13 of the 36 seats on the council were contested in the election with the leader of the council, Conservative John Kingsbury, among the councillors who were defending seats.[5]Byfleetward saw 2 seats being contested after Conservative councillor Simon Hutton resigned from the council earlier in the year.[6]
Election result
The results saw no party win a majority, with the Conservatives the largest party on 18 seats, the Liberal Democrats on 17 and 1 Independent.[7] The Conservatives gained 1 seat in Mount Hermon East after Carl Thomson defeated Liberal Democrat councillor Norman Johns. However, the Liberal Democrats took another seat back after winning one of the two seats contested in Byfleet ward.[6] Among the Conservatives to hold their seats was Mohammed Iqbal in Maybury and Sheerwater ward, who was therefore able to become the first Asianmayor of Woking.[6] Overall turnout in the election was 69.73%.[8]
The election also saw Jonathan Lord win the Woking parliamentary constituency with 26,551 votes, beating Liberal Democrat Rosie Sharpley into second place.[9] The seat had previously been held by Humfrey Malins, who announced his intention to stand down in 2009.[10]