Battye was defeated by 1,605 votes by a 23 - year - old Liberal Democrat candidate Charles Glover in the most high - profile contest in the election .
Battye had been leader of the council for the previous 15 years .
Battye , who had been leader of the council for the previous 15 years , was defeated by 1,605 votes by a 23 - year - old Liberal Democrat candidate Charles Glover in the most high - profile contest in the election .