ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION 1997

Results from the County Election on 1 May 1997

Attached is a schedule detailing the 1997 County Council election results for each of the 80 electoral divisions contested together with the 1985, 1989 and 1993 results and summaries of earlier elections. The 1997 election was fought on the same electoral divisions as in 1981, 1985 and 1989 with the exception of some minor boundary changes. The results of earlier elections are summarised on the following pages. Only 15 of the present divisions had the same boundaries as those in the 1973 and 1977 elections and so a full comparison is not practicable.

Elections were not held in the Divisions in Southend (with the exception of Thorpe Division) and Thurrock which become unitary authorities on 1 April 1998.

1997 Election

For the 1997 election the electorate of the Divisions involved totalled 1,006,770. All 80 divisions were contested and there were 272 candidates. The summarised result, excluding Thorpe, is listed below.

Party / No of Candidates / Votes
Polled / % of
Votes Cast / Seats
Won / % Swing
1993-1997
Conservative / 79 / 280031 / 38.8 / 40 / 3.1
Labour / 79 / 232048 / 32.1 / 23 / 1.3
Liberal Democrat / 78 / 189182 / 26.2 / 15 / -5.3
Others / 33 / 20617 / 2.9 / 1 / 0.9
* / 269 / 721878 / 100 / 79 / -

Of the total electorate 71.7% voted.

Basildon Westley Heights by-election, 4 June 1998

Party / No of Candidates / Votes
Polled / % of
Votes Cast / Seats
Won
Conservative / 1 / 1573 / 34.8 / 0
Labour / 1 / 1717 / 38.0 / 1
Liberal Democrat / 1 / 1231 / 27.2 / 0
3 / 4521 / 100 / 1

Loughton St. John’s by-election, 11 November 1999

Party / No of Candidates / Votes
Polled / % of
Votes Cast / Seats
Won
Conservative / 1 / 527 / 27.5 / 0
Labour / 1 / 927 / 48.5 / 1
Liberal Democrat / 1 / 56 / 2.9 / 0
Loughton Resients Association / 1 / 404 / 21.1 / 0
4 / 1914 / 100 / 1


ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS

1973, 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989 and 1993

Local Government Reorganisation

At local government reorganisation Essex was divided into 95 county electoral divisions but two of them (Southend-on-Sea No. 6 and Southend-on-Sea No. 7) were two member divisions. The Council therefore consisted of 97 members. In the main the boundaries of the 84 divisions into which the former administrative county had been divided were unaltered and the 11 divisions formed out of the former county borough of Southend-on-Sea followed the boundaries of the then borough wards or groupings of them.

1973 Election

At the first election on 12 April 1973 the total electorate of the county was 992,149 and the electorates of the 95 divisions varied between 6,750 and 22,916.

All 97 seats were contested at that election and there were 223 candidates. The result of the election was as follows:

90 Conservative candidates polled 167,106 votes and won 50 seats

96 Labour candidates polled 158,617 votes and won 40 seats

16 Liberal candidates polled 24,976 votes and won 5 seats

21 other candidates polled 19,810 votes and won 2 seats.

Of the total electorate 37.3% voted and the highest poll (57.2%) was in the Southend-on-Sea No. 4 (St Clements) county electoral division and the lowest (18.0%) was in the Thurrock No. 5 (South Ockendon) division. At subsequent by-elections to fill casual vacancies the Conservatives gained four seats from Labour.

1977 Election

The same 97 divisions applied for the election of the Council on 5 May 1977. The electorates then varied between 6,735 and 22,306. At that election four seats were uncontested and all returned Conservative candidates. There were 253 candidates for the remaining 93 contested seats and in these contested elections the position was:

93 Conservative candidates polled 257,703 votes and won 79 seats

85 Labour candidates polled 106,664 votes and won 12 seats

51 Liberal candidates polled 36,638 votes and won 2 seats

24 other candidates polled 13,367 votes and won no seats.

The electorate totalled 1,038,293 and 41.5% voted. The highest poll (59.2%) was in the Southend-on-Sea No. 4 (St Clements) division and the lowest (21.5%) was in the Thurrock No. 2 (Grays Thurrock) division. At the 1977 election the Conservatives gained 24 seats from the Labour Party, three from the Liberal Party, one from a Residents’ Association and one from an Independent. The final state of the parties was therefore Conservative 83, Labour 12 and Liberal 2.

In the subsequent four by-elections, one resulted in a gain for the Labour party from Conservative.

1981 Election

Following a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England initiated in 1979, on 6 February 1981 an order was made constituting 98 electoral divisions in the County, each electing one County Councillor. These were the divisions for the County Council election on 5 May 1981.

The electorate totalled 1,109.138 (with divisions ranging from 9,009 to 14,116) and all 98 divisions were contested. There were 298 candidates and the result of the election was as follows:-

98 Conservative candidates polled 197,573 votes (42.5%) and won 51 seats

98 Labour candidates polled 158,500 votes (34.1%) and won 32 seats

70 Liberal candidates polled 91,503 votes (19.7%) and won 13 seats

7 Ecology candidates polled 1,122 votes (0.2%) and won no seats

3 Social Democrat candidates polled 2,034 votes (0.4%) and won no seats

22 other candidates polled 13,929 votes (3.0%) and won 2 seats.

Of the total electorate, 41.9% voted. The highest poll (51.0%) was in the Saffron Walden division and the lowest (30.7%) was in the Tiptree division. The district with the highest overall poll was Uttlesford with 47.5% and the lowest was Thurrock Borough with 37.1%.

Nine by-elections were held between 1981 and 1985, one resulting in a gain for Liberal from Conservative.

1985 Election

The electorate totalled 1,156,227 with divisions ranging in size from 9,100 (Hadleigh) to 15,479 (Springfield). All 98 divisions were contested and there were 296 candidates. The summarised result of the election is as follows:

97 Conservative candidates polled 176,168 votes (39.8%) and won 45 seats

98 Labour candidates polled 131,019 votes (29.6%) and won 29 seats

86 Alliance candidates polled 129,371 votes (29.2%) and won 23 seats

5 Ecology candidates polled 439 votes (0.1%) and won no seats

3 Resident Assoc. candidates polled 3,215 votes (0.7%) and won 1 seat

7 other candidates polled 2,335 votes (0.5%) and won no seats.

Of the total electorate 38.3% voted. The highest poll was in Bocking division (49.5%) and the lowest was in Tilbury division (20.4%). The district with highest overall poll was Brentwood with 43.0% and the lowest was Thurrock with 26.7%.

Between 1985 and 1989 there were five by-elections with one resulting in a gain for the Liberal/SDP Alliance from Conservative. Details of these by-elections are included on the attached pages.


1989 Election

The electorate totalled 1,179,004 with divisions ranging in size from 9,208 (Hadleigh) to 18,749 (Woodham Ferrers and Danbury). All 98 divisions were contested and there were 318 candidates. The summarised result of the 1989 election is as follows:

Party / No of Candidates / Votes
Polled / % of
Votes Cast / Seats
Won / % Swing
1985-1989
Conservative / 98 / 193,678 / 44.4 / 57 / + 4.6
Labour / 98 / 126,210 / 28.9 / 26 / - 0.7
SLD / 90 / 101,342 / 23.2 / 14 / ) / - 4.8
SDP / 9 / 5,191 / 1.2 / 0 / )
Green / 15 / 5,694 / 1.3 / 0 / + 1.2
Others / 8 / 4,038 / 0.9 / 1 / - 0.3
318 / 436,153 / 100.0 / 98 / --

Of the total electorate 37.0% voted. The highest poll was in Great Baddow (50.0%) and the lowest was in Tilbury division (21.2%). The district with the overall poll was Chelmsford with 40.9% and the lowest was Thurrock with 30.3%.

There were five by-elections between 1989 and 1993 resulting in one Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative and one Conservative gain from Labour.

1993 Election

For the 1993 election the electorate of Essex totalled 1,190,322 with divisions ranging in size from 8,493 (Hadleigh) to 19,647 (Springfield). All 98 divisions were contested and there were 316 candidates. The summarised result of the 1993 election is as follows:

Party / No of Candidates / Votes
Polled / % of
Votes Cast / Seats
Won / % Swing
1989-1993
Conservative / 98 / 152,874 / 35.7 / 32 / -8.7
Labour / 98 / 132,088 / 30.8 / 33 / +1.9
Liberal Democrat / 92 / 134,835 / 31.5 / 32 / +8.2
Green / 19 / ) / ) / )
) / 8,741 / ) / 2.0 / 0 / ) / -1.
Others / 9 / ) / ) / 1 / )
316 / 428,518 / 100.0 / -

Of the total electorate 36.0% voted. The highest poll was in Chelmsford North Division (51.67%) and the lowest was in Tilbury Division (19.7%).


BASILDON DISTRICT

Divisions 10

Electors 125,562

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 10 / 33144 / 37.4 / 5
Lab / 10 / 35336 / 39.9 / 5
Lib Dem / 10 / 20021 / 22.6 / 0
Oth / 1 / 120 / 0.1 / 0

BRAINTREE DISTRICT

Divisions 7

Electors 96,319

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 7 / 26812 / 37 / 2
Lab / 7 / 26705 / 37 / 4
Lib Dem / 7 / 15388 / 21 / 1
Oth / 7 / 2909 / 4 / 0


BRENTWOOD BOROUGH

Divisions 5

Electors 55,618

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 5 / 18258 / 44 / 4
Lab / 5 / 7965 / 19 / 0
Lib Dem / 5 / 15046 / 36 / 1
Oth / 1 / 400 / 1 / 0

CASTLE POINT BOROUGH

Divisions 6

Electors 68,058

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 6 / 21761 / 45 / 4
Lab / 6 / 19413 / 40 / 2
Lib Dem / 6 / 6957 / 14 / 0
Oth. / 1 / 100 / 0 / 0


CHELMSFORD BOROUGH

Divisions 9

Electors 121,425

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 9 / 35355 / 39 / 4
Lab / 9 / 20208 / 22 / 1
Lib Dem / 9 / 31366 / 35 / 4
Oth / 10 / 3703 / 4 / 0

COLCHESTER BOROUGH

Divisions 9

Electors 117,383

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 9 / 28144 / 34 / 3
Lab / 9 / 23875 / 29 / 1
Lib Dem / 8 / 27697 / 34 / 5
Oth / 2 / 2514 / 3 / 0


EPPING FOREST DISTRICT

Divisions 8

Electors 93,213

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 8 / 29056 / 43 / 5
Lab / 8 / 19769 / 29 / 1
Lib Dem / 8 / 13296 / 20 / 1
Oth / 2 / 5040 / 8 / 1

HARLOW DISTRICT

Divisions 5

Electors 56,721

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 5 / 12189 / 29 / 0
Lab / 5 / 22591 / 54 / 5
Lib Dem / 5 / 6696 / 16 / 0
Oth. / 2 / 420 / 1 / 0


MALDON DISTRICT

Divisions 3

Electors 43,059

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 3 / 13532 / 42 / 3
Lab / 3 / 7856 / 25 / 0
Lib Dem / 3 / 7531 / 24 / 0
Oth / 4 / 2948 / 9 / 0

ROCHFORD DISTRICT

Divisions 5

Electors 60,450

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 5 / 18023 / 41 / 2
Lab / 5 / 12425 / 28 / 1
Lib Dem / 5 / 13756 / 31 / 2


SOUTHEND ON SEA BOROUGH

Divisions 1 (Thorpe)

Electors 11,620

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 1 / 4125 / 56.58 / 1
Lab / 1 / 1915 / 26.26 / 0
Lib Dem / 1 / 1251 / 17.16 / 0

TENDRING DISTRICT

Divisions 8

Electors 104,415

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 8 / 26250 / 36 / 4
Lab / 8 / 27694 / 38 / 3
Lib Dem / 8 / 18048 / 25 / 1
Oth / 1 / 1598 / 2 / 0


UTTLESFORD DISTRICT

Divisions 4

Electors 52,905

Party / No of
Candidates / Votes
Polled / % Votes
Cast / Seats
Won
Con / 4 / 17507 / 44 / 4
Lab / 4 / 8211 / 21 / 0
Lib Dem / 4 / 13380 / 33 / 0
Oth. / 2 / 865 / 2 / 0


BASILDON DISTRICT

BASILDON CROUCH DIVISION

1985 election / 9998 electors / 36.0% poll
BALL Tony
CREGG Martin J
PALMER Graham S / Con
Lab
All / 1643
814
1146
Elected / BALL / Con / Majority 497
By-Election
December 1987 /
10340 electors /
30.0% poll
BELLARD Francis
DAVIS Margaret
DOVE Terence / All
Lab
Con / 1423
391
1288
Elected / BELLARD / All / Majority 135
1989 election / 10384 electors / 44.0% poll
BELLARD Franics
DAVIS Margaret
MORRIS Donald / SLD
Lab
Con / 2220
544
1756
Elected / BELLARD / SLD / Majority 464
1993 election / 10552 electors / 41.4% poll
SMITH Anthony
WILLIAMS Geoffrey
WILSON Colin / Con
LD
Lab / 1699
1900
709
Elected / WILLIAMS / LD / Majority 201
1997 election / 11,136 electors / 73.25% poll
MORRIS Donald / CON / 3586
ROE Liv / LAB / 2052
WILLIAMS Geoffrey / LD / 2520
Elected / MORRIS / Majority 1066

BASILDON FRYERNS DIVISION

1985 election / 10638 electors / 30.4% poll
ARCHIBALD Williams
PENVERE Gladys R P
SMITH John W / Lab
Con
All / 2300
487
442
Elected / ARCHIBALD / Lab / Majority 1813
1989 election / 10295 electors / 34.2% poll
ARCHBOLD Brian
ARCHIBALD Williams
SMITH John / Con
Lab
SLD / 719
2064
736
Elected / ARCHIBALD / Lab / Majority 1328
1993 election / 9909 electors / 39.5% poll
ALMOND Amanda
ARCHIBALD Williams
BIRCH David / Con
Lab
LD / 870
2631
369
Elected / ARCHIBALD / Lab / Majority 1761
1997 election / 9,717 electors / 68.62% poll
ARCHIBALD William / LAB / 4427
ELLIOTT Sandra / CON / 1610
MARSH Terry / LD / 631
Elected / ARCHIBALD / Majority 2817

BAS-FR