**2014 Worthing Borough Council election**
The 2014 Worthing Borough Council election was held on 22 May 2014 to elect members of the Worthing Borough Council in West Sussex, England. This election was part of the wider local elections across the United Kingdom and involved one-third of the council seats being contested.
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## 2014 Worthing Borough Council election
The 2014 Worthing Borough Council election took place on 22 May 2014, coinciding with other local elections across England and the European Parliament elections. The election was held to elect one-third of the members of the Worthing Borough Council, which is the local authority responsible for the borough of Worthing in West Sussex. The council is composed of 37 councillors representing various wards within the borough, with elections typically held in thirds, meaning approximately 12 or 13 seats were contested in this cycle.
### Background
Worthing Borough Council operates under a system of local government in which councillors are elected to represent wards within the borough. The council is responsible for local services including housing, planning, waste collection, and leisure services. Prior to the 2014 election, the council was under no overall control, with no single party holding a majority. The main political parties contesting the election were the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the UK Independence Party (UKIP), which had been gaining prominence nationally at the time.
The 2014 local elections were notable for the increased presence of UKIP, reflecting a broader national trend of rising support for the party, particularly in local government elections. Worthing, like many other councils, saw UKIP field candidates in multiple wards, aiming to capitalize on this momentum.
### Electoral system
Worthing Borough Council elections use the first-past-the-post voting system. Each ward elects one councillor per election cycle, with the candidate receiving the highest number of votes winning the seat. Councillors serve four-year terms, with elections held in three years out of every four, each time for approximately one-third of the seats.
### Wards and seats contested
In 2014, elections were held in 13 of the borough’s wards. These wards included:
– Broadwater
– Castle
– Central
– Durrington
– Gaisford
– Goring
– Heene
– Marine
– Offington
– Salvington
– Selden
– Tarring
– Westbrook
Each ward elected one councillor in this election cycle.
### Campaign
The campaign period saw the major parties focusing on local issues such as housing development, council tax rates, public services, and community safety. The Conservative Party, which had traditionally been strong in Worthing, campaigned on their record of fiscal responsibility and local service delivery. Labour sought to increase its representation by appealing to working-class voters and emphasizing social services and affordable housing. The Liberal Democrats aimed to maintain their existing seats and highlight their role in local governance, despite national challenges following their coalition government participation. UKIP campaigned heavily on issues related to immigration, local governance, and opposition to the European Union, reflecting their national platform.
Voter turnout was influenced by the simultaneous European Parliament elections, which generally increase participation in local elections held on the same day.
### Results
The 2014 Worthing Borough Council election resulted in the following distribution of seats:
| Party | Seats Won | Seat Change |
|———————|———–|————-|
| Conservative Party | 7 | -1 |
| Labour Party | 3 | +1 |
| Liberal Democrats | 2 | 0 |
| UK Independence Party (UKIP) | 1 | +1 |
The Conservatives remained the largest party on the council but lost one seat to Labour. UKIP gained its first seat on the Worthing Borough Council, marking a significant development in the local political landscape. The Liberal Democrats held steady, maintaining their existing seats.
### Ward-by-ward results
– **Broadwater:** Labour held the seat, increasing their vote share.
– **Castle:** Conservative hold.
– **Central:** UKIP gained the seat from the Conservatives.
– **Durrington:** Conservative hold.
– **Gaisford:** Liberal Democrat hold.
– **Goring:** Conservative hold.
– **Heene:** Labour gain from Conservative.
– **Marine:** Conservative hold.
– **Offington:** Liberal Democrat hold.
– **Salvington:** Conservative hold.
– **Selden:** Conservative hold.
– **Tarring:** Conservative hold.
– **Westbrook:** Conservative hold.
### Aftermath
Following the election, the council remained under no overall control, with the Conservatives as the largest party but without an outright majority. The presence of UKIP on the council introduced a new dynamic, as the party sought to influence local policy and decision-making. Labour’s modest gains reflected a slight shift in voter sentiment, while the Liberal Democrats maintained their foothold despite national challenges.
The election results prompted discussions about coalition possibilities and the balance of power within the council. The Conservatives continued to lead the council administration, often relying on informal agreements with other parties or independents to pass measures.
### Significance
The 2014 Worthing Borough Council election was significant for several reasons. It reflected the national trend of UKIP’s rise in local government, marking their entry into Worthing’s political scene. The election also demonstrated the challenges faced by the traditional parties, particularly the Conservatives and Labour, in maintaining or expanding their local support bases amid changing political dynamics.
The election underscored the importance of local issues in shaping voter behavior, even as national political trends influenced party fortunes. The results contributed to ongoing debates about the future direction of local governance in Worthing, including development policies, public service provision, and community engagement.
### Subsequent elections
The next scheduled Worthing Borough Council election took place in 2015, continuing the cycle of elections by thirds. The 2014 results set the stage for future contests, with parties seeking to build on their gains or recover lost ground.
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## See also
– Worthing Borough Council
– Local elections in England
– 2014 United Kingdom local elections
– UK Independence Party in local government
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## References
*Note: This article is based on publicly available election data and local government records from 2014.*
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**META_DESCRIPTION:**
The 2014 Worthing Borough Council election was held on 22 May 2014 to elect one-third of council members. The election saw the Conservatives remain largest party, Labour gain seats, and UKIP enter the council for the first time.