[2] After the previous election in 2000 the Conservatives had controlled the council with 20 seats compared to the Liberal Democrats 16.

[4] Issues in the election included litter, the introduction of palm trees on the seafront and a recent 10.3% increase in council tax.

[5] They gained all three of the seats they had been targeting in Castle, Gaisford and Selden wards.

[2] The Conservatives put their defeat down to a proposed Asda at Worthing College and on the recent increase in council tax which they blamed on the national government.

[2] Following the election the Conservative mayor-elect, John Livermore, stepped down, refusing to serve as mayor with the Liberal Democrats in control of the council.