The 2002 Worthing Borough Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Worthing Borough Council in West Sussex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats gained overall control of the council from the Conservative Party.^[1] Overall turnout was 30.67%.^[2]

Quick Facts 12 out of 36 seats to Worthing Borough Council 19 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

2002 Worthing Borough Council election

← 2000 2 May 2002 (2002-05-02) 2003 →
12 out of 36 seats to Worthing Borough Council 19 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Party Liberal Democrats Conservative Last election 16 seats 20 seats Seats before 16 20 Seats won 7 5 Seats after 19 17 Seat change 3 3 Popular vote 10,387 10,621 Percentage 43.9% 44.9%
Council control before election Conservative Council control after election Liberal Democrats

Close

After the previous election in 2000 the Conservatives had controlled the council with 20 seats compared to the Liberal Democrats 16.^[3] 12 seats were up for election in 2002 with the Liberal Democrats needing to gain 2 seats to make Worthing a hung council.^[4] Issues in the election included litter, the introduction of palm trees on the seafront and a recent 10.3% increase in council tax.^[4]

The results saw the Liberal Democrats make 3 gains from the Conservatives to take control.^[5] They gained all three of the seats they had been targeting in Castle, Gaisford and Selden wards.^[2] The Conservatives put their defeat down to a proposed Asda at Worthing College and on the recent increase in council tax which they blamed on the national government.^[2] The Liberal Democrats pledged to work for a "clean and safe Worthing".^[2] Following the election the Conservative mayor-elect, John Livermore, stepped down, refusing to serve as mayor with the Liberal Democrats in control of the council.^[6]

After the election, the composition of the council was:

• Liberal Democrat 19
• Conservative 17^[7]