbey, Park Hill and St John’s. But two additional wards were introduced: Dalehouse, plus the re-introduction of the historical ward of Borrowell, which was originally introduced during the KUDC days in 1934.

But with the increased number of wards, it produced a strange pattern of voting. All five wards are of one political persuasion or another, no mixtures. Abbey is Conservative (2 seats), Borrowell and St. John’s belong to the Liberal Democrats (7 seats), while Park Hill and Dalehouse, are all Green (8 seats). This election saw the first ever Green party members elected to the council. The first time any Green candidates stood was back in 2003, and more recently at by-elections in 2017 and 2021. One of the 2003 candidates was Philippa Austin, who was elected in Park Hill at this years poll.

Incredibly, the Conservatives lost a total of 13 seats, which many people believed could never happen in Kenilworth, but it did. Kenilworth is ‘swinging’ to the left.

‘Paper Candidate’ Mayor

Kenilworth Town Councillors

8 Greens (P. Jones, A. Firth, T. Drew, A. Kennedy, A. Dearing, J. Dearing, P. Austin, P. Barry)

7 Lib-Dems (K. Dickson, R. Dickson, G. Hyde, S. Cooke, A. Chalmers, J. Worrall, A. Milton)

2 Conservatives (J. Cooke, M. Coker)

Mayors

(photo courtesy of the Kenilworth History & Archaeology Society)

St John’s

Candidate	Party	Votes	% Votes
Richard John Spencer	Conservative	901	43.48
Alison Insley	Lib-Dems	670	33.33
Wendy Rosemary Edwards	Green	273	13.03
Jane Margaret Green	Labour	203	9.79
Wayne Richard Harris	SDP	25	1.20

Electorate 4262 (Turnout 49%)

Ballot Papers Issued 2085 (13 spoilt)

LIB-DEMS LOSE SEAT TO TORIES

This ‘casual vacancy’ was caused by the resignation of Liberal Democrat, Jack Worrall, who was elected to the council in 2019.

Enough voters in St. John’s called for an election to fill the vacancy (rather than co-option) and as such, an election had to be held. The poll took place on the same day as the elections for the Warwickshire County Council, as well as the Warwickshire Police & Crime Commissioner.

By-election’s, by their very nature are difficult to call, but people would probably have expected a Liberal Democrat to be re-elected, but it didn’t turn out that way. Tory, Rik Spencer winning by a majority of 231 votes over Alison Insley, who was standing for the first time in a town election – but she would be back.

In the 2019 election, all four seats at St. John’s were taken by the Lib-Dems. But two-years-on, voters were starting to have a change of heart, especially the traditional Tory voters. Many of whom, may well have been shocked by the previous election result, when 13 Tory councillors were unseated.

Kenilworth Town Councillors

8 Greens (P. Jones, A. Firth, T. Drew, A. Kennedy, A. Dearing, J. Dearing, P. Austin, P. Barry)

6 Lib-Dems (K. Dickson, R. Dickson, G. Hyde, S. Cooke, A. Chalmers, A. Milton)

3 Conservatives (J. Cooke, M. Coker, R. Spencer)

Abbey (2 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Alix Margaret Dearing	Green	714
Zoe Laura Leventhal	Green	562
*John Anthony Cooke	Conservative	399
Richard John Hales	Conservative	376
William Ederyn	Lib-Dems	164
Annabel Mia Gurney-Terry	Lib-Dems	138
Hannah Deacon	Labour	91

Electorate 2358 (turnout 52.97%)

Ballot Papers Issued 1249 (4 spoilt)

St John’s (4 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Richard Guy Dickson	Lib-Dems	1251
Alison Insley	Lib-Dems	1134
Adrian John Marsh	Lib-Dems	1042
*Andrew William Milton	Lib-Dems	1000
*Richard John Spencer	Conservative	749
Jeremy Eastaugh	Labour	361

Electorate 4321 (turnout 44.97%)

Ballot Papers Issued 1943 (17 spoilt)

Park Hill (4 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
Neil Alwyn Eaton	Green	1055
Roy John Spencer Minto	Green	985
Alex Randall	Green	759
Akira Moonlight Summers	Green	734
Malcolm Graham	Conservative	582
Felicity Gena Bunker	Local Conservatives	555
Andrew Keith Roadnight	Labour	294
Simon Ian Want	Lib-Dems	294
Steve McKernan	Independent	174

Electorate 3933 (turnout 42.51%)

Ballot Papers Issued 1672 (4 spoilt)

Dalehouse (4 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Alistair James Kennedy	Green	1152
*Peter James Jones	Green	1051
Mark Laurence Stevens	Green	915
David Alexander Thomas Bailey	Green	858
Joanna Mary Illingworth	Local Conservatives	521
Silvia Fuchss	Lib-Dems	268

Electorate 3834 (turnout 39.57%)

Ballot Papers Issued 1517 (4 spoilt)

Borrowell (3 seats)

Candidate	Party	Votes
*Katherine Sara Dickson	Lib-Dems	1077
*Alan Gordon Chalmers	Lib-Dems	827
Josh Payne	Lib-Dems	770
Joe Ruskin	Green	561
Andy Metcalf	Local Conservatives	421

Electorate 3409 (turnout 45.88%)

Ballot Papers Issued 1564 (11 spoilt)

*denotes retiring councillors

GLORIOUS GREENS MARCH ON – LIB-DEMS CONSOLIDATE

Despite five of their members: Firth, Austin, J. Dearing, Barry and Drew not putting themselves forward for re-election, this did not seem to make any difference to the electorate – Kenilworth is gradually turning green. In the 2019 poll, eight of their candidates were elected, but this year, that was increased to ten, thus gaining overall control of the council.

The trend of wards being dominated by one party or another continued just like in previous years. Abbey ward, which historically has been a mixture of Lib-Dems and Tories, is now Green (2 seats), as is Dalehouse (4 seats) and Park Hill (4 seats). The remaining two wards are held by the Liberal Democrats, Borrowell (3 seats) and St John’s (4 seats).

Due to many members not seeking re-election or others losing their seats, ten new members were elected.

Same Again For Liberal Democrats

The Lib-Dems retained seven seats on the council, the same as in 2019, but were down to just six members by the end of the term after losing a seat at the St John’s by-election in 2021. Two of their members did not seek re-election, out-going Mayor, Samantha Louden-Cooke and Graham Hyde.

The highest poll of the day of any candidate was Richard Dickson who topped the tree in St John’s with 1,251 votes. His wife Kate didn’t do so bad either, topping Borrowell with 1,077. Alan Chalmers, who was elected to Borrowell in 2019, easliy retained his seat again. He was elected deputy Mayor for the forthcoming year.

No Tories Left on Council

Voter ID Arrives

Polling Stations

12 polling stations used thoughout the town for this years election.

6 x Churches, 3 x communtity centres/halls, 2 x Pubs (not enough) and 1 x School.

Fancy an Election Job?

Warwick District Council advertised for people to help during the election. The jobs available were:

At Polling Stations – Presiding Officer £261.39. Polling Clerk (x2) £170.79. (6.30am-10.30pm)

At the Count – Count Clerk £146.43. Count Assistant £105.75

Postal Votes – Postal Vote Clerk £35.24 per session

The count took place at Stoneleigh Park on Friday 5th May.

The total cost of the election to the Town Council was just under £46,000 (up from £32,000 in 2019). At a later Town Council meeting, Cllr Richard Dickson commented; “Democracy is a costly business”.

Kenilworth Town Councillors

10 Greens (A. Dearing, Z. Leventhal, A. Kennedy, P. Jones, M. Stevens, D. Bailey, N. Eaton, R. Minto, A. Randall, A. Summers)

7 Lib-Dems (R. Dickson, K. Dickson, A. Chalmers, J. Payne, A. Insley, A. Marsh, A. Milton)

Town Clerk – Maggie Field

Deputy Town Clerk – Gemma Honey

Admin – Miles Wyatt-Smith

Mayors