The 1976 Horsham District Council election took place on 6 May 1976 to elect members of Horsham District Council in England.[1] It was held on the same day as other local elections. The Conservatives won a majority of 9 on the council, gaining from Independent. In a number of seats, candidates who stood as an Independent in 1973, when these seats were last contested, stood again as a Conservative Party candidate. Residents' association won their first seat to the council, winning a seat in Henfield. The Liberal Party lost both of their seats from the previous election three years ago.
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All 43 seats to Horsham District Council 22 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Council Composition
Prior to the election, the composition of the council was:
| 23 | 17 | 2 |
| Ind | Con | Lib |
After the election, the composition of the council was:
| 30 | 12 | 1 |
| Con | Ind | RA |
Results summary
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 30 | 12 | 0 | 69.8 | 54.2 | 30,945 | +19.0 | ||
| Independent | 12 | 0 | 11 | 27.9 | 20.3 | 11,607 | -14.9 | ||
| RA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 1,342 | +2.4 | ||
| Labour | 0 | – | – | 0.0 | 18.0 | 10,285 | -3.4 | ||
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 4.8 | 2,765 | -10.3 | ||
| National Party | 0 | – | – | 0.0 | 0.3 | 180 | +0.3 | ||
Ward results
Ashington & Washington
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Rowland T. | 676 | 73.5 | +2.0 | |
| Liberal | Francis V. | 244 | 26.5 | +26.5 | |
| Turnout | 42.3 | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Billingshurst
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Longhurst K. | 981 | 48.8 | ||
| Independent | Griffin C. | 850 | 42.3 | ||
| National Party | Saunders D. | 180 | 9.0 | ||
| Turnout | 36.9 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Griffin C. stood as a Conservative candidate and Longhurst K. stood as an Independent in 1973, when this seat was last contested.
Bramber & Upper Beeding
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Milburn M. | 983 | 46.2 | +46.2 | |
| Independent | Sanford L. | 765 | 35.9 | +2.5 | |
| Liberal | Callard P. | 380 | 17.9 | -8.8 | |
| Turnout | 39.1 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Broadbridge Heath
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | McGregor R. | Unopposed | |||
| Turnout | N/A | ||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | ||||
Cowfold
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Fowler S. | Unopposed | |||
| Turnout | N/A | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Henfield
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RA | Jones K. | 832 | 30.7 | ||
| Conservative | Jones T. | 811 | 30.0 | ||
| Conservative | Corp G. | 750 | |||
| Conservative | Wright F. | 633 | |||
| Independent | Bishop L. Ms. | 537 | 19.8 | ||
| RA | Summarsell R. | 510 | |||
| Independent | Rickard W. | 329 | 12.2 | ||
| Liberal | Seymour E. | 198 | 7.3 | ||
| Liberal | Tysoe F. | 174 | |||
| Turnout | 45.2 | ||||
| Residents’ association gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Horsham South
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Pinion G. | 1,512 | 59.5 | +17.7 | |
| Conservative | Mauchel E. Ms. | 1,503 | |||
| Conservative | Gould G. | 1,458 | |||
| Conservative | Roberts W. | 1,450 | |||
| Labour | O'Connor T. | 1,029 | 40.5 | +4.2 | |
| Labour | Thurston J. Ms. | 900 | |||
| Labour | Colville P. | 892 | |||
| Labour | Clements R. | 882 | |||
| Turnout | |||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Horsham West
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Parsons W. | 1,991 | 36.0 | -2.7 | |
| Conservative | Jeffries D. | 1,794 | 32.3 | +1.0 | |
| Conservative | Collins M. | 1,715 | |||
| Conservative | Moore B. Ms. | 1,686 | |||
| Independent | Martin G. | 987 | 17.9 | -12.1 | |
| Labour | Evenden R. | 756 | 13.7 | +13.7 | |
| Turnout | 51.4 | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Horsham North
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Murrell A. | 2,132 | 66.8 | +29.3 | |
| Conservative | Link C. Ms. | 2,122 | |||
| Conservative | Miller E. | 2,092 | |||
| Conservative | West H. Ms. | 2,061 | |||
| Conservative | Taylor J. | 1,065 | |||
| Labour | Lamb P. | 1,059 | 33.2 | +4.6 | |
| Labour | Nevins R. | 1,042 | |||
| Labour | Harris J. | 1,033 | |||
| Labour | Battersby R. | 1,007 | |||
| Labour | Prodger T. | 949 | |||
| Turnout | 46.7 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Nuthurst
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Mackenzie J. | Unopposed | |||
| Turnout | N/A | ||||
| Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Mackenzie J. was elected as an Independent unopposed when this seat was last contested.
Pulborough & Coldwatham
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Cousins B. | Unopposed | |||
| Conservative | Gocher H. | Unopposed | |||
| Turnout | N/A | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Roffey
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Bosanquet D. | 1,043 | 78.6 | ||
| Conservative | Sheppard A. | 935 | |||
| Labour | Harris R. Ms. | 284 | 21.4 | ||
| Labour | Ivatts J. | 249 | |||
| Turnout | 38.8 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
| Conservative win (new seat) | |||||
Bosanquet D. was elected as an Independent in 1973, when this seat was last contested.
Rudgwick
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Henderson P. Ms. | Unopposed | |||
| Turnout | N/A | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Rusper
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Phelps A. Ms. | Unopposed | |||
| Turnout | N/A | ||||
| Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Phelps A. Ms. was elected unopposed as an Independent in 1973, when this seat was last contested.
Shipley
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Keen D. | Unopposed | |||
| Turnout | N/A | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Slinfold
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Anderson A. | Unopposed | |||
| Turnout | N/A | ||||
| Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Southwater
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Cheal J. | 813 | 34.3 | -2.3 | |
| Independent | Charman M. Ms. | 795 | 33.6 | +1.3 | |
| Independent | Charman E. | 512 | 21.7 | +21.7 | |
| Independent | Francis R. | 243 | 10.3 | +10.3 | |
| Turnout | 39.1 | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Steyning
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Dingemans M. Ms | 1,121 | 40.6 | -5.0 | |
| Independent | Mimmack J. | 755 | 27.3 | -5.0 | |
| Conservative | Foster P. | 600 | 21.7 | +21.7 | |
| Liberal | Paice R. | 286 | 10.4 | -8.8 | |
| Turnout | 51.1 | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Storrington
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Shepherd F. | 979 | 49.6 | +12.5 | |
| Conservative | Tunnell R. | 707 | |||
| Independent | Ellis L. | 558 | 28.3 | +28.3 | |
| Liberal | Marlow D. | 438 | 22.2 | -15.1 | |
| Liberal | Dean P. | 245 | |||
| Turnout | 51.6 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Sullington
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Rogers H. | 406 | 58.8 | -3.7 | |
| Liberal | Donaldson P. | 284 | 41.2 | +3.7 | |
| Turnout | 49.3 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Thakeham
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Jenkins E. | 366 | 66.7 | +24.0 | |
| Independent | Skinner H. | 183 | 33.3 | -24.0 | |
| Turnout | 60.6 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Warnham
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Hodgson A. | 484 | 70.5 | ||
| Labour | Ward G. | 203 | 29.5 | ||
| Turnout | 51.8 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Hodgson A. was elected unopposed as an Independent in 1973, when this seat was last contested.
West Chiltington
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Gardner J. | 677 | 84.3 | ||
| Liberal | Cleaver M. Ms. | 126 | 15.7 | ||
| Turnout | 52.0 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Gardner J. was elected unopposed as an Independent in 1973, when this seat was last contested.
West Grinstead
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Scragg J. | 492 | 55.8 | ||
| Liberal | Pike D. | 390 | 44.2 | ||
| Turnout | 50.9 | ||||
| Independent hold | Swing | ||||
References
- ↑ Colin Rallings; Michael Thrasher. "Horsham District Council Election Results 1973-2011" (PDF). www.electionscentre.co.uk. The Election Centre, Plymouth University.