The 2003 Stratford-on-Avon District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Stratford-on-Avon District Council in Warwickshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.[1]
After the election, the composition of the council was
Before the election the Conservatives were one seats short of having a majority on the council with 26 seats, as compared to 22 for the Liberal Democrats, 2 Labour and 3 independents.[3] 16 seats were contested in the election with the Liberal Democrats defending the most seats.[4]
Council tax levels were the major issue in the election with the Liberal Democrats attacking plans for a 58% increase,[4] which they said was mostly due to waste and poor decisions by the council.[3] However the Conservatives defended the rise, blaming it on an insufficient grant from the national government[4] and on the previous Liberal Democrat administration for using cash balances to keep levels artificially low.[3] The election also saw four independent candidates standing in Stratford wards in opposition to the council tax rise.[3]
The results saw the Conservatives regain control of the council, after the election saw 5 seats changes hands.[5] They made a net gain of 1 seat at the expense of Labour who were reduced to only 1 seat on the council after losing in Southam ward.[6] The election in Stratford Avenue and New Town saw the closest result with independent Keith Lloyd, standing in protest at council tax levels, defeating Liberal Democrat Bill Lowe by 1 vote.[6] However the Liberal Democrats ended with the same number of seats, with their 2 gains including a surprise win in Stockton and Napton.[6] Turnout in the election varied from a low of 27% to a high of 51%,[7] but overall fell from 45% in 2002 to only 35%.[8] This was despite including 3,000 voters who had used a trial e-voting internet system.[7]