2023 English local election
The 2023 Wealden District Council election was held on 4 May 2023 to elect all 45 members of Wealden District Council.[1][2][3][4] This was on the same day as other local elections across England.
At the first meeting of the Council on 24 May 2023, the first ever non-Conservative administration was elected in the Council's 50-year history. The Liberal Democrat Leader James Partridge was elected as Leader of the Council and the Greens' Leader Rachel Millward was elected as Deputy Leader of the Council, with leadership to rotate annually. The new leadership appointed 4 Liberal Democrats and 3 Greens to the Cabinet.[5]
Results summary
The Conservatives lost the council to no overall control for the first time in 25 years.[6][7] This is also the first time that the Labour Party has been elected to the Council, with two members being elected in Uckfield.
2023 Wealden District Council election |
Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Liberal Democrats | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 28.9 | 18.5 | 9,839 | +4.8 |
| Green | 14 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 24.4 | 21.6 | 11,476 | +2.4 |
| Independent | 22 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 22.2 | 15.4 | 8,193 | +3.8 |
| Conservative | 44 | 9 | 0 | 25 | 25 | 20.0 | 35.0 | 18,601 | –10.2 |
| Labour | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4.4 | 8.6 | 4,570 | –0.3 |
| UKIP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.7 | 346 | –0.7 |
| Reform UK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.2 | 121 | N/A |
| SDP | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.1 | 34 | N/A |
Ward results
Wealden District Council results.[8]
Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).
Arlington
Arlington Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Green | Alison Wilson | 668 | 54.6 | +24.5 |
| Conservative | Russell Watts | 446 | 36.5 | −12.3 |
| Liberal Democrats | Catherine Hall | 109 | 8.9 | −12.2 |
Majority | 222 | 18.1 | N/A |
Turnout | 1,223 | 49.96 | +8.02 |
Registered electors | 2,418 | | |
| Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 18.4 | |
Buxted
Buxted Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Green | Graham Shaw | 671 | 60.2 | +27.5 |
| Conservative | Laura Stevens-Smith | 444 | 39.8 | −19.5 |
Majority | 227 | 20.4 | N/A |
Turnout | 1,115 | 39.01 | +0.67 |
Registered electors | 2,858 | | |
| Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 23.5 | |
Chiddingly, East Hoathly & Waldron
Chiddingly, East Hoathly & Waldron Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Geoffrey Draper* | 578 | 61.2 | +6.2 |
| Labour | Tony Fielding | 367 | 38.8 | +28.0 |
Majority | 211 | 22.4 | −12.1 |
Turnout | 945 | 34.92 | −6.42 |
Registered electors | 2,706 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -10.9 | |
Crowborough Central
Crowborough Central Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Carolyn Clark | 576 | 54.8 | New |
| Conservative | Ronald Reed* | 410 | 39.0 | −12.0 |
| Independent | Peter Bucklitsch | 65 | 6.2 | −21.9 |
Majority | 166 | 15.8 | N/A |
Turnout | 1,051 | 34.68 | +5.93 |
Registered electors | 3,031 | | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Crowborough Jarvis Brook
Crowborough Jarvis Brook Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Gareth Owen-Williams* | 648 | 75.3 | +37.6 |
| Conservative | Craig Edwards | 212 | 24.7 | −0.2 |
Majority | 436 | 50.6 | +37.8 |
Turnout | 860 | 28.61 | −2.00 |
Registered electors | 3,006 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 18.9 | |
Crowborough North
Crowborough North Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Walter Partridge | 605 | 54.4 | New |
| Independent | Kay Moss* | 265 | 23.8 | New |
| Conservative | James Turgoose | 243 | 21.8 | −30.1 |
Majority | 340 | 30.6 | N/A |
Turnout | 1,113 | 39.85 | +6.22 |
Registered electors | 2,793 | | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Crowborough South East
Crowborough South East Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Andrew Wilson | 732 | 73.9 | +35.8 |
| Conservative | Philip Lunn* | 258 | 26.1 | −20.3 |
Majority | 474 | 47.8 | N/A |
Turnout | 990 | 31.61 | −0.39 |
Registered electors | 3,122 | | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 28.0 | |
Crowborough South West
Crowborough South West Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Alison Arthur | 454 | 58.5 | +35.5 |
| Conservative | Neil Waller* | 322 | 41.5 | −10.0 |
Majority | 132 | 17.0 | N/A |
Turnout | 776 | 31.38 | +4.60 |
Registered electors | 2,482 | | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 22.7 | |
Crowborough St Johns
Crowborough St Johns Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Green | Martyn Everitt | 572 | 49.5 | +12.9 |
| Conservative | Richard Hallett* | 501 | 43.4 | −20.0 |
| Labour | Sarah Bammann | 82 | 7.1 | New |
Majority | 71 | 6.1 | N/A |
Turnout | 1,155 | 42.33 | +5.79 |
Registered electors | 2,733 | | |
| Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 16.4 | |
Danehill & Fletching
Danehill & Fletching Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Green | Christina Coleman | 1,107 | 64.2 | +23.1 |
| Conservative | Roy Galley* | 545 | 31.6 | −27.3 |
| Independent | Wes Constantinou | 73 | 4.2 | New |
Majority | 562 | 32.6 | N/A |
Turnout | 1,725 | 53.08 | +13.04 |
Registered electors | 3,250 | | |
| Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 25.2 | |
Forest Row
Framfield & Cross-in-Hand
Framfield & Cross-in-Hand Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Ann Newton* | 571 | 57.5 | −0.7 |
| Labour | Peter Ullmann | 422 | 42.5 | +34.5 |
Majority | 149 | 15.0 | −17.9 |
Turnout | 993 | 37.37 | −1.60 |
Registered electors | 2,657 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | 17.6 | |
Frant & Wadhurst
Frant & Wadhurst (2 seats) Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Green | Sarah Glynn-Ives | 882 | 46.4 | N/A |
| Conservative | Johanna Howell | 865 | 45.5 | N/A |
| Conservative | Gill Weavers | 766 | 40.3 | N/A |
| Independent | Serena Gadd | 655 | 34.4 | N/A |
| Labour | James Walker | 635 | 33.4 | N/A |
Majority | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Turnout | 2,137 | 39.09 | +2.52 |
Registered electors | 5,467 | | |
| Green gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
Hadlow Down & Rotherfield
Hadlow Down & Rotherfield Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Michael Lunn* | Unopposed | | |
Registered electors | 2,657 | | |
| Conservative hold |
Hailsham Central
Hailsham Central Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Neil Cleaver | 432 | 66.0 | +33.8 |
| Conservative | Doina Rusu | 222 | 34.0 | −6.3 |
Majority | 210 | 32.0 | N/A |
Turnout | 654 | 26.14 | −4.05 |
Registered electors | 2,502 | | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 20.0 | |
Hailsham East
Hailsham East Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Gavin Blake-Coggins* | 520 | 71.1 | +12.1 |
| Conservative | James Cottenham | 211 | 28.9 | −12.1 |
Majority | 309 | 42.2 | +24.2 |
Turnout | 731 | 21.75 | −8.44 |
Registered electors | 3,361 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 12.1 | |
Hailsham North
Hailsham North Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Holbrook* | 583 | 74.6 | +46.6 |
| Conservative | James Hayes | 199 | 25.4 | −7.9 |
Majority | 384 | 49.2 | N/A |
Turnout | 782 | 30.35 | +0.90 |
Registered electors | 2,577 | | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 27.2 | |
Hailsham North West
Hailsham North West Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Glynn White | 412 | 52.4 | −1.7 |
| Conservative | Steven Keogh | 375 | 47.6 | +1.7 |
Majority | 37 | 4.8 | −3.4 |
Turnout | 787 | 29.25 | −0.75 |
Registered electors | 2,691 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -1.7 | |
Hailsham South
Hailsham South Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Anne Blake-Coggins* | 381 | 47.0 | +18.2 |
| Conservative | Stephen Coltman | 309 | 38.1 | −8.5 |
| Reform UK | Rob Stevens | 121 | 14.9 | New |
Majority | 72 | 8.9 | N/A |
Turnout | 811 | 28.37 | +2.55 |
Registered electors | 2 859 | | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 13.3 | |
Hailsham West
Hailsham West Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Richard Grocock* | 293 | 36.9 | −8.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | Alexa Clarke | 255 | 32.2 | −4.1 |
| Independent | David Radtke | 211 | 26.6 | New |
| SDP | Stephen Gander | 34 | 4.3 | New |
Majority | 38 | 4.7 | −4.6 |
Turnout | 793 | 27.00 | −1.56 |
Registered electors | 2,937 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -2.3 | |
Hartfield
Hartfield Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Green | Rachel Millward* | 774 | 62.9 | +19.8 |
| Conservative | Janie Robinson | 456 | 37.1 | −19.8 |
Majority | 318 | 25.8 | N/A |
Turnout | 1,230 | 43.23 | +7.35 |
Registered electors | 2,937 | | |
| Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 19.8 | |
Heathfield North
Heathfield North Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Mike Gadd | 523 | 46.8 | New |
| Conservative | Ray Cade* | 376 | 33.7 | −26.2 |
| Labour | David Newman | 204 | 18.3 | +3.4 |
| Independent | Naz Mian | 14 | 1.3 | New |
Majority | 147 | 13.1 | N/A |
Turnout | 1,117 | 33.27 | +2.51 |
Registered electors | 3,351 | | |
| Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Heathfield South
Heathfield South Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Kevin Benton | 716 | 66.0 | New |
| Conservative | Tom Guyton-Day* | 369 | 34.0 | −34.4 |
Majority | 347 | 32.0 | N/A |
Turnout | 1,085 | 36.11 | +6.92 |
Registered electors | 3,005 | | |
| Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Hellingly
Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels
Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels (2 seats) Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Coleshill | 1,012 | 52.1 | +28.3 |
| Liberal Democrats | Mark Fairweather | 1,000 | 51.4 | N/A |
| Conservative | Pam Doodes* | 737 | 37.9 | −1.1 |
| Conservative | Nuala Geary | 720 | 37.0 | +4.9 |
| UKIP | Laurence Keeley | 183 | 9.4 | −10.8 |
| UKIP | Mike Pursglove | 163 | 8.4 | N/A |
Majority | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Turnout | 1,954 | 34.86 | −4.17 |
Registered electors | 5,605 | | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Horam & Punnetts Town
Horam & Punnetts Town (2 seats) Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Green | Cornelie Usborne | 1,720 | 64.8 | +31.2 |
| Green | Greg Collins | 1,697 | 63.9 | N/A |
| Conservative | Bob Bowdler* | 933 | 35.2 | −12.3 |
| Conservative | Susan Steadman* | 812 | 30.6 | −13.3 |
Majority | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Turnout | 2 678 | 44.63 | +6.53 |
Registered electors | 6,000 | | |
| Green gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
| Green gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Lower Willingdon
Lower Willingdon Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Stephen Shing* | 602 | 54.7 | −14.5 |
| Conservative | Douglas Murray | 342 | 31.1 | +10.8 |
| Liberal Democrats | Sarah Whitehead | 156 | 14.2 | +3.7 |
Majority | 260 | 23.6 | −25.3 |
Turnout | 1,100 | 42.90 | −1.32 |
Registered electors | 2,564 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | 12.6 | |
Maresfield
Maresfield Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Green | Ian Tysh* | 950 | 69.1 | −38.2 |
| Conservative | Margaret Galley | 424 | 30.9 | −31.1 |
Majority | 526 | 38.2 | N/A |
Turnout | 1,374 | 45.36 | +8.05 |
Registered electors | 3,039 | | |
| Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 34.6 | |
Mayfield & Five Ashes
Mayfield & Five Ashes Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Brian Redman | 716 | 55.4 | −2.2 |
| Green | Simon Darlington-Cramond | 344 | 26.6 | −6.7 |
| Labour | Jason Scott-Taggart | 233 | 18.0 | +9.0 |
Majority | 372 | 28.8 | +4.5 |
Turnout | 1,293 | 47.99 | +12.30 |
Registered electors | 2,694 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | 2.2 | |
Pevensey Bay
Polegate Central
Polegate Central Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Chris Primett | 394 | 37.8 | N/A |
| Liberal Democrats | Andy O'Kane | 260 | 25.0 | New |
| Independent | Malcolm Cunningham | 197 | 18.9 | New |
| Labour | Paul Hunt | 190 | 18.3 | New |
Majority | 134 | 12.8 | N/A |
Turnout | 1,041 | 29.12 | N/A |
Registered electors | 3,575 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
Polegate North
Polegate North Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Lin Shing* | 351 | 34.4 | −15.4 |
| Conservative | James Heward | 310 | 30.4 | +13.2 |
| Independent | Nathan Dunbar | 241 | 23.7 | New |
| Liberal Democrats | Kate Edmonds | 117 | 11.5 | +0.1 |
Majority | 41 | 4.00 | −28.7 |
Turnout | 1,019 | 32.08 | −0.10 |
Registered electors | 3,176 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | -14.3 | |
Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill
Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Daniel Shing* | 554 | 54.1 | −18.5 |
| Conservative | Cherie Berry | 311 | 30.4 | +14.0 |
| Liberal Democrats | Andy Watkins | 159 | 15.5 | New |
Majority | 243 | 23.7 | −32.5 |
Turnout | 1,024 | 36.09 | +0.31 |
Registered electors | 2,837 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | -16.2 | |
South Downs
South Downs Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | David Greaves | 660 | 47.9 | +3.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | Katrina Best | 555 | 40.3 | +2.4 |
| Green | Tom Harrison | 163 | 11.8 | −5.4 |
Majority | 105 | 7.6 | +0.7 |
Turnout | 1,378 | 52.48 | +5.85 |
Registered electors | 2,626 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | 0.3 | |
Stone Cross
Stone Cross Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Daniel Upton | 335 | 46.5 | −5.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | Caroline Adcock | 244 | 33.9 | New |
| Green | Nick Mawdsley | 141 | 19.6 | −28.2 |
Majority | 91 | 12.6 | +8.2 |
Turnout | 720 | 23.46 | −0.73 |
Registered electors | 3,069 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
Uckfield East
Uckfield East Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Kelvin Williams | 429 | 46.6 | +9.5 |
| Independent | Duncan Bennett | 298 | 32.4 | New |
| Conservative | Petrina Voelcker | 193 | 21.0 | −7.5 |
Majority | 131 | 14.2 | −13.4 |
Turnout | 920 | 35.49 | +0.16 |
Registered electors | 2,592 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | N/A | |
Uckfield New Town
Uckfield New Town (2 seats) Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Ben Cox | 1,078 | 53.2 | +18.0 |
| Independent | Spike Mayhew | 727 | 35.9 | N/A |
| Labour | Keith Wilson | 706 | 34.8 | N/A |
| Conservative | Helen Firth* | 634 | 31.3 | −4.9 |
| Conservative | Ginny Heard | 471 | 23.2 | −14.4 |
Majority | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Turnout | 2,036 | 41.21 | +1.41 |
Registered electors | 4,941 | | |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
| Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Uckfield North
Uckfield North Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Daniel Manvell | 444 | 51.6 | +33.6 |
| Independent | Jackie Love | 223 | 25.9 | New |
| Conservative | Peter Waldock* | 194 | 22.5 | −17.8 |
Majority | 221 | 25.7 | N/A |
Turnout | 861 | 35.62 | +6.58 |
Registered electors | 2,417 | | |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted
Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Ben Reed | 306 | 41.3 | New |
| Conservative | Adrian Marshall | 226 | 30.5 | −13.5 |
| Labour | Christopher Field | 209 | 28.2 | +17.3 |
Majority | 80 | 10.8 | N/A |
Turnout | 741 | 34.15 | −2.51 |
Registered electors | 2,170 | | |
| Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Upper Willingdon
Upper Willingdon Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Raymond Shing* | 616 | 55.3 | −0.9 |
| Conservative | Robert Findon | 299 | 26.8 | −5.2 |
| Liberal Democrats | Dionne Daniel | 200 | 17.9 | +6.1 |
Majority | 317 | 28.5 | +4.3 |
Turnout | 1,115 | 36.25 | −5.62 |
Registered electors | 3,076 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | 2.1 | |
Withyham
Withyham Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Green | Jessika Hulbert | 850 | 72.3 | +19.6 |
| Conservative | Stephen Banham | 325 | 27.7 | −19.6 |
Majority | 525 | 44.6 | +39.2 |
Turnout | 1,175 | 47.49 | +8.06 |
Registered electors | 2,474 | | |
| Green hold | Swing | 19.6 | |
Changes 2023–2027
Uckfield New Town by-election, 4 April 2024[9] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Donna Rachel French | 582 | 36.9 | New |
| Labour | George Robert Keith Wilson | 578 | 36.7 | +1.9 |
| Conservative | Helen Firth | 413 | 26.2 | −5.1 |
Turnout | 1,577 | 30.99 | −10.22 |
Registered electors | 5,088 | | |
| Independent hold |
By-election triggered by disqualification of independent councillor Spike Mayhew for non-attendance.[10]
On 15th May 2024 Liberal Democrat councillor for Hailsham Central Ward, Cllr Neil Cleaver, resigned from his party and the 'Alliance for Wealden' (the coalition agreement between the Liberal Democrats and Green Party), therefore becoming an independent.[11] On May 22nd 2024, it was announced Cllr Cleaver had joined the Conservative Party, who now have 10 councillors.[12]
On 24th May 2024, another Liberal Democrat councillor resigned from his party. Crowborough South East's Cllr Andrew Wilson. He has not yet indicated if he will join another political group. This means the LibDem/Green 'Alliance for Wealden' is now one short of a majority.[13]
References
- ^ "Forthcoming Elections". Wealden District Council. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "Election timetable in England". UK Government. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Local elections 2023: More than 400 Sussex seats up for election". The Argus. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ "English local elections 2024: South East voters to be polled on 1,304 seats". BBC News. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ "Lib Dem and Green coalition officially takes up office at Wealden District Council after local election". Sussex Express. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ^ "Sussex election results 2023: Tories lose Wealden for first time in 25 years". BBC News. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ "Wealden election result". BBC News. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ "District Ward Results". Wealden District Council. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ "Election results". Wealden District Council. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Barlow, Patrick (26 March 2024). "Uckfield councillor who missed meetings was partying at Butlin's". The Argus. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Oxburgh, Huw (16 May 2024). "Wealden Lib Dem resigns over 'Green Party influence'". Sussex World. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ Oxburgh, Huw (22 May 2024). "Wealden councillor joins Conservatives following resignation from the Liberal Democrats". Sussex World. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Oxburgh, Huw (24 May 2024). "Second resignation leaves Wealden coalition without majority". Sussex World. Retrieved 25 May 2024.