Before the election the Conservatives ran the council, as they had since it was founded in 1973, with 37 seats, compared to 9 Liberal Democrats, 8 Labour and 2 Independentcouncillors.[3] In total 138 candidates stood for the 56 seats being contested over 27 wards, with the boundaries having been changed since the 1999 election.[3]
The results saw the Conservatives stay in control of the council after winning 36 seats, compared to 11 Liberal Democrats, 8 Labour and 1 independent.[4] The leaders of each of the Liberal Democrats, John Richards, Labour, Roger Nash, and independents Bill Redman, were all defeated at the election, with the Labour leader Roger Nash losing by 1 vote in Pevensey ward.[4]