Eileen Vickers, of Osgodby between Scarborough and Filey, beat Independent candidate Amanda Robinson by 14 votes in a by-election in the resort's Ramshill ward, retaining the seat for the Tories.
She had lost her seat to Tory candidate Ann Preston
when she stood for re-election in the Cayton ward in the May 2003 local elections after serving as a Labour councillor for more than 10 years.
However, in another by-election in Stepney ward the Tories lost a seat to the Green Party as Green candidate Jonathon Dixon beat the Tories' Heather Phillips by 88 votes.
He had previously stood for election for both Scarborough Council and North Yorkshire Council on several occasions as well as in General Elections.
The British National Party stood in Scarborough for the first time and its candidate, Trisha Scott, polled 154 votes.
The by-elections were caused by the resignations of two Tory councillors, Christina Davenport and Kath Johnson.
Results
Ramshill ward: Eileen Vickers (Con) 258, Amanda Robinson (Ind) 244, Andy Sharp (Lab) 174, Mike Heslop-Mullens (Lib Dem) 71. Turnout 26.2 per cent. Con hold. Swing 9.5 per cent Lab to Con.
Stepney ward: Jonathan Dixon (Green) 341, Heather Phillips (Con) 253, Margaret Pitts (Lib Dem) 209, Pat Marsburg (Lab) 181, Trisha Scott (BNP) 154, Neil Buglass (Ind) 96. Turnout 32.3 per cent. Green gain from Con. Swing 11 per cent Con to Green.
