[3] 20 seats were contested at the election, with the councillors who were defending seats including the Conservative leader of the council, John Jowers, the mayor Terry Sutton and the Liberal Democrat group leader, Colin Sykes.

[3] Independents who stood included Gerard Oxford in Highwoods ward, who was defending a seat he had won as a Liberal Democrat before leaving the party.

[3] Meanwhile, a Visual Arts Facility (VAF) was being built on the old bus station site.

[3] 6 independents stood at the election as part of a Save Our Bus Station Campaign opposing the move, with the Labour party also opposing the building of the VAF on the old bus station site.

[3] The Conservatives meanwhile defending their record in power, pointing to a number of new projects being started including a planned new community stadium.