2023 Ashford Borough Council election

Last updated
2023 Ashford Borough Council election
FlagOfKent.svg
←  2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)2027 →
All 47 seats to Ashford Borough Council
24 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderGerry ClarksonBrendan Chilton
Party Conservative Labour
Last election26 seats, 39.2%7 seats, 14.9%
Seats before236
Seats won1911
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 7Increase2.svg 4
Popular vote14,1339,951
Percentage35.7%25.1%
SwingDecrease2.svg 3.5%Increase2.svg 9.1%
 Third partyFourth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderNoel OvendenSteve Campkin & Liz Wright [lower-alpha 1]
Party Ashford Ind. Green
Last election11 seats, 19.1%2 seats, 13.2%
Seats before104
Seats won98
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 2Increase2.svg 6
Popular vote5,9197,183
Percentage14.9%18.1
SwingDecrease2.svg 4.2%Increase2.svg 4.9%
Ashford UK ward map 2023.svg
Winner of each seat at the 2023 Ashford Borough Council election
Leader before election

Gerry Clarkson
Conservative
No overall control

Leader after election

Noel Ovenden
Ashford Independents
No overall control

Contents

The 2023 Ashford Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Ashford Borough Council in Kent, England. [1] This was on the same day as other local elections in England.

At the previous election in 2019, the Conservatives had held onto a majority winning 26 seats out of the 47 up for election. In the intervening years a number of by-elections and defections caused the council to go into no overall control, with the Conservatives continuing to govern as a minority administration, led by Gerry Clarkson. He chose not to stand for re-election in 2023. [2]

The council remained under no overall control following election. [3] The Conservatives remained the largest party, but a coalition of local party the Ashford Independents and the Greens formed a minority administration, with Ashford Independent councillor Noel Ovenden being appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 30 May 2023. [4]

Summary

Election result

2023 Ashford Borough Council election
PartyCandidatesSeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Conservative 471918Decrease2.svg 740.435.714,133–3.5
  Labour 471140Increase2.svg 423.425.19,951+9.1
 Ashford Independents18924Decrease2.svg 219.114.95,919–4.2
  Green 27860Increase2.svg 617.018.17,183+4.9
  Independent 4001Decrease2.svg 10.01.5626–0.1
  Liberal Democrats 15000Steady2.svg0.03.91,549–2.5
  Reform UK 1000Steady2.svg0.00.290N/A
  TUSC 2000Steady2.svg0.00.2107N/A

The gain and losses in the above summary results table depict the difference between the 2019 election and the 2023 election. It does not reflect changes since any by-elections in the intervening years.

Ward Results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Ashford Borough Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023. [5] The results in each ward were as follows: [6]

Aylesford & East Stour

Aylesford & East Stour
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sojan Joseph 332 32.5 +9.6
Green Al Arnold 297 29.0 +14.5
Labour Reena Mathew28728.1+6.7
Green Thom Pizzey26125.5+17.5
Ashford Ind. Andy Rogers25825.2-7.8
Ashford Ind. David Smith24323.8-14.7
Conservative Brandon Hawkins14414.1+0.5
Conservative Joanna McCafferty13613.3+2.4
Turnout 1,02323.2-1.4
Labour gain from Ashford Ind. Swing
Green gain from Ashford Ind. Swing

Beaver

There had been a by-election held for one of the Beaver ward seats on 6 May 2021 which had resulted in the Conservatives gaining the seat from Labour.

Beaver
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Kate Leavey 470 44.9 +5.4
Labour Lyn Suddards 437 41.7 -1.7
Conservative Dhan Limbu28527.2+5.7
Conservative Neil Shorter27025.8+9.2
Ashford Ind. Phill Thorne21520.5N/A
Liberal Democrats Jacquie Stamp999.5N/A
TUSC Garry Harrison959.1N/A
Turnout 1,04722.2+0.1
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Biddenden

Biddenden
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Neil Bell 552 65.7 -6.3
Green Guy Pullen17520.8-7.2
Labour Sarah Lucas11213.3N/A
Turnout 84534.6+0.1
Conservative hold

Bircholt

Bircholt
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ashford Ind. Simon Betty 294 31.6 N/A
Conservative William Howard27829.9+29.9
Green Pat Marsh13214.2N/A
Labour Julie Clift11612.5N/A
Independent William Harbottle10611.4N/A
Turnout 92841.6N/A
Ashford Ind. gain from Conservative

Bockhanger

Bockhanger
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Diccon Spain 340 65.7 +16.6
Conservative Shafi Khan17333.4-5.5
Turnout 51725.6-2.1
Labour hold

Bybrook

Bybrook
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alan Dean 261 33.5 +7.5
Conservative Jac Wood24831.9+1.9
Ashford Ind. Howard Turner23029.6-14.3
Liberal Democrats Andrew Graham374.7N/A
Turnout 77737.7+4.5
Labour gain from Ashford Ind.

Charing

Charing
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Yvonne Roden 473 65.0 -6.6
Labour Janet White24033.0+4.6
Turnout 72733.3-0.6
Conservative hold

Conningbrook & Little Burton Farm

Conningbrook & Little Burton Farm
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ashford Ind. Katy Pauley 272 43.7 -26.7
Conservative John Seaton15925.5-4.1
Labour Dylan Jones15024.1N/A
Liberal Democrats Charles Knight406.4N/A
Turnout 62233+1.4
Ashford Ind. hold

Downs North

There had been a by-election held for the Downs North ward seat on 19 August 2021 which resulted in the Green gaining the seat from the Conservatives.

Downs North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Geoff Meaden 348 40.4 +16.9
Conservative Joseph Webb24728.7-18.7
Ashford Ind. Chris Main18821.8N/A
Labour Lisa Bouchat515.9-4.5
Liberal Democrats Carol Wilcox263.0-15.7
Turnout 86041.9+2.4
Green gain from Conservative

Downs West

Downs West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Larry Krause 435 53.9 -8.5
Green Vanessa Hutchinson20425.2-3.1
Labour Geoff White16720.6+11.3
Turnout 80734.2-0.5
Conservative hold

Furley

Furley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Euan Anckorn 549 41.2 +7.3
Conservative Andrew Buchanan 506 38.0 +3.7
Labour Sharon McCormack47535.6N/A
Conservative Trish Cornish44233.2-0.6
Green Louise Homewood31023.3-5.1
Liberal Democrats Adrian Gee-Turner16212.2-6.0
Turnout 1,33330.6+0.8
Labour hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Goat Lees

Goat Lees
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ashford Ind. Winston Michael 474 76.9 -5.9
Labour Ellie Crook8613.9+6.1
Conservative Phil Sibbald569.0-0.5
Turnout 62033.3-4.7
Ashford Ind. hold

Godinton

Godinton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Peter Feacey 330 51.9 -3.6
Labour Mark Silvester14622.9+3.3
Green Matt Baker9414.8-10.0
Liberal Democrats Charlotte Mbali538.3N/A
TUSC Cameron Osmundsen121.8N/A
Turnout 63832.7+1.35
Conservative hold

Highfield

There had been a by-election held for the Highfield ward seat on 16 December 2021 which resulted in the Greens gaining the seat from the Conservatives.

Highfield
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Dawnie Nilsson 464 58.9 +40.2
Conservative Payal Khandaker20526.0-15.1
Labour David Gordon-Young11814.9N/A
Turnout 78838.9+15.3
Green gain from Conservative

Isle of Oxney

Isle of Oxney
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Johnny Shilton 439 47.2 +47.2
Ashford Ind. Simon Honnor31834.2N/A
Labour Robert Pursey919.7N/A
Liberal Democrats Christopher Grayling818.7N/A
Turnout 93142+42
Conservative hold

Kennington

Kennington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Nathan Iliffe 389 55.4 -6.6
Green Philip Sims16122.9N/A
Labour Kemar Harriot15221.6N/A
Turnout 70339.1-11.4
Conservative hold

Kingsnorth Village & Bridgefield

Kingsnorth Village & Bridgefield
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ashford Ind. Ray Mcgeever 273 46.8 -22.3
Conservative David Robey17029.1-1.8
Labour Kathy Walters14024.0N/A
Turnout 58426.8-2.4
Ashford Ind. hold

Mersham, Sevington South with Finberry

Mersham, Sevington South with Finberry
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Bartlett 365 56.4 +56.4
Green Anne Mildon16926.1N/A
Labour Chris Kennedy11317.4N/A
Turnout 64930.7+30.7
Conservative hold

Norman

Norman
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Jo Gambling 161 27.6 +14.6
Labour Dara Farrell15626.8-4.4
Conservative Mark Starkings14925.6-8.6
Independent Jenny Webb11619.9-14.3
Turnout 58328.3-1.7
Green gain from Conservative

Park Farm North

There had been a by-election held for the Park Farm North ward seat on 12 March 2020 which resulted in the Ashford Independents party gaining the seat from the Conservatives.

Park Farm North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ashford Ind. Ben Townend 178 35.8 N/A
Conservative Biswasdip Limbu16833.8-27.7
Labour Terry Jones15130.3+10.4
Turnout 49826.5+4.4
Ashford Ind. hold

Park Farm South

Park Farm South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Katrina Giles 239 41.2 N/A
Conservative Jim Wedgbury22739.1-22.0
Labour Aimee Babbs11419.6-2.0
Turnout 58131+4.8
Green gain from Conservative

Repton

Repton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Matthew Forest 405 48.2 -7.6
Conservative Bernard Heyes 337 40.1 -6.7
Labour Elizampeth Mylonogianni32338.4+8.1
Labour Priti Paintal30736.5N/A
Green Dave Higgins13816.4-13.5
Green Jake Pentland12815.2N/A
Turnout 84125.7+0.3
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Rolvenden & Tenterden West

Rolvenden & Tenterden West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Kate Walder 444 53.4 N/A
Conservative Tom Spiller31738.1-0.7
Labour Amber Wardrop708.4N/A
Turnout 84042-4.8
Green gain from Independent Swing

Roman

Roman
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ashford Ind. Heather Hayward 374 62.7 +3.6
Conservative John Bentley12320.6-10.6
Labour Terry Pavlou9916.6+6.9
Turnout 59727.6-1.5
Ashford Ind. hold

Saxon Shore

Saxon Shore
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ashford Ind. Linda Harman 593 72.2 +15.9
Conservative Laura Robinson15819.2-24.5
Labour Dave Gathern708.5N/A
Turnout 82339.4-6.8
Ashford Ind. hold

Singleton East

Singleton East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Bill Barrett 164 34.8 -7.5
Labour Lydia Shomuyiwa14630.9+2.8
Ashford Ind. Malcolm Wiffen9119.3N/A
Green Andy Whybrow439.1-10.2
Liberal Democrats Robin Robinson275.7-4.6
Turnout 47126.2-0.7
Conservative hold

Singleton West

Singleton West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sally Gathern 277 54.6 +17.1
Conservative Kalysha Howard-Smith16031.5-10.7
Liberal Democrats Paul Thornton-Allan7013.8-6.5
Turnout 51325.7+1.9
Labour gain from Conservative

Stanhope

Stanhope
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Brendan Chilton 215 77.6 +10.5
Green Maria Pizzey3412.2-2.4
Conservative Sarah Claydon2810.1-8.2
Turnout 28014.8-5.5
Labour hold

Tenterden North

Tenterden North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ken Mulholland 415 51.5 -21
Labour David Ward20225.0-2.5
Liberal Democrats Stephen Bowen11814.6N/A
Green Owen Elias708.6N/A
Turnout 80940.4+0.2
Conservative hold

Tenterden South

Tenterden South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Pam Smith 341 46.0 +46.0
Independent John Crawford24933.6N/A
Labour Emma Maclennan15020.2N/A
Turnout 74335.2+35.2
Conservative hold

Tenterden St Michael's

Tenterden St Michael's
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Link 342 47.7 +47.7
Liberal Democrats Stuart Medcalf27137.8N/A
Labour Edward Lloyd10314.3N/A
Turnout 71834.2+34.2
Conservative hold

Upper Weald

Upper Weald
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Clair Bell 392 57.5 +57.5
Liberal Democrats Keith Brannan17325.4N/A
Labour Mark Harris11617.0N/A
Turnout 68733.2+33.2
Conservative hold

Victoria

Victoria
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tania Gauder 588 48.7 +10.1
Labour Charles Suddards 535 44.3 +14.2
Conservative Charles Ellis29424.3+1.2
Green Kati Ramsden26722.1-0.1
Conservative Tony Trilsbach26421.9+2.1
Green Steve Sitton22218.4N/A
Liberal Democrats Sally Newing12710.5-11.4
Turnout 1,20824.7-4.1
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Washford

Washford
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Clive Hallett 162 31.2 +11.2
Independent James Ransley15529.9N/A
Conservative Dirk Ross14828.5-23.0
Green Matt Palmer5310.2-18.3
Turnout 52125.3+0.4
Labour gain from Conservative

Weald Central

Weald Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Alan Pickering 591 48.8 +0.2
Conservative Jessamy Blanford 569 46.9 -0.8
Green Philip Monaghan29824.6+4.6
Green Alexander Bienfait28023.1N/A
Labour Sue Hallett23419.3+13.5
Labour Derek Smyth18715.4+10.4
Reform UK Wendy Repasky907.4N/A
Turnout 1,21230.88-7.56
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Weald North

Weald North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Kayleigh Brunger-Randall 467 50.1 +2.5
Ashford Ind. Philly Adams24926.7N/A
Green Hilary Jones12713.6-15.3
Labour Jordan Richardson889.4N/A
Turnout 93544.3-3.3
Conservative hold

Weald South

Weald South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ashford Ind. David Ledger 617 41.5 -16.9
Conservative Aline Hicks 571 38.5 -5.9
Ashford Ind. George Sparks51134.4-16.4
Conservative Nicola Denoon Duncan50033.7-1.5
Liberal Democrats Theresa Dickens22915.4N/A
Labour Norma Smyth19513.1N/A
Labour Steven Horne19413.1N/A
Turnout 1,48534.6-4.2
Ashford Ind. hold Swing
Conservative gain from Ashford Ind. Swing

Willesborough

Willesborough
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Steven Campkin 1,102 69.3 +24.7
Green Liz Wright 962 60.5 +21.2
Conservative Patricia Speakman32820.6-6.4
Conservative Charles Dehnel30118.9-6.1
Labour Ifeyinwa Ajulufo20312.8+1.9
Labour Ikechi Okere17110.7N/A
Turnout 1,59133.4
Green hold Swing
Green hold Swing

Wye with Hinxhill

Wye with Hinxhill
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ashford Ind. Noel Ovenden 541 76.0 -5.2
Conservative John Lawton7210.1-0.1
Labour Tahsil Hashemi628.7N/A
Liberal Democrats David Browne365.0-3.6
Turnout 71138-5.6
Ashford Ind. hold

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References

  1. ↑ Co-leaders
  1. ↑ "NOTICE OF ELECTION" (PDF). Ashford Borough Council. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  2. ↑ Esson, Daniel (1 December 2022). "Ashford Borough Council leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson to stand down after 10 years". Kent Online. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  3. ↑ "Local Elections 2023: Results in Sussex, Kent and Essex". ITV News. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  4. ↑ Esson, Daniel (31 May 2023). "Ashford Independents and Greens take control of Ashford Borough Council after leadership vote shock for Conservatives". Kent Online. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated for Borough wards - May 2023". Ashford Borough Council . Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  6. ↑ "May 2023 Local Elections Results". Ashford Borough Council. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
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