[1] The previous election in 2007 saw the Conservatives increase their majority on the council after winning 30 seats, compared to 14 for the Liberal Democrats.

[2] In 2008 the councillor for Whitehill Pinewood, Ian Dowdle, defected from the Liberal Democrats to join the Conservatives.

[5] A further 2 defections took place in March 2011 with Conservatives Maureen Comber and Eve Hope, representing Selborne, and Bramshott and Liphook respectively, joining the Liberal Democrats.

[6] The results saw the Conservatives increase their majority on the council after gaining 9 seats from the Liberal Democrats compared to the 2007 election.

[9] Meanwhile, the new Liberal Democrat leader on the council Adam Carew put their defeats down to high Conservative turnout in the Alternative Vote referendum which was held at the same time as the council election and that the "low popularity rating" of the national Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg "had a negative effect".