KCC Election 2013 - results, overview

28% turnout

• 6,382 of the 22,755 electorate turned up at the 13 polling stations in Herne Bay.
  

​One-third vote UKIP

• 4,102 of the 12,409 votes cast - 33.1%
  
• In 2009, UKIP took 20% of the vote.​ In 2005, it was 4%.​

Two new UKIP councillors

• Nicholas Bond
• Brian Macdowall

HBM

KCC Election 2013 - results, overview

about 10 years ago

UKIP take Herne Bay

about 10 years ago

Herne Bay Independent candidate John Moore rejoins UKIP

about 10 years ago

More of the same for Canterbury

about 10 years ago

Tories hold Herne

about 10 years ago

Tories hold Whitstable

about 10 years ago

Anti-Royal protester admits to leaving stink bomb in ballot box

about 10 years ago

Election count delayed after vials found in ballot box

about 10 years ago

Surrealist threatened, undaunted

about 11 years ago

Election roundup from thisiskent

about 11 years ago

View fullsize

Click the map for more details on the KCC website.​

UKIP take Herne Bay

Victorious UKIP members in the Bay are celebrating their success in the Kent County Council elections.

The party wrestled both Herne Bay seats from sitting Tories Jean Law and David Hirst, with Nicholas Bond and Brian MacDowall now representing the town at County Hall. The result was the last declared and the only UKIP win in the district, but took the party's total seats on the council to 17, including seven out of eight in Thanet.​

IN: Nicholas Bond (centre, of picture)​

OUT: David Hirst and Jean Law (right)

UKIP chairman Jim Gascoyne said:

"We came second in Whitstable so that is next for us, then right on to Westminster. The route to Parliament is along the Kent coast and then up the Thanet Way."

The party polled 34% of the vote, on a 28% turn out. Mr Bond polled 2,048 votes and Mr MacDowall 2,054. Mrs Law and Mr Hirst polled 1,817 and 1,724 respectively.

Mrs Law, whose seat on Canterbury City Council was not affected by this election, was tearful as the result was announced. She said:

"Herne Bay wanted a change and now they have got a change. I am terribly disappointed."

Mr Hirst said he felt shaken by the result, adding:

"That's politics for you."

Mr MacDowall was not at the count as he was on a business trip to Germany. Mr Bond said:

"I feel really good about being elected. It's absolutely great for the party.There's lots of work to do, but I look forward to working with the people of Herne Bay.We've worked very hard nationally, and I'm really delighted we got so many gains."

Labour's Lynn Faux-Bowyer and Tom Mellish gained 1,003 and 948 votes respectively, while Lib Dem candidates Margaret Flaherty and June Raybaud managed 434 and 308 votes.

New England Party candidates Nathan King and Mike Tibby polled 119 and 193 votes, and Green Party candidates Elaine Godden and Michael Coppin gained 204 and 202.

Independents John Moore and Stan Truelove won 484 and 362 votes, while Independent Steve Coombes, who stood to publicise the Duchamps festival in Herne Bay this summer, and handed out awards for absurdity around the town in the run-up to the election, scored 509.

Other seats in the Canterbury district did not change hands and the county council is still under overall Tory control. They lost 27 seats but held 44. Ukip have 17 seats – up from just one – and Labour gained 11 seats and lost one, taking their total to 13. The Liberal Democrats lost one and gained one, giving them seven seats, while the Green Party gained a seat in Hythe. A west Kent residents association candidate also held onto their seat.

thisiskent 10th May 2013

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Jean Law fights back tears after election defeat

Tories in Herne Bay were left stunned today after a shock defeat at the polls by UKIP.

Conservative incumbants Jean Law and David Hirst were ousted after a recount at the Kings Hall this afternoon.

The pair - who had enjoyed a healthy majority at the last county council elections in 2009 - trailed more than 200 votes behind Brian Macdowall and Nicholas Bond.

Lib Dem candidates Margaret Flaherty and June Raybaud also fell from their position as closest challengers to finish 9th and 11th respectively.

The Herne Bay seats were the only ones to change hands across the Canterbury district, despite UKIP winning an impressive 17 of the 84 up for grabs in Kent.

Speaking after the defeat, Mrs Law said:

"I'm disappointed but then I would be because I've worked in Herne Bay. It's where I brought the kids up. I couldn't of worked any harder for the people of Herne Bay and I'm just sorry for all the volunteers along the way. It has been a disastrous day for the Conservatives and they may have to re-think what they are doing."

​kentonline 3rd May 2013

Herne Bay Independent candidate John Moore rejoins UKIP

Independent candidate John Moore rejoins Ukip after his election defeat in Herne Bay

A campaigner who stood as an independent candidate for the county council has rejoined Ukip in the wake of its election success. John Moore collected 484 votes at the polls for Kent County Council's two seats in Herne Bay, while his running mate Stan Truelove picked up 362.

They lost out to UKIP's candidates Nicholas Bond and Brian MacDowall, who are now the town's KCC representatives. The party also picked up seven out of eight seats in Thanet as well as winning in other parts of Kent.

Mr Moore, who is also a parish councillor for Herne and Broomfield, had previously stood for UKIP but put party politics aside for his most recent campaign. He said:

"I enjoyed the campaign and we were trying to get people to vote for the town rather than a party. But they clearly wanted to vote for a party, even if it wasn't one of the ones that have previously been popular. I have always supported Ukip, and I have been a member since 1997 - it is my spiritual home."

The town trader, who runs Sweet Magic in Mortimer Street, had not renewed his membership before the election but said he now planned to. He added:

"It is too early to say what will happen. The next elections are two years away. If UKIP want me to do something, I would be happy to, but it's not for me to say."

thisiskent 10th May 2013

More of the same for Canterbury

Deputy returning officer Colin Carmichael announces the results

The city remains a sea of blue with a smattering of yellow, as all Canterbury councillors retained their seats in the county elections.

Despite big changes elsewhere, the Tories held onto four divisions, with Liberal Democrat Martin Vye clinching the fifth.

But there were nervous scenes at the count in the King's Hall in Herne Bay on Friday as UKIP won an unprecedented number of seats.

Tory Michael Northey held onto the Canterbury South East seat with a 1,385 vote majority. He said:

"I'm very happy and pleased. It's the result of a great deal of hard work. I've done my best to serve over the past and I'm very grateful for the vote of confidence."

Close behind Mr Northey was Liberal Democrat candidate Mike Sole, who secured 1,181 votes. He said he was "disappointed" but added:

"On a city council level, the Lib Dems are very strong. We're getting closer and closer at county level each time."

Meanwhile, victorious Tory Graham Gibbens said his stance on two local issues helped him win. He polled 1,207 votes for Canterbury North East, beating Labour's Michael Bland, with 768 votes, into second. Mr Gibbens said:

"Elections are always nerve-racking and I do feel relieved now. It was a pleasing result and I think people appreciated my views on Westgate Towers and Kingsmead field."

In Canterbury West, Tory John Simmonds received 1,067 votes to retain his seat, beating David De Boick from UKIP's 633 votes. He said:

"I'm ecstatic and delighted that people have supported me. It'll be an interesting administration. I look forward to holding newly elected councillors to account and making sure they deliver on their promises."

Mr De Boick said despite missing out on the seat, he was "very pleased" with the result.

Elsewhere, in Herne and Sturry, Alan Marsh became the only Conservative left standing in Herne Bay after UKIP took the rest of the seats. He polled 41% of the votes with 1,452, beating UKIP's Sarah Larkins into second place with 1,086.

The UKIP vote amounted to almost a third of the total votes cast, with 17% for Labour, six% for the Green Party and five% for the Liberal Democrats.

There was a sigh of relief from Martin Vye, who remains the district's only Liberal Democrat county councillor after securing 1,555 votes to take the Canterbury South West division. Mr Vye said:

"I'm very pleased indeed that the electors of the division have placed their trust in me. I will endeavour to make sure their trust isn't misplaced. UKIP came as a great surprise to me. Voters weren't talking about UKIP on the doorstep but clearly, there is a feeling that ordinary people aren't being listened to. We have to address that."

Voter turn out was just 28.5% across the district.

Overall, the Tories retained their majority on the council, the composition of which is now: Conservative 45 (-29), UKIP 17 (+17), Labour 13 (+11), Lib Dem 7 (no change), Green 1 (+1), Residents Association 1 (+1), Independent 0 (-1).

thisiskent 10th May 2013

Tories hold Herne

Maxine Marsh congratulates husband Alan as he is re-elected for the Tories to Herne and Sturry

Herne remains the only part of Herne Bay with a Conservative councillor after Alan Marsh held on to his seat. He polled 1,452 votes – 41 per cent – beating Ukip's Sarah Larkins, with 1,086 votes, into second place .

Labour's Alan Stanley gained 590 votes while Green Party candidate Elisa De Vert beat the Lib Dems into fifth place with her total of 217, ahead of Nigel Whitburn's 169.

Mr Marsh said:

"I'm very pleased that I have the opportunity to serve the people I represent for another four years. It's a critical time and I want to make sure that we do everything possible not only to smooth the path for health, education and highways, but also to ensure that the people of Kent get the best lifestyle that we can provide by working closely together as one community."

The Ukip vote amounted to almost a third of the total votes cast, with 17% for Labour, 6% for the Green Party and 5% for the Liberal Democrats.

The turnout was 27%, with 3,514 votes cast from a total electorate of almost 14,000.

thisiskent 10th May 2013

Tories hold Whitstable

Mike Harrison and Mark Dance held onto their seats in Whitstable

They secured two seats in Herne Bay – and Whitstable is next on the list for members of the UK Independence Party. The group ousted the two sitting Tories in Herne Bay in the Kent County Council elections and came second in Whitstable.

As town Tories Mark Dance and Mike Harrison admitted they had feared for their seats, Ukip's soon-to-be chairman, Jim Gascoyne, said the party had big plans. He said:

"We came second in Whitstable so that is next for us, then right on to Westminster. The route to Parliament is along the Kent coast and then up the Thanet Way. It is wonderful to have two county councillors in Herne Bay to join the rest around Kent. The march to Westminster really starts here."

Councillors Dance and Harrison held on to their seats, with 2,732 and 2,666 votes respectively, beating Ukip's Mike Bull and Howard Farmer into second place with 2,476 and 2,435 votes.

Labour candidates Christopher Cornell and Rita O'Brien polled 1,813 and 1,781 votes, while Green Party candidates Pat Marsh and Jolyon Trimingham polled 566 and 600 respectively. The Liberal Democrats received the fewest votes, with 529 for Jonathan Dearth and 343 for Kevin McNamara. Mr Dance said:

"It has been a harrowing day. But we as a Whitstable team have done what we have always done and what we will continue to do. We don't change direction because there is an election."

He said when Mr Farmer came second in the Seasalter by-election they were concerned about the KCC result. Mr Dance added:

"We had no idea how it would go. But we are delighted to have won and to retain control of the council."

Mr Harrison said:

"It has been a super fight. There was a real risk that the council's £2 billion budget would have been in the hands of people who did not know what they were doing. We have all been given a lesson, we must never be complacent, and Mark and I are not."

Mr Farmer said he was pleased with the amount of votes they achieved. He said:

"Both their candidates admitted to me they were scared. They poured resources into the seat which we were not able to do but I think we did very well and I'm grateful to everyone who voted or helped with the campaign."

Mr Bull added:

"I am disappointed because of course we would have liked to have won. But this has brought us to the forefront of people's minds and next time there is an election we hope to build on this. We were hoping for a council seat here and that would have been a stepping stone to Parliament. But UKIP is now a household name and we have to be pleased with that."

Overall, the Tories retained their majority on the council, the composition of which is now: Conservative 45 (-29), Ukip 17 (+17), Labour 13 (+11), Lib Dem 7 (no change), Green 1 (+1), Residents Association 1 (+1), Independent 0 (-1).

thisiskent 10th May 2013

Anti-Royal protester admits to leaving stink bomb in ballot box

Jonathan Elliott awaiting sentence after disrupting last week's polls

A protestor is awaiting sentence after admitting putting two vials of unidentified liquid into a ballot box. Jonathan Elliott, 47, was charged after the discovery of the liquid in a box from St Andrew's Church Hall in Grimshill Road.

He appeared in Dover Magistrates' Court on Saturday and the case was adjourned for sentencing later this month.

Elliott was previously bound over by Canterbury magistrates after admitting a charge of breaching the peace after lunging at the Prince of Wales's car during the Archbishop of Canterbury's enthronement in March.

Jobless Elliott, of Sydney Road, was then warned he would have to pay £100 if he breached the peace again. He has previously described Prime Minister David Cameron and the royal family as "parasites".

Police were called to the election count on Friday in the Kings Hall in Herne Bay when the vials were discovered. There followed a three-hour delay while officers investigated. Officials could not identify the yellowy-orange liquid in the vials – which were wrapped in a ballot paper – and handed out gloves to the counters as a precaution.

Once police arrived on the scene they instructed returning officer and city council chief executive Colin Carmichael to advise reporters to leave the room. There was no advice for candidates, agents or official observers, or for the counters. After some reporters refused – including Times staff – officers moved the vials to the bar of the venue.

After examining the boxes and the papers in them, they were declared safe and the counting began three hours later than planned.

thisiskent 10th May 2013

Election count delayed after vials found in ballot box

Deputy returning officer Colin Carmichael with officers at the Kings Hall

POLICE were called to the election count after two vials were found in a ballot box.

The discovery, in a box from St Andrew's Church Hall in Grimshill Road, Whitstable, meant the count for Whitstable was delayed for three hours.

Officials could not identify the yellow-orange liquid in the vials – which were wrapped in a ballot paper – and handed out gloves to the counters as a precaution.

Deputy returning officer Colin Carmichael said:

"We have to be sure we are doing the right thing. We are fairly sure they are harmless but until the police arrive to confirm that we cannot verify the votes in that box."

Once police arrived on the scene they instructed Mr Carmichael to advise reporters to leave the room – but there was no advice for candidates, agents or official observers, or for counters. After some refused – including Times staff – officers moved the vials to the bar at the Kings Hall.

After examining the boxes and the papers in them, they were declared safe and the counting could begin, three hours later than planned.

Jonathan Elliott, 47, of Sydney Road, Whitstable, was charged with tampering with nomination papers after two vials of liquid were found in a ballot box in Herne Bay.

He appeared before Channel Magistrates in Dover on Saturday and the case was adjourned until later this month.

thisiskent 9th May 2013

Surrealist threatened, undaunted

OFFENDING SIGN? Steve Coombes has been told to remove his posters

Independent Herne Bay candidate in county elections threatened with legal action by Canterbury City Council

An Independent candidate in today's county council elections has been threatened with possible legal action by Canterbury City Council.

Steve Coombes, who is promoting a festival to mark the centenary of artist Marcel Duchamp's visit to Herne Bay, was issued with a demand by the authority on Monday morning to take down election posters pasted onto a pedestrian zone sign in Mortimer Street.

But Mr Coombes says he was merely highlighting a legitimate political point. The former university lecturer said:

"The sign is so illegible and broken that the regulations which it is meant to announce are unenforceable. Moreover, £3,000 for Herne Bay community funds was used to pay for a traffic barrier that was not shut this Saturday, in consequence making both the expenditure and the barrier completely ludicrous."

Mr Coombes has not taken down the poster, or others which promote his BLAGA awards (British Local Authority Gallery of Absurdism) at eyesore The Bun Penny pub and King's Road car park, where he says the free parking scheme has gone unnoticed due to poor advertising

He said he will remove them after today's election. But a spokesman for Canterbury council said:

"We have been alerted by other election candidates that a road sign in Herne Bay showing a pedestrian zone has been obscured with election material of another candidate. This is a road safety matter for the police and Kent Highways to deal with. We have suggested to Mr Coombes that he removes this material, as it is in breach of highways legislation, and informed him that, if he doesn't, we will be urgently reporting the matter to Kent Highways."

thisiskent 3rd May 2013

Election roundup from thisiskent

Conservatives have won their fourth term in office with a six seat majority following one of the most tightly fought elections seen for decades.

They won 45 seats in total but UKIP kept the Tories on their toes gaining 17 seats across Kent - winning seven out of eight seats in Thanet and then grabbing two in Herne Bay at the last minute.

It also wrestled seats in Tunbridge Wells East from the Conservatives, in Folkestone North East and Folkestone South from the Conservatives, and in Folkestone West from the Lib Dems.

The UKIP party leader Nigel Farage told ThisisKent:

"This is a sea change in British politics and an amazing day. We are connecting with the decent people in Kent and I think we have made big big gains."

Labour won 13 seats and Liberal Democrats gained seven. Greens has one seat and the Swansombe Residents' Association (Independent) were voted back in again.

Council leader councillor Paul Carter told ThisisKent he was relieved they narrowly got past the line. He said:

"I am relieved in capital letters. We have got across the line and we are delighted. But we feel enormously for the long serving councillors who are unfortunately no longer with us."

Among his casualties included education cabinet member councillor Mike Whiting and longest-serving Conservative councillor Keith Ferrin who stood for Swale Central. He added:

"We knew it was going to be close. The cards will have to be adjusted. The electorate has spoken in the county shires."

Mr Carter admitted it was issues such as the country's future with Europe, immigration and the economy that had dented the party's popularity.

Conservative candidate John Davies for Tunbridge Wells West fought a tough battle against UKIP rival Victor Webb today winning 1831 votes to 1502.

UKIP came second in every division except Tunbridge Wells East which was successfully won by their candidate Chris Hoare.

Mr Davies blamed the Government's policies on gay marriage, immigration and Europe for the loss of Conservative votes today. He said:

"The reason why we have lost votes is because of these three national issues. The current administration now has to look out whether we have gone too far left."

Piers Wauchope, a UKIP spokesman, said:

"The result in Tunbridge Wells was particularly pleasing as the Conservatives put a big effort into the seat. The news from Shepway was great as well even in areas where we did not make such an effort to connect to the electorate."

thisiskent 3rd May 2013

KCC Election - Herne Bay

​Your new County councillors are:

​Herne Bay: Brian Macdowall (UKIP), Nicholas Bond (UKIP)

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Herne and Sturry: Alan Marsh (Con)

VOTE!!!

Thursday 2nd May is election day.

We get to choose our County councillors.​

Whatever you do, be sure to cast your vote.​

​Best of all, vote Independent.

Steve Coombes - head and heart present and correct

The good news is that we have THREE Independent candidates standing for Herne Bay in the KCC election. Regular readers will already have been introduced to John Moore and Stan Truelove.

Now meet Steve Coombes - he's got his head screwed on and his heart's in the right place. What more could you want? He's done all sorts of telly stuff (and probably a few other things too), and has a knack for highlighting the dafter things our Council has done to us. Have a look at his site to find out more.​​

On Thursday, vote for Herne Bay. Vote Independent.

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Steve Coombes

Steve Coombes, Herne Bay Independent candidate talks election issues

What's the difference between a totally corrupt planning system and what happens in Herne Bay?

Well, one sprays around change of use permissions to developers like confetti, blights the seafront and rewards attempts to make buildings derelict, then fails to ensure there are enough schools and health facilities to service the enormous number of flats and housing estates it is approving – and a totally corrupt planning system wouldn't be much better.

Last year, KCC allocated £2.1m to arts development while Canterbury council spent £8.5m on culture and enterprise. But sadly, very little of this money ever reaches Herne Bay. Try this fun quiz about recent controversies:

1. If you have a successful annual classic car rally which attracts up to 6,000 visitors to the town, would you privatise it and then stand idly by as the 2013 rally is postponed indefinitely? (Yes/No)
2. Would you outsource the Herne Bay festival to a Brighton events company on the grounds of Localism? (Yes/No)
3. Given there is £54,500 in the council budget for Christmas lights, would you allow most of that money to go elsewhere, so Herne Bay ends up with the worst Christmas tree in Britain? (Yes/ No)
4. Having erected said tree, would you then take no steps to hold anyone responsible? (Yes/No)
5. Would you then take every penny from the very small pot of money the town does have for culture and leisure and pledge to spend it on Christmas lights instead, so the council doesn't have to pay anything on trees and decorations in Herne Bay next year? (Yes/No)

If your answers are mainly Yes, you are an elected councillor. If your answers are mainly No, you are everyone else in Herne Bay who is absolutely gobsmacked by such municipal absurdity.

I'm all in favour of both – especially in Herne Bay.

thisiskent 17th Apr 2013

A poster for your window

Vote for your town.

Vote Independent.

Click the poster to download a copy that you can print and proudly display in your window.

Will you be able to vote on election day?

Hundreds of people in the Canterbury district could miss their chance to vote in local elections this May if they don’t take action to register now.

Electoral Registration Officer Colin Carmichael said:

“Thursday 2 May is the chance for residents to have their say at the Kent County Council elections and a by-election for the Seasalter ward of the city council. We want everyone who is eligible to vote to be able to do so. Anyone who has moved house in the past few months needs to register with their new address. We’re also keen for anyone turning 18 on or before 2 May to make sure they are registered, so that they can vote for the first time.”

The deadline to register is Wednesday 17 April. Call 01227 862 007 to order a registration form, or you can print one off from www.aboutmyvote.co.uk .

Samantha Mills, Head of Campaigns at the Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog, said:

“If you are going to be away, you can ask to vote by post, or by proxy. More details about how to do this are at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk . It’s your vote, so don’t lose this chance to use it.”

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April, and for a proxy vote, it is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.

CCC 22nd Mar 2013

KCC Elections

On May 2nd you'll have the chance to choose the people you want to represent you on Kent County Council. First out of the blocks are our two local Independent candidates - John Moore and Stan Truelove.​

I must confess to having a great fondness for Independent candidates, on principle (I stood as one in the last District elections in 2011). Being an Independent candidate means that you don't owe allegiance to any particular party, and you're free to do the job you were elected to do - representing the people in your constituency. You don't have to toe a party line, and you're free to speak out on the issues that matter to your people.

Most of the (non-Independent) political parties conjure up a manifesto of vague promises that they think will be popular, and present it to the voters as a package deal - take it or leave it. In contrast, ​John and Stan are starting from the much more sensible, and democratic, position of taking the trouble to ask people around town what they actually want and need. They will be taking their instructiions from you, not from some party bigwig.

Let them know what you think. Tell them the top 3 things that you think KCC should be doing in and for Herne Bay. Send them an email - they'll read it, and they'll pay attention.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Independents to stand in county council poll

Two community campaigners have announced their plans to stand as independent candidates in the county council elections.

John Moore and Stan Truelove will fight for the two seats available in Herne Bay on the basis that party politics is not working in the town.

At the moment, both seats are held by Tory councillors - David Hirst and Jean Law - and the other main parties are expected to field candidates as well.

Mr Moore, who runs Sweet Magic in Mortimer Street and is a member of Herne and Broomfield Parish Council, said:

"People want independent councillors on Kent County Council to speak up for local people. The roads in Herne Bay are outrageous and they are not being fixed properly. It is the top complaint by people in the town and, when we are elected, it will be our top priority, too."

The pair have already started their campaign by distributing leaflets around the town, calling for people to contact them with their top three priorities. They also plan to encourage people to report potholes to them so they can compile a list for contractors to repair.

Mr Truelove has no political experience but is known for his fundraising for Pilgrims Hospices via his Christmas lights displays in Canterbury. He also decorates his daughter's shop, Down to Earth, in Mortimer Street.

Mr Moore has previously stood for the UK Independence Party but said:

"UKIP has moved on and I still support them and follow them. I prefer to concentrate on my parish stuff and the county stuff. People love Stan and he is very well known and I know we have the support of 90 per cent of the independent shops in the town centre. We are feeling confident and ready to get to work."

For more information, contact the pair via e-mail to johnandstanforkcc@gmail.com

Nominations for the elections must be sent to Kent County Council by Friday, April 5. Voting is on Thursday, May 2.

thisiskent 15th Mar 2013

John Moore

Stan Truelove