[1] After the election, the composition of the council was: The Conservatives had gained control of Winchester council in the 2006 election after a sex scandal involving the local Liberal Democrat MP Mark Oaten.

[5] Brian Collin also did not defend his Olivers Battery and Badger Farm ward, which he had held for 24 years, to contest St John and All Saints instead.

[6] However the Liberal Democrats accused the Conservatives of running down reserves that the Liberal Democrats had built up when they were in power and were confident of taking control in particular with the election taking place at the same time as the general election.

[6] Meanwhile, the Green Party only contested one seat in St Bartholomew in order to concentrate their efforts and campaigned on development issues.

[3][7] The Conservatives did make one gain, taking a former independent seat where the councillor Georgina Busher stood down at the election.