After the 2006 election the Conservatives controlled the council with a majority of 3,[2] with 15 seats, compared to 12 for the Liberal Democrats.[3] For 2007 the council changed from the previous system whereby a third of the council was elected each year, to instead have the whole council elected every 4 years, after a unanimous vote by the council.[2] Earlier in 2007 Norman Marsh left the Liberal Democrats to sit as an Independent, while Liberal Democrat Irene Sims resigned from the council.[2]
A record 89 candidates stood at the election,[3] up from the previous high of 81 in 2002 when the entire council was last elected.[2] Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats stood a full 27 candidates, compared to 12 for Labour, 9 Green Party and 5 UK Independence Party.[2]Councillors standing down at the election included Conservatives Patrick Bowker and David Stevens, Liberal Democrat Robert Slater and independent Norman Marsh.[3]
Election result
The Liberal Democrats made 9 gains to take control of the council from the Conservatives[4] for the first time since 2004, with 8 of the gains being from the Conservatives.[5] The Liberal Democrats gained seats in Old Town, Sovereign and Upperton wards to hold 20 seats and have a majority of 13, while the Conservatives were reduced to 7 seats.[6] The Conservatives losses included the leader of the council, Ian Lucas, in Old Town and the cabinet member for finance, Chris Williams, in Sovereign.[7] Overall turnout at the election was 42.26%,[8] compared to 40.70% in 2006.[9]
The Liberal Democrat victory was attributed to the introduction of parking charges in Eastbourne by Conservative controlled East Sussex County Council and to a decision by borough councillors to increase their expenses by 52%.[6] Following the election David Tutt became the new leader of the council, while the national Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell came to Eastbourne to celebrate the result.[10][11][12]
