The 2006 Hart Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Hart District Council in Hampshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.^[1]

Quick Facts 13 of 35 seats to Hart District Council 18 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

2006 Hart District Council election

← 2004 4 June 2006 2007 →
13 of 35 seats to Hart District Council 18 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Party Conservative Liberal Democrats Seats before 18 12 Seats won 6 3 Seats after 16 12 Popular vote 7,535 5,025 Percentage 41.0 27.3   Third party Fourth party   Party CCH Independent Seats before 2 2 Seats won 3 2 Seats after 5 2 Popular vote 2,967 1,788 Percentage 16.1 9.7
Results by Ward
Council control before election No overall control Council control after election Conservative

Close

After the election, the composition of the council was:

• Conservative 16
• Liberal Democrat 12
• Community Campaign (Hart) 5
• Independent 2^[2]

The results saw 2 seats change hands with the Community Campaign (Hart) (CCH) group winning them both.^[3] One gain saw the Conservatives lose the seat of Church Crookham East, which Peter Hutcheson had held for the Conservatives for over 20 years, to the CCH.^[3] The other gain saw the CCH win Crondall by 2 votes over the Conservatives, gaining the seat which had formerly been held by Independent Norman Lambert.^[3] Lambert had resigned from the Conservative group in 2005 after admitting making false claims for council tax and housing benefit.^[4] The changes meant that the Conservatives remained the largest party on the council with 16 seats but were vulnerable to a coalition among the other groups.^[3] Overall turnout in the election was 39.35%.^[5]

Following the election the Conservative administration of the council, which had run the council for the previous 8 years, was voted out.^[6] They were replaced by a new Coalition Political Group, which was formed by the 12 Liberal Democrats, 5 Community Campaign (Hart) councillors and 1 of the 2 Independents, Denis Gotel.^[6] The leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, David Neighbour, became leader of the new group and the new leader of the council.^[6]