2003 Worthing Borough Council election

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The 2003 Worthing Borough Council election was held on 1 May 2003 to elect 13 of the 36 seats on Worthing Borough Council. Turnout was 28.61%. A total of 38 candidates from four parties contested the 13 seats. The Liberal Democrats were defending the majority they had won in 2002, but no party gained overall control.

Conservatives gained one seat from the Lib Dems in Selden ward, where Jack Saheid became Worthing’s first Muslim councillor. In Gaisford, the Lib Dems came up short by six votes in trying to take the seat from the Conservatives. After the votes, the council stood at 18 Lib Dem and 18 Conservative, leaving it hung with no overall control. The Liberal Democrat mayor held the casting vote on the council.

Greens and Labour also fielded candidates, though Labour put up only three. The Lib Dem campaign highlighted their “Clean and Safe Worthing” programme and plans to upgrade the leisure centre, while the Conservatives criticised stalled seafront improvements and the state of facilities at Aquarena.