Conservatives lose overall control of Tendring Council

The authority has been left in no overall control as Tory candidates fell victim to nationwide anger with the party in Westminster.

The number of Tendring councillors was cut from 60 to 48 following a Local Government Boundary Commission review.

In total the Conservatives won 16 seats with Labour taking six, Ukip five and the Liberal Democrats two.

But it was a night for alternative parties as Holland-on-Sea and Eastcliff Matters took three seats, Tendring First four, Foundation Party one while a total of 9 independent candidates were elected.

Turnout across the district was 31.9 per cent.

The Conservatives won 23 seats in 2015, narrowly beating Ukip with 22 seats, but the Tories increased their number to 33 following a series of defections. They have now lost that majority.

As the largest party, the Conservatives could lead the administration if it gets the support of the independents, but the Gazette understands there are moves towards a coalition of smaller parties - including Labour, Tendring First, the Liberal Democrats and independents - which could take power instead.

Talks will now take place between the parties to decide who will run the authority.

The election for the two St Osyth seats is delayed until May 23 following the death of a candidate.

Following the delay, the date of the annual council meeting – when the new leader is appointed – has been moved back to May 28 so that all the newly-elected councillors will be present.

Neil Stock, leader of the Conservative group, said the local party has been punished by the electorate following delays to Brexit at Westminster.

“We are shy of a majority,” he said. “Brexit got in the way – people are upset and angry about it, as are many of my councillors.

“In percentage terms with fewer seats in total on the council, we are almost exactly where we were four years ago.

“As the largest single party, we will look to put together an administration that can run the council for another four years with the same stability we have had over the past four years.”

• Carlo Guglielmi celebrated winning the Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley ward.

Michael Talbot, who was leader of the Independent group, said it was a good night for independents across the country.

He said: “There’s a general disillusionment with how all the parties have behaved – and that they have not respected the referendum result.”

Mr Talbot would not be drawn on whether the independents will help to form an administration until after independent councillors meet to talk.

• Happy - Ukip's Mary Newton was happy the party returned five councillors.

Ukip group leader Mary Newton said her party has struggled to find candidates to stand in the election, but managed to win five of the nine seats it contested.

“I had been concerned but this was a good result for us,” she said. “The problem was finding candidates to stand.

“Ukip councillors have been good ward councillors and people have respected that.”

Lib Dem Gary Scott was relieved to retain his seat. He said: “The Lib Dems are back in town” after the party doubled its number of seats to two.

• 'Back in town' - Lib Dems' Ann Wiggins and Gary Scott.

Labour group leader Ivan Henderson says his party did well in the Harwich area.

He said: “On the doorstep, once you get past Brexit, people are angry about local Government cuts.

“We have had a really good campaign and the foot soldiers have been out there every night of the week.”

Pam Morrison - former Harwich Town Council mayor and newly elected Labour councillor for Dovercourt Tollgate - added: "For us to win every Tendring Council seat on the Harwich Peninsula is incredible and for me personally the outcome is amazing.

"Labour's team has worked so hard for this and now we must work equally hard to get the best we can for everyone we represent.

"I am so grateful for everyone's support and kind words. I cannot describe the sense of pride when driving back into Harwich and Dovercourt at 5am on Friday morning after the count."

• Success in Harwich - Labour's Ivan Henderson

One shock result of the night saw council chairman Mark Platt lose his seat to Tendring First’s Fiona Knowles. Vice-chairman Karen Yallop also lost her seat, as did cabinet member Fred Nicholls.

Former council leader Terry Allen also regained his old Frinton seat for Tendring First.

The Tories also lost out to the Brexit-supporting Foundation Party’s Peter Harris in the Weeley and Tendring ward.

He said: “The Foundation Party is a new pro-Brexit party. I left the Conservatives on March 29, on what I call ‘Betrayal Day’.

“People are upset with the way the Conservative Party have dealt with Brexit and wasted three years.”

Clacton MP Giles Watling has stood down as district councillor for Frinton after being elected as an MP in 2017.

Mr Watling said: “It’s been an honour to serve with some fantastic people, keeping Tendring Council on an even keel through some very difficult financial times.

“We have managed to keep virtually all our frontline services and keep council tax low. I’m proud to have been a part of it.”

Harwich and North Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said there were some “gloomy” Tory candidates at the count at Clacton Leisure Centre.

He added: “It would be terrible if people have been put off voting for a good Conservative council because of the failure of politicians at Westminster.”

In addition to the district council elections, five wards for Harwich Town Council, five wards of Frinton and Walton Town Council, the Point Clear ward of St Osyth Parish Council were contested, along with Wrabness Parish Council.

• Foundation Party - Peter Harris beat the Tories with his pro-Brexit message in the Weeley & Tendring ward.

RESULTS: 

Alresford & Elmstead: Gary Scott (Lib Dem) 1072*, Ann Wiggins (Lib Dem) 884*, Rosemary Heaney (Con) 589, Fred Nicholls (Con) 550, Beverley Maltby (Green) 201, Solma Ahmed (Lab) 132, Terry Ripo (Lab) 131. Turnout: 37.5%.

Ardleigh & Little Bromley: Neil Stock (Con) 335*, Helen Fontaine (Lib Dem) 250, Jim English (Lab) 59. Turnout: 32.7%.

Bluehouse: Mary Newton (Ukip) 316*, James Codling (Ukip) 264*, Andrew Pemberton (Ind) 231, Harry Bouchard (Con) 199, Carolyn Mayzes (Ind) 188, James Bouchard (Con) 181, Danny Mayzes (Ind) 165, Jon Salisbury (Lab) 141, Barrie Coker (Lib Dem) 72.

Brightlingsea: Jayne Chapman (Ind) 1607*, Mick Barry (Ind) 1442*, Graham Steady (Ind) 1106*, Karen Yallop (Ind) 736, Mike Beckett (Lib Dem) 693, Ben Smith (Ind) 397, C Whipps (Green) 350, John Carr (Con) 252, Frederick Stringer (Lab) 243, Graham Chasney (Con) 204, Graham Ford (Lab) 200, Izzy Morath (Con) 148. Turnout: 39.8%

Burrsville: Chris Amos (Con) 529*, Mick Skeels (Con) 487*, Keith Pitkin (Lib Dem) 471, Matthew Bensilum (Lib Dem) 432, Chris Southall (Green) 255, Lesley Hartfield (Lab) 168, Turnout: 31.1%

Cann Hall: John Chittock (Con) 478*, Gina Placey (Tendring First) 453*, Ian Whitley (Con) 374, Andy Wood (Lib Dem) 272, Stuart Morgan (Lib Dem) 186, Simon Wigley (Lab) 163, Turnout: 24.9%

Coppins: Peter Cawthron (Ukip) 461*, Alex Porter (Ukip) 448*, Stuart Mackintosh (Con) 275, Beverley Moule (Con) 258, Jonathon Cowan (Lab) 235, Rita Griffin (Lab) 219, Samantha Atkinson (Ind) 201, James Burns (Ind) 171, Kriss Wood (Lib Dem) 79, Jon Manning (Lib Dem) 62.

Dovercourt All Saints: Jo Henderson (Lab) 779*, Maria Fowler (Lab) 616*, Andrew Erskine (Con) 506, Tanya Ferguson (Con) 461, David Dixon (Lib Dem) 163. Turnout: 28.8%

Dovercourt Bay: Garry Calver (Lab) 479*, Barry Brown (Con) 129. Turnout: 29.9%.

Dovercourt Tollgate: Pam Morrison (Lab) 316*, Ricky Callender (Con) 271. Turnout: 25.5%.

Dovercourt Vines & Parkeston: Bill Davidson (Lab) 319*, Sean Fey (Con) 190. Turnout:

Eastcliff: Joy Broderick (Holland & Eastcliff Matters) 409*, David Rose, 352, Antony McKay (Lib Dem) 39. Turnout: 32.3%

Frinton: Nick Turner (Con) 808*, Terry Allen (Tendring First) 726*, Pamela Walford (Con) 699, Linda Allen (Tendring First) 624, Andy Wilson (Green) 358, Nadine Edwards (Lab) 184, Ian Johnson (Ind) 328, Sam Manning (Lib Dem) 139. Turnout: 41.7%

Harwich and Kingsway: Ivan Henderson (Lab) 519*, Darrell Howard (Con) 162. 

Homelands: Anne Davis (Ind) 231*, Mick Page (Con) 222, Fiona Robertson (Tendring First) 193, Laurence Gray (Ind) 103, Geoff Ely (Lab) 86, Paul Clutterbuck (Green) 61. Turnout: 37%

Kirby Cross: Paul Clifton (Tendring First)*, 312, Edward Bell (Con) 217, Christine Codling (Ukip) 165, Dave Jones (Lab) 59.

Kirby-le-Soken & Hamford: Fiona Knowles (Tendring First) 506*, Mark Platt (Con) 363. Turnout: 35.8%

Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley: Carlo Guglielmi (Con) 806*, Alan Coley (Con) 733*, Val Guglielmi (Con) 706*,Terry Barrett (Lib Dem) 685, Holly Turner (Lab) 629, Graham Pettit (Lib Dem) 579, Patricia Chandler (Lab) 527, Simon Banks (Lib Dem) 494, Margaret Woods (Lab) 490, Duncan Gordan (Green) 461.  Turnout: 34.8%​.

Little Clacton: Jeff Bray (Con) 404*, Jordan Silver (Lib Dem) 185. Turnout: 25.7%.

Pier: Paul Honeywood (Con) 228*, Susan Morley-Souter (Lab) 93, William Hones (Ind) 90, Steven Kelly (Green) 48, Paul Barker (Lib Dem) 34. Turnout: 26.2%.

St Bartholomew’s: KT King (Holland and Eastcliff Matters) 1035*, Colin Winfield (Holland and Eastcliff Matters) 1171*, Mark Cossens (Con) 450, Samuel Leonard (Con) 420, Sally McAteer (Green) 163, Sheila Hammond (Lab) 126. Turnout: 37.1%.

St James: Chris Griffiths (Con) 837*, Maurice Alexander (Con) 806*, Sean Duffy (Lib Dem) 395. Turnout: 25.3%.

St John’s: Mark Stephenson (Ind) 545*, Gemma Stephenson (Ind) 502*, John Hones (Ukip) 336, Anne Alexander (Con) 310, Colin Madge (Ukip) 281, Richard Everett (Con) 250, Norman Jacobs (Lab) 163, David Bolton (Lab) 148, Rosemary Dodds (Green) 69, Kane Silver (Lib Dem) 53.

St Osyth: The election for the St Osyth ward has been postponed until May 23 following the death of candidate Anita Bailey.

St Paul’s: Sue Honeywood (Con) 265*, Mike Vaughan-Chatfield (Ukip) 160, David Oxley (Tendring First) 158, Clive Purrett (Green) 80, Mary Pitkin (Lib Dem) 62, Turnout: 32.7%

Stour Valley: Zoe Fairley (Con) 320*, Mark Cole (Ind) 255, Dave McLeod (Lab) 120, Rosemary Smith (Lib Dem) 96, Eleanor Gordon (Green) 92. Turnout: 37.6%

The Bentleys & Frating: Lynda McWilliams (Con) 430*, Robert Taylor (Lib Dem) 211, Alison Clarke (Green) 102, Louise Armstrong (Lab) 49. Turnout: 32.3%

The Oakleys & Wix: Mike Bush (Ind) 513*, David Chant (Con) 183, John McAllister (Lab) 97.

Thorpe, Beaumont & Great Holland: Daniel Land (Con) 832*, Chris Keston (Tendring First) 237. Turnout: 43%.

Walton: Delyth Miles (Ind) 224*, Ann Poonian (Con) 200, Jack Robertson (Tendring First) 169, Nic El-Safty (Lab) 121, Chris Bee (Ind) 76. Turnout: 33.3%

Weeley & Tendring: Peter Harris (Foundation Party – Cleaning up politics) 353*, Mike Brown (Con) 240, Jill Galloway (Lib Dem) 113. Turnout: 33.7%

West Clacton & Jaywick: Dan Casey (Ind) 703*, Nicola Overton (Ukip) 437*, Andy White (Ind) 396, Kevin Watson (Con) 316, Roy Raby (Con) 268, James Machin (Lab) 123, Tasha Osben (Lab) 120, Turnout: 32.2%

* = denotes candidated elected.