2023 North Somerset Council election

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2023 North Somerset Council election
←  2019 May 04, 2023 (2023-05-04)2027 →
All 50 seats to North Somerset Council
26 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderNigel AshtonCatherine GibbonsMike Bell
Party Conservative Labour Liberal Democrats
Last election13 seats, 31.6%6 seats, 19.7%11 seats, 18.8%
Seats before13610
Seats won13109
Seat change-Increase2.svg 4Decrease2.svg 2
Popular vote25,67616,78418,207
Percentage32.6%21.3%23.1%
SwingIncrease2.svg 1.0pp Increase2.svg 1.6pp Increase2.svg 4.3pp
 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderSteve BridgerBridget PettyN/A
Party Independent Green Portishead Ind.
Last election13 seats, 16.8%3 seats, 3.9%4 seats, 7.3%
Seats before1344
Seats won873
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 5Increase2.svg 3Decrease2.svg 1
Popular vote7,1647,3933,462
Percentage9.1%9.4%4.4%
SwingDecrease2.svg 7.7pp Increase2.svg 5.5pp Decrease2.svg 2.9pp
Blank North Somerset Ward Map (with inserts).svg
Map of the results of the 2019 North Somerset council election. Conservatives in blue, independent in grey, Liberal Democrats in yellow, Labour in red, Green Party in green and Portishead Independents in navy.
Leader before election

Steve Bridger
Independent
No overall control

Leader after election

Mike Bell
Liberal Democrat
No overall control

The 2023 North Somerset Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect all 50 councillors to the North Somerset Council in England. It was conducted on the same day as the other local elections across England.

Contents

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being run by a 'rainbow coalition' of Liberal Democrats, Labour, Greens and independent councillors, led by independent councillor Steve Bridger. Following the election the council remained under no overall control and a similar coalition emerged, but led by Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Bell. [1] [2]

Background

North Somerset Council is elected every 4 years, with all council seats being up for election. Following the 2019 election a rainbow coalition consisting of the North Somerset Independent Group, the Liberal Democrats, the Labour Party, the Portishead Independents and the Green Party had formed, initially led by Independent Group leader, Don Davies. [3] [4] Davies resigned as leader in May 2022 and was succeeded by his independent colleague Steve Bridger. [5] Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Bell served as deputy leader in the administration prior to 2023. [6]

Throughout the previous council's term from 2019 to 2023, bus and transport services became a considerable issue in the local area. With services such as the X5 Weston-Super-Mare to Cribbs Causeway being cut or reduced and other services such as the X2 Yatton to Bristol and 126 Weston to Wells being axed entirely. [7] In the later part of the council's term a new 'demand bus service' was being created and the council successfully saved some services from being entirely removed. [8] [9]

Overall results

North Somerset Council 2023
PartyCandidatesVotes
StoodElectedGainedUnseatedNet % of total %No.Net %
  Conservative 491344026%32.6%26,676+1.0
  Labour 431051+420%21.3%16,784+1.6
  Liberal Democrats 37924-218%23.1%18,207+4.3
  Independent 19827-516%9.1%7,164-7.7
  Green 11740+414%9.4%7,393+5.5
  Portishead Ind. 4301-16%4.4%3,462-2.9

Following the 2023 election the council remained under no overall control, with the Conservatives the largest group. [10] On 12 May 2023, it was announced there would be a partnership between the Liberal Democrats (sitting as a group with three independents), Labour, the Green Party, the Portishead Independents and two other independents (sitting as their own group). [11] Mike Bell, leader of the Liberal Democrat group was announced as the new leader of the council, with Labour councillor Catherine Gibbons being deputy leader, with these positions to be confirmed at the annual council meeting on 23 May 2023. [2]

Ward results

The ward results listed below are based on the changes from the 2019 elections, not taking into account any party defections or by-elections. Incumbent councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).

Backwell

Backwell
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Bridget Petty* 1,144 64.3 +0.8
Conservative Gillian Boylan43424.4−8.0
Independent Sarah Ould20011.2N/A
Majority71038.9
Turnout 1,78348.19−0.69
Registered electors 3,700
Green hold Swing

Banwell & Winscombe

Banwell & Winscombe (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Tom Nicholson 1,019 42.4 −3.9
Green Joe Tristram 934 38.9 N/A
Conservative Ann Harley*81033.7−17.3
Conservative Martin Newman75031.2−6.7
Liberal Democrats Steve Voller47019.6N/A
Liberal Democrats Geraldine Buck46919.5N/A
Labour Charles Williams1777.4−13.2
Labour Robert Skeen1777.4−10.9
Turnout 2,48336.43−0.61
Registered electors 6,815
Green gain from Conservative Swing
Green hold Swing

Blagdon & Churchill

Blagdon & Churchill
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Patrick Keating* 741 59.1 +3.2
Conservative Carl Francis-Pester27922.3−12.4
Labour Co-op Simon Crew23318.6+9.3
Majority46236.9N/A
Turnout 1,27637.82−0.25
Registered electors
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +7.8

Clevedon East

Clevedon East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent David Shopland* 360 30.6 −12.5
Conservative Dan Barks33528.5+15.4
Labour Adele Gardner30525.9+9.3
Liberal Democrats Jude Chambers17715.0−12.2
Majority252.1−13.8
Turnout 1,18834.20+1.32
Registered electors 3,474
Independent hold Swing -14.0

Clevedon South

Clevedon South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Hannah Young 590 54.4 N/A
Conservative Harry Blades49445.6+18.0
Majority968.8
Turnout 1,09132.97+3.80
Registered electors 3,309
Labour gain from Independent Swing N/A

Clevedon Walton

Clevedon Walton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Pryke 580 34.4 −5.9
Independent Cathy Hawkins43926.0N/A
Liberal Democrats Simon Holmes39023.1−26.7
Labour Nichola Barton27916.5+6.6
Majority141
Turnout 1,69147.81+8.23
Registered electors 3,537
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +10.4

Clevedon West

Clevedon West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Luke Smith 540 39.7 −2.1
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey Richardson*33924.9−33.3
Labour Kevin O'Brien24618.1N/A
Independent Andy Neads23417.2N/A
Majority201
Turnout 1,36542.63+8.38
Registered electors 3,202
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +15.6

Clevedon Yeo

Clevedon Yeo
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Christopher Blades 530 44.4 −4.3
Labour Richard Westwood*44837.6−13.7
Independent Trevor Morgan21518.0N/A
Majority82
Turnout 1,19436.02+7.43
Registered electors 3,315
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Congresbury & Puxton

Congresbury & Puxton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Dan Thomas 831 60.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats David Hayes23216.7−37.6
Conservative Colin Knott23216.7+3.1
Labour Paul Doolan916.6−25.4
Majority599
Turnout 1,39742.77+3.45
Registered electors 3,266
Green gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Gordano Valley

Gordano Valley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Nigel Ashton* 840 58.3 +9.2
Liberal Democrats Bernadette Morgan66041.7+2.9
Majority18016.6
Turnout 1,50742.59+1.25
Registered electors 3,538
Conservative hold Swing

Hutton & Locking

Hutton & Locking (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Terry Porter* 834 56.3 +10.2
Independent Mike Solomon* 628 42.4 −9.7
Liberal Democrats Georgina Barry44930.3N/A
Labour Tim Taylor37525.3+6.6
Labour Lucas Wheatley34623.4+6.2
Independent Elfan Ap Rees32922.2N/A
Turnout 1,76427.80−6.65
Registered electors 6,345
Conservative hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Long Ashton

Long Ashton (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Ashley Cartman* 1,642 57.4 +11.8
Green Stuart McQuillan* 1,455 50.9 +11.3
Conservative Charles Cave1,18441.4+2.6
Conservative David Oyns96733.8−2.5
Labour William Hall47016.4+2.7
Turnout 3,03744.03+2.81
Registered electors 6,898
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Green hold Swing

Nailsea Golden Valley

Nailsea Golden Valley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Andy Cole 1,027 75.3 −3.2
Labour Ian Ridge17913.1+6.5
Conservative Anita Heappey15811.6−3.3
Majority84862.2
Turnout 1,36841.52−5.32
Registered electors 3,295
Independent hold Swing

Nailsea West End

Nailsea West End
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ollie Ellis 631 54.2 +32.1
Independent James Tonkin*31727.2−50.7
Labour Derek Cottrell23218.6N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,18438.63+1.36
Registered electors 3,065
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

Nailsea Yeo

Nailsea Yeo
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Mike Bird* 592 55.0 −4.5
Conservative Lesley Cottrell26824.9+0.6
Labour Peter Harris21620.1+10.0
Majority
Turnout 1,08331.31−2.17
Registered electors 3,459
Independent hold Swing

Nailsea Youngwood

Nailsea Youngwood
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Clare Hunt 570 51.7 +40.5
Conservative Jeremy Blatchford53248.3+11.9
Majority
Turnout 1,10939.10−0.86
Registered electors 2,836
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Pill

Pill
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Jenna Ho Marris 624 48.6 N/A
Conservative Jeff Stott-Everett43533.9+24.8
Labour Daniel Hackwood14311.1N/A
Liberal Democrats Huw James826.4N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,29237.31−5.31
Registered electors 3,463
Green gain from Independent Swing

Portishead East

Portishead East (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Portishead Ind. Roger Whitfield 1,114 76.6 +5.1
Independent Caritas Charles* 721 49.6 N/A
Conservative Hazel Richards37625.9+8.5
Conservative Matt Westley28619.7+4.2
Liberal Democrats Erika Stride26416.9N/A
Liberal Democrats Janey Little24611.3N/A
Turnout 1,60828.32−7.64
Registered electors 5,677
Portishead Ind. hold Swing
Independent gain from Portishead Ind. Swing

Portishead North

Portishead North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Portishead Ind. Tim Snaden* 723 49.7 −18.5
Conservative Reyna Knight39627.2+5.0
Liberal Democrats Francoise Rimelin Johnston33723.1N/A
Majority22.5−23.6
Turnout 1,46737.87−7.89
Registered electors 3,874
Portishead Ind. hold Swing

Portishead South

Portishead South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Peter Burden 447 33.8 −7.4
Liberal Democrats Yue He Parkinson35827.1−14.3
Portishead Ind. Paddy Sterndale33525.3N/A
Labour Steven Lister18313.8−3.6
Majority896.7+6.5
Turnout 1,33440.58−5.19
Registered electors 3,287
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +6.9

Portishead West

Portishead West (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Portishead Ind. Nicola Holland* 1,290 56.5 −11.7
Liberal Democrats Sue Mason 1,091 47.8 +20.7
Conservative Felicity Baker90539.6+20.3
Conservative David Pasley70831.0+16.0
Labour Chris Bird57125.0+18.6
Turnout 2,61936.41−8.66
Registered electors 7,193
Portishead Ind. hold Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing

Weston-super-Mare Central

Weston-super-Mare Central (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Mike Bell* 848 59.4 +2.5
Liberal Democrats Robert Payne* 686 44.5 +0.1
Labour Valerie Donegan36125.3+1.2
Conservative Clive Webb33123.2−3.5
Conservative Jordan Heath32622.8+3.1
Labour Andrew Rogers26718.7+1.2
Independent Dave Morgan886.2N/A
Turnout 1,54122.89−6.33
Registered electors 6,731
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Weston-super-Mare Hillside

Weston-super-Mare Hillside (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Mark Canniford* 1,187 73.0 +5.5
Liberal Democrats John Crockford-Hawley* 1,096 66.9 +3.3
Labour Dorothy Agassiz27917.0+4.0
Conservative Caroline Lucas26616.2+1.3
Labour Bill McCoid24715.1+3.4
Conservative Justnya Pecak-Michalowicz19311.8+0.3
Turnout 1,72725.80−8.29
Registered electors 6,694
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Weston-super-Mare Kewstoke

Weston-super-Mare Kewstoke (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Lisa Pilgrim* 860 43.2 −1.7
Conservative Martin Williams 795 39.9 −4.0
Liberal Democrats Joe Bambridge76838.6+11.5
Liberal Democrats Clare Morris73436.9N/A
Labour Alan Hill45522.9+0.7
Labour Jack Wilfan36918.5−1.2
Turnout 2,09430.65−3.31
Registered electors 6,831
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Weston-super-Mare Mid Worle

Weston-super-Mare Mid Worle
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Jemma Coles 338 37.3 +8.6
Labour Alan Peak29933.0+6.0
Conservative James Davis26929.7−3.4
Majority
Turnout 91328.21−2.73
Registered electors 3,237
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Weston-super-Mare Milton

Weston-super-Mare Milton (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Richard Tucker* 1,123 61.0 +10.9
Labour Catherine Gibbons* 1,013 55.0 +12.4
Conservative Brenda Charles54929.8−1.4
Conservative Mary Blatchford50827.6+4.1
Liberal Democrats Chantelle Canniford27915.1−1.7
Liberal Democrats Glyn Hayes21211.5N/A
Turnout 1,95727.73−3.32
Registered electors 7,058
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Weston-super-Mare North Worle

Weston-super-Mare North Worle (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Marc Aplin* 806 53.9 +5.7
Conservative Marcia Pepperall* 627 41.9 +3.7
Labour Matthew Flint41327.6−0.5
Liberal Democrats Richard Skinner40427.0−2.6
Labour Lisa Youlton37825.3+5.1
Liberal Democrats Ron Moon36224.2−1.9
Turnout 1,58825.86−2.64
Registered electors 6,141
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Weston-super-Mare South

Weston-super-Mare South (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Clayton* 727 72.8 +0.3
Labour Ian Parker* 660 66.1 −8.4
Conservative Valerie MacQueen16416.4−12.0
Conservative Don Cameron15115.1−8.4
Liberal Democrats Ray Armstrong15015.0N/A
Liberal Democrats Joan Dunne14614.6N/A
Turnout 1,08517.54−17.86
Registered electors 6,186
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Weston-super-Mare South Worle

Weston-super-Mare South Worle (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Hugh Malyan 619 40.8 +4.8
Conservative Peter Crew* 611 40.3 −6.0
Labour James Willis-Boden58338.4+3.8
Conservative Michal Kus52934.8−6.6
Liberal Democrats Gully Hayer37124.4+1.0
Liberal Democrats Hugh Eckett32321.3N/A
Turnout 1,61723.94−7.33
Registered electors 6,755
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Weston-super-Mare Uphill

Weston-super-Mare Uphill (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Helen Thornton 680 34.7 +14.8
Conservative Peter Bryant* 643 32.8 +6.6
Conservative Gillian Bute61231.2+10.1
Labour Crispin Taylor57529.3+12.3
Liberal Democrats Tony Hobden40324.4+5.8
Liberal Democrats Kelly Jewell36921.3N/A
Independent Martyn Williams24012.2N/A
Independent John Ley-Morgan*22911.7−48.5
Green Peter Waldschmidt1738.8N/A
Turnout 2,05431.44−4.31
Registered electors 6,534
Labour gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Weston-super-Mare Winterstoke

Weston-super-Mare Winterstoke (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ciaran Cronnelly* 511 47.1 +2.7
Labour Annabelle Chard 483 44.5 +1.6
Conservative Joshua Selby22520.7−35.5
Conservative Daniel Young22120.3−20.4
Liberal Democrats Jenny Gosden19117.6N/A
Liberal Democrats Geoff Mills17516.1N/A
Green Thomas Daw14513.4N/A
Independent Dawn Payne11110.2N/A
Independent Len Purnell11010.1N/A
Turnout 1,13217.16−0.60
Registered electors 6,597
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Wick St Lawrence & St Georges

Wick St Lawrence & St Georges
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Stuart Davies 380 41.5 N/A
Conservative Samantha Pepperall21523.5−36.9
Labour Paul Fuller17419.0−20.6
Liberal Democrats Estelle Canniford14616.0N/A
Majority
Turnout 91725.79+3.76
Registered electors 3,555
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Winford

Winford
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Annemieke Waite 663 58.6 N/A
Conservative Vivien Etheridge46941.4−15.7
Majority
Turnout 1,13432.40+0.65
Registered electors 3,500
Green gain from Independent Swing

Wrington

Wrington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Stephen Hogg* 944 77.9 −0.5
Conservative John Wood26822.1+7.5
Majority
Turnout 1,22036.35−9.71
Registered electors 3,356
Independent hold Swing

Yatton

Yatton (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Steve Bridger* 1,339 49.2 −18.4
Liberal Democrats Wendy Griggs* 1,212 44.5 −3.0
Conservative Annabel Tall1,16142.6+20.3
Conservative James MacQueen93634.4+18.5
Labour Kay Tabernacle48017.6+8.9
Labour Ciro La Motta31911.7+5.9
Turnout 2,96341.19−0.28
Registered electors 7,193
Independent hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

By-elections

Wrington

Wrington: 16 November 2023
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Thomas Daw 336 32.7 N/A
Conservative Annabell Tall29728.9+6.8
Liberal Democrats Samantha Louden-Cooke28327.5N/A
Labour Steven Lister11210.9N/A
Majority393.8
Turnout 1,028
Green gain from Independent

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "No party has won a majority in North Somerset". BBC News. BBC. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
    2. 1 2 "North Somerset Council announces leader of partner administration". BBC News. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
    3. ↑ Postans, Adam (10 May 2019). "Rainbow coalition to control North Somerset Council". Bristol Live. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
    4. ↑ "Council make-up and group leaders". North Somerset Council. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
    5. ↑ Williams, Charlie (11 May 2022). "Council elects Steve Bridger as new leader". Weston Mercury. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
    6. ↑ https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council-democracy/councillors-committees/councillors/executive-members
    7. ↑ https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/council-working-save-bus-routes-following-more-cuts
    8. ↑ https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/council-working-save-bus-routes-following-more-cuts
    9. ↑ https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/first-look-new-demand-buses-their-way-north-somersets-communities
    10. ↑ Wimperis, John (5 May 2023). "North Somerset Council local elections live: Reaction as Conservatives largest party amid Labour and Green gains". Somerset Live. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
    11. ↑ "Partnership administration announced". North Somerset Council. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
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