 In total 72 candidates stood in the election for 17 seats, including candidates from the 3 leading parties and 5 candidates from the British National Party, after the British National Party won a seat at the 2006 election for the first time.The Green Party stood in all 17 wards and there were 3 candidates from the United Kingdom Independence Party and 2 independents.The Conservatives pledged to build on their record on recycling which had gone up 26% from 7% over 3 years.