2008 Hart District Council election

12 seats were being contested in the election with the Conservatives defending 6 seats, the Liberal Democrats 5 and the Community Campaign (Hart) 1 seat.^[3] In total there were 30 candidates standing in the election with the Conservatives the only party to stand in all of the seats.^[3] Other candidates included 10 from the Liberal Democrats, 5 from Labour, 2 Community Campaign (Hart) and 1 from the British National Party.^[4] Before the election a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Community Campaign (Hart) and the 2 Independents ran the council with the Conservatives forming the opposition.^[4]

Issues in the election included facilities for teenagers, cleaner streets, recycling and reducing crime.^[5] The Conservatives wanted to improve the value for money the council produced, develop the infrastructure for new housing and to keep roads in good condition.^[5] However the Liberal Democrats pledged to improve recycling, get more affordable housing and keep crime levels low.^[5]

During the campaign the national Conservative leader, David Cameron, visited the area to campaign for the party.^[6]

The results saw the council remain with no party having a majority, but with the Conservatives gaining 2 seats to hold 17 of the 35 seats.^[2] Both Conservative gains came from the Liberal Democrats, taking Fleet Courtmoor by 391 votes and Fleet Pondtail by 493 votes.^[2] The Conservatives won 60% of the vote and claimed a mandate to take control of the council.^[7][8] However the 2 independents held the balance of power between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrat/Community Campaign (Hart) alliance.^[2] Overall turnout in the election was 36.9%.^[9]

At the annual council meeting after the election the Conservatives took control of the council.^[8][10] Their leader Ken Crookes won 18 votes compared to 17 for Liberal Democrat leader David Neighbour, with 1 of the 2 independents, Susan Band, backing the Conservatives.^[10] The other independent, Denis Gotel, and the Community Campaign (Hart) backed the Liberal Democrat leader.^[10] As a result, the council cabinet was made up of all Conservatives, except for independent Susan Band who would continue to be responsible for housing and health.^[8][11]