Before the election the Conservatives had a two-seat majority with 25 councillors, while the Liberal Democrats had 12 seats, Independents had nine, the Labour Party had two seats and one seat was vacant.[3][4] Boundary changes took place for the 2002 election with the whole council being elected for the first time since 1976.[3] Only seven wards had no boundary change and the number of councillors for Witney increased from 9 to 12.[3]
A total of 108 candidates stood for the 49 seats on the council, 46 Conservatives, 27 Liberal Democrats, 18 Labour, 10 Independents, 6 Green Party and 1 United Kingdom Independence Party.[3][4] 39 councillors sought re-election, with the Conservative group leader Barry Norton being re-elected in North Leigh without opposition.[4][5]
Election result
The Conservative majority on the council increased to 15, after 32 Conservative councillors were elected.[3] 35 of the 39 councillors who sought election were re-elected, with the Liberal Democrats taking 10 seats, independents 5 seats and Labour kept the 2 seats they had been defending.[3] The Green Party failed to win any seats, with 324 votes in fourth place in Witney North being their best result.[3] Overall turnout at the election was 39%.[4]
