2023 East Devon District Council election

Last updated
2023 East Devon District Council election
Flag of Devon.svg
  2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)2027 

All 60 seats to East Devon District Council
31 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderPhilip Skinner (defeated)
Party Independent Liberal Democrats Conservative
Last election19 seats, 23.6%8 seats, 15.3%20 seats, 36.2%
Seats before16721
Seats after191817
Seat changeSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg 10Decrease2.svg 3
Popular vote20,85423,37827,980
Percentage25.6%28.7%34.4%
SwingIncrease2.svg 2.1%Increase2.svg 13.5%Decrease2.svg 1.8%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
Party Labour Green Liberal
Last election0 seats, 6.3%2 seats, 3.4%0 seats, 0.0%
Seats before2 [lower-alpha 1] 20
Seats after321
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 3Steady2.svgIncrease2.svg1
Popular vote4,6983,898534
Percentage5.8%4.8%0.7%
SwingDecrease2.svg 0.6%Increase2.svg 1.4%N/A

 Seventh party
  No image wide.svg
LeaderPaul Arnott
Party East Devon Alliance
Last election11 seats, 14.0%
Seats before12
Seats after0
Seat changeDecrease2.svg11
Popular vote0
Percentage0.0%
SwingDecrease2.svg 14.0%

East Devon UK ward map 2023.svg
Winner of each seat at the 2023 East Devon District Council election

Leader before election

Paul Arnott
East Devon Alliance
No overall control

Leader after election

Paul Arnott
Liberal Democrat
No overall control

The 2023 East Devon District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect all 60 members of East Devon District Council in Devon, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.

Contents

The council remained under no overall control, being led by an alliance of the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Labour and some of the independent councillors.

Overview

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being led by the "Democratic Alliance Group" of 23 councillors, comprising the East Devon Alliance, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and two of the independent councillors. The group was led by Paul Arnott of the East Devon Alliance. They were supported by some of the other independent groups and Labour. The 16 independent councillors who did not represent a registered political party were divided into five different groupings:

There was also one vacant seat on the council. [3] [4]

The local party of the East Devon Alliance did not contest the 2023 election. Of the 12 councillors it had prior to the election, four stood as Liberal Democrats, five stood as independent candidates and three did not stand for re-election. The East Devon Alliance leader Paul Arnott, who was also leader of the council, was one of those who stood as a Liberal Democrat, having already joined the party at a national level in 2022. [5] [6]

The election saw the council remain under no overall control. The Conservative group leader, Philip Skinner, lost his seat. A Democratic Alliance Group formed again after the election, this time comprising the Liberal Democrats, Greens and nine of the independent councillors. Of the other independent councillors, nine formed the "Independent Group" and one sat with the single Liberal councillor as the "Independent Councillor Group". Paul Arnott was re-appointed leader of the council after the election, this time as a Liberal Democrat. [7]

Results

Following the results, the council remained under no overall control. [8]

2023 East Devon District Council election [9]
PartyCandidatesSeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Independent 2719911Decrease2.svg 231.725.720,854+2.1
  Liberal Democrats 3418122Increase2.svg 1030.028.823,378+13.5
  Conservative 531769Decrease2.svg 328.334.427,980-1.8
  Labour 8330Increase2.svg 35.05.74,698-0.6
  Green 8211Steady2.svg3.34.83898+1.4
  Liberal 1110Increase2.svg 11.70.7534+0.7
  Heritage 1000Steady2.svg00.157+0.1
  East Devon Alliance 00011Decrease2.svg 11000-14.0
  UKIP 0000Steady2.svg0.000–1.1

Ward Results

The ward results were as follow, with an asterisk(*) indicating a sitting councillor standing for re-election.

Axminster

Axminster
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Paul Hayward 1,219 55.4 N/A
Independent Sarah Jackson* 1,065 48.4 +2.3
Independent Simon Smith 893 40.6 N/A
Conservative Ian Hall*80136.4-1.3
Conservative Steve Holt54424.7-4.8
Liberal Democrats Gillian Jordan53124.1-1.7
Conservative David Willey42019.1-15.0
Labour Jeremy Walden39517.9-0.7
Majority
Turnout 2,20234.7
Independent gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Independent gain from Conservative Swing
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Beer & Branscombe

Beer & Branscombe
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent John Heath 431 56.9 N/A
Conservative Maria Hall17022.5N/A
Liberal Democrats Peter Burrows15620.6N/A
Majority
Turnout 75736.0
Independent gain from Independent Swing

Broadclyst

Broadclyst
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Sarah Chamberlain* 711 42.4 -8.8
Green Paula Fearnley 700 41.8 +6.2
Liberal Democrats Eleanor Rylance* 689 41.1 -5.3
Liberal Democrats Katie Jones66139.4+6.2
Independent Jane Chanot48228.8N/A
Conservative Colin Trudgeon47428.3-14.0
Conservative Keith Bickers43025.7-3.2
Majority
Turnout 1,67627.7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Green gain from Conservative Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Budleigh & Raleigh

Budleigh & Raleigh
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Charlotte Fitzgerald 1,174 40.9 N/A
Conservative Henry Riddell 1,086 37.8 -3.6
Independent Melanie Martin 1,076 37.5 N/A
Conservative Patsy Hayman1,04636.4-0.1
Liberal Democrats Catriona Cunningham88230.7N/A
Liberal Democrats Jed Falby87830.6N/A
Liberal Democrats Penny Lewis86530.1-3.7
Conservative David Walsh84829.5-7.7
Majority
Turnout 2,87244.3
Independent gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Clyst Valley

Clyst Valley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Mike Howe* 361 53.3 +53.3
Conservative Will French18226.9+26.9
Liberal Democrats Adrian Lock13419.8N/A
Majority
Turnout 67735.9
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Coly Valley

Coly Valley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Arnott* 959 58.1 +2.5
Conservative Helen Parr* 845 51.2 +0.8
Conservative John Tristram56734.3-2.7
Majority
Turnout 1,65242.5
Liberal Democrats gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Cranbrook

Cranbrook
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Kim Bloxham* 614 60.4 -2.0
Independent Kevin Blakey* 521 51.3 -1.4
Independent Sam Hawkins* 458 45.1 -3.2
Independent Vincent Wilton42441.7N/A
Liberal Democrats Rebecca Lipscombe24624.2+5.3
Conservative Barry Rogers13713.5-14.6
Conservative Alexandra Croft12312.1-15.2
Heritage Lisa Goudie575.6N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,01621.0
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Dunkeswell & Otterhead

Dunkeswell & Otterhead
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Yehudi Levine 758 46.4 +10.8
Conservative Colin Brown* 741 45.4 -8.8
Independent Gary Burford37022.7N/A
Labour Ollie Tucker32219.7-0.9
Conservative Ian Morgan1096.7-49.2
Majority
Turnout 1,63336.5
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Conservative hold Swing

The number of votes for Ian Morgan was in fact 682 (41.8%). However, his result was declared in error as 109 votes by the returning officer. [10] Under UK election law this result stands, as it can only be changed through a petition to a court. This is unlikely to take place given the elected candidates were not affected by this error.

Exe Valley

Exe Valley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Jamie Kemp* 475 70.5 +13.8
Conservative Kevin Wraight19929.5-13.8
Majority
Turnout 67435.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Exmouth Brixington

Exmouth Brixington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Maddy Chapman* 734 42.2 -4.8
Conservative Fred Caygill* 673 38.7 -6.2
Conservative Cherry Nicholas 662 38.0 -6.8
Liberal Democrats Andrew Colman*57933.3-12.9
Labour Jamie Wickenden55932.1+5.1
Independent Aurora Bailey51829.8-14.7
Independent Ian Kirvan47127.1N/A
Green Malcolm Marrett43424.9N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,74028.4
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Exmouth Halsdon

Exmouth Halsdon
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Tim Dumper 1,099 56.2 +42.3
Liberal Democrats Andrew Toye 964 49.3 +33.8
Labour Daniel Wilson 839 42.9 N/A
Conservative Pauline Stott82041.9+21.6
Conservative Richard Parr63832.6+7.2
Majority
Turnout 1,95733.2
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Labour gain from Green Swing

Exmouth Littleham

Exmouth Littleham
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Anne Hall 1,144 49.4 +27.0
Liberal Democrats Nick Hookway* 1,075 46.5 -0.3
Conservative Brian Bailey 986 42.6 +20.6
Conservative Oliver Kerr95241.1+12.6
Liberal Democrats David Poor83436.0+15.6
Green Mike Rosser78433.9N/A
Majority
Turnout 2,31434.5
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Exmouth Town

Exmouth Town
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Joe Whibley* 1,043 66.3 +20.0
Green Olly Davey* 988 62.8 +19.4
Liberal Democrats Eileen Wragg* 974 61.9 +25.2
Conservative Dominic Nancekievill33821.5+5.1
Conservative Sylvia Wills33121.0+5.5
Majority
Turnout 1,57327.8
Independent hold Swing
Green hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Exmouth Withycombe Raleigh

Exmouth Withycombe Raleigh
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Steve Gazzard* 521 58.5 +58.5
Liberal Democrats Matt Hall 432 48.5 +48.5
Conservative Josh Donald24227.2N/A
Labour Andrew Woodward23626.5N/A
Conservative Brian Richards21824.5N/A
Majority
Turnout 89025.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Feniton

Feniton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Alasdair Bruce* 359 51.6 +39.2
Green Jane Collins35149.4N/A
Majority
Turnout 71031.7
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

Honiton St Michael's

Honiton St Michael's
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Jenny Brown 708 47.9 -9.1
Labour Violet Bonetta 598 40.5 N/A
Liberal Roy Collins 534 36.2 N/A
Conservative Brice Cornelius53136.0-19.0
Conservative Paul Carter50834.4-3.8
Independent Joanne Fotheringham47732.3N/A
Independent Nicholas Ingham41928.4N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,47726.7
Conservative hold Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Liberal gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Honiton St Paul's

Honiton St Paul's
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Tony McCollum* 642 58.6 +3.8
Conservative John Diviani-O'Leary 460 42.0 +8.6
Conservative Andrew Pearsall45441.4+8.1
No DescriptionJohn Taylor32930.0N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,09622.8
Independent hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Newbridges

Newbridges
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Iain Chubb* 423 49.7 -24.4
Liberal Democrats Veronica Dower33539.4N/A
Labour Clara Douglas9310.9-15.0
Majority
Turnout 85141.0
Conservative hold Swing

Newton Poppleford & Harpford

Newton Poppleford & Harpford
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Christopher Burhop* 633 82.1 N/A
Conservative Josh Harrison13817.9+4.1
Majority
Turnout 77142.7
Independent gain from East Devon Alliance Swing

Ottery St Mary

Ottery St Mary
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Vicky Johns* 1,565 70.8 +3.1
Independent Peter Faithfull* 944 42.7 +3.1
Labour Bethany Collins 794 35.9 +18.7
Liberal Democrats Jamie Aylward77134.9N/A
Liberal Democrats Graham Woolnough55625.1N/A
Conservative Charlie Hobson42919.4-2.1
Conservative Mohammed Sarul Islam1928.7-10.6
Conservative Mohammed Zayan Islam1536.9-4.2
Majority
Turnout 2,21236.0
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Seaton

Seaton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Dan Ledger* 1,404 65.7 +0.8
Conservative Marcus Hartnell* 1,167 54.6 +9.1
Conservative Derek Haggerty 858 40.1 +19.2
Liberal Democrats Steve Hunt77036.0+14.6
Labour Honey Barlow Marshall49423.1+10.7
Majority
Turnout 2,13836.3
Independent gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Conservative gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Sidmouth Rural

Sidmouth Rural
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent John Loudoun* 586 73.0 +30.7
Conservative Christina Richards21727.0+6.2
Majority
Turnout 80342.3
Independent gain from East Devon Alliance Swing

Sidmouth Sidford

Sidmouth Sidford
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Marianne Rixson* 1,256 53.0 -20.5
Conservative Stuart Hughes* 1,216 51.3 -9.1
Conservative Mike Goodman 1,191 50.3 +8.3
Liberal Democrats Lisa Garner1,11947.2N/A
Majority
Turnout 2,37037.5
Liberal Democrats gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Conservative gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Sidmouth Town

Sidmouth Town
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Ian Barlow 994 60.6 N/A
Conservative Charlotte Richards 811 49.4 -15.2
Independent Denise Bickley*78547.8-9.7
Conservative John Zarczynski40624.7-0.8
Majority
Turnout 1,64143.3
Independent gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Conservative gain from East Devon Alliance Swing

Tale Vale

Tale Vale
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Richard Jefferies 627 59.8 +18.1
Conservative Philip Skinner*42140.2-7.9
Majority
Turnout 1,04848.3
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Trinity

Trinity
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Susan Westerman 512 53.7 N/A
Conservative Andy Turner44146.3-25.5
Majority
Turnout 95343.8
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

West Hill & Aylesbeare

West Hill & Aylesbeare
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Jess Bailey* 956 84.2 +7.2
Conservative Alan Richardson28525.1+2.1
Liberal Democrats Iain Fairbarn544.8N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,13551.4
Independent hold Swing

Whimple & Rockbeare

Whimple & Rockbeare
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Todd Olive 440 51.0 N/A
Conservative Richard Lawrence*42249.0+24.0
Majority
Turnout 86240.0
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing

Woodbury & Lympstone

Woodbury & Lympstone
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Geoff Jung* 929 53.9 -19.1
Conservative Ben Ingham* 724 42.0 -34.0
Conservative Cheryl McGauley62236.1+13.5
Green Alex Taylor56632.8N/A
Labour Amanda Ford28616.6N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,72441.0
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

Yarty

Yarty
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Duncan MacKinder 442 52.3 +41.8
Conservative Richard Norman32838.8+7.3
Green Duncan Staddon758.9N/A
Majority
Turnout 84540.0
Liberal Democrats gain from East Devon Alliance Swing

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References

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