Thanet council is now under overall control of Labour.
The return to control saw gains in wards including Westbrook, Northwood and Westgate.
The voting saw the loss of former council leader Conservative Ash Ashbee and Tory stalwart Bob Bayford who had held the Kingsgate seat for 32 years but lost it this time around to Independent Alan Munns. Conservative seats were cut by 8 from 25 to 17.
The result saw Labour double the number of seats held and means the party has overall control for the first time since 2003 with 30 seats out of 56.
Labour leader Rick Everitt said: “It has been a thrilling day for Labour in Thanet and they have been rewarded for all their hard work over the last months.
We had a strong candidates and new people who I am really excited about and we have the experience of the team who have been in for the last four years.
“Now we have the power to make the changes the people of Thanet are looking for.”
Labour’s last overall control election win was in 1999 but control was then taken by Conservatives in the 2003 election.
The make up of Thanet council is now Labour 30 seats, Conservative 17, Green 5, Thanet Independents 3, Independent 1.
