2023 Wealden District Council election

Last updated

2023 Wealden District Council election
Flag of East Sussex.svg
←  2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)2027 →
All 45 seats to Wealden District Council
23 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderJames Partridge Rachel Millward Ann Newton
Party Liberal Democrats Green Conservative
Leader sinceMay 2023May 2023May 2022
Leader's seatCrowborough NorthHartfieldFramfield & Cross-in-Hand
Last election4 seats, 13.7%2 seats, 4.4%34 seats, 75.6%
Seats before6428
Seats after13119
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 7Increase2.svg 7Decrease2.svg 19
Popular vote9,83911,47618,601
Percentage18.5%21.6%35.0%
SwingIncrease2.svg 4.8%Increase2.svg 2.4%Decrease2.svg 10.2%
 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderDavid WhiteStephen ShingDaniel Manvell
Party Independent Independent Democrat Group Labour
Leader sinceMay 2021May 2007May 2023
Leader's seatHellinglyLower WillingdonUckfield North
Last election1 seats, 2.2%4 seats, 8.9%N/A
Seats before340
Seats after642
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 3Steady2.svg 0Increase2.svg 2
Wealden UK ward map 2023.svg
Winner of each seat at the 2023 Wealden District Council election
Council control before election

Conservative

Council control after election

Liberal Democrat/Green
coalition

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.

Contents

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
PartyCandidatesSeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Liberal Democrats 221390Increase2.svg 928.918.59,839+4.8
  Green 141190Increase2.svg 924.421.611,476+2.4
  Independent 221050Increase2.svg 522.215.48,193+3.8
  Conservative 449025Decrease2.svg 2520.035.018,601–10.2
  Labour 11220Increase2.svg 24.48.64,570–0.3
  UKIP 2000Steady2.svg0.00.7346–0.7
  Reform UK 1000Steady2.svg0.00.2121N/A
  SDP 1000Steady2.svg0.00.134N/A

Ward results

Wealden District Council results. [8]

Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).

Arlington

Arlington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Alison Wilson 668 54.6 +24.5
Conservative Russell Watts44636.5−12.3
Liberal Democrats Catherine Hall1098.9−12.2
Majority 22218.1N/A
Turnout 1,22349.96+8.02
Registered electors 2,418
Green gain from Conservative Swing 18.4

Buxted

Buxted
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Graham Shaw 671 60.2 +27.5
Conservative Laura Stevens-Smith44439.8−19.5
Majority 22720.4N/A
Turnout 1,11539.01+0.67
Registered electors 2,858
Green gain from Conservative Swing 23.5

Chiddingly, East Hoathly & Waldron

Chiddingly, East Hoathly & Waldron
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Geoffrey Draper* 578 61.2 +6.2
Labour Tony Fielding36738.8+28.0
Majority 21122.4−12.1
Turnout 94534.92−6.42
Registered electors 2,706
Conservative hold Swing -10.9

Crowborough Central

Crowborough Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Carolyn Clark 576 54.8 New
Conservative Ronald Reed*41039.0−12.0
Independent Peter Bucklitsch656.2−21.9
Majority 16615.8N/A
Turnout 1,05134.68+5.93
Registered electors 3,031
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Crowborough Jarvis Brook

Crowborough Jarvis Brook
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Gareth Owen-Williams* 648 75.3 +37.6
Conservative Craig Edwards21224.7−0.2
Majority 43650.6+37.8
Turnout 86028.61−2.00
Registered electors 3,006
Liberal Democrats hold Swing 18.9

Crowborough North

Crowborough North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Walter Partridge 605 54.4 New
Independent Kay Moss*26523.8New
Conservative James Turgoose24321.8−30.1
Majority 34030.6N/A
Turnout 1,11339.85+6.22
Registered electors 2,793
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Crowborough South East

Crowborough South East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Andrew Wilson 732 73.9 +35.8
Conservative Philip Lunn*25826.1−20.3
Majority 47447.8N/A
Turnout 99031.61−0.39
Registered electors 3,122
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing 28.0

Crowborough South West

Crowborough South West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Alison Arthur 454 58.5 +35.5
Conservative Neil Waller*32241.5−10.0
Majority 13217.0N/A
Turnout 77631.38+4.60
Registered electors 2,482
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing 22.7

Crowborough St Johns

Crowborough St Johns
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Martyn Everitt 572 49.5 +12.9
Conservative Richard Hallett*50143.4−20.0
Labour Sarah Bammann827.1New
Majority 716.1N/A
Turnout 1,15542.33+5.79
Registered electors 2,733
Green gain from Conservative Swing 16.4

Danehill & Fletching

Danehill & Fletching
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Christina Coleman 1,107 64.2 +23.1
Conservative Roy Galley*54531.6−27.3
Independent Wes Constantinou734.2New
Majority 56232.6N/A
Turnout 1,72553.08+13.04
Registered electors 3,250
Green gain from Conservative Swing 25.2

Forest Row

Forest Row
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Diana Patterson-Vanegas* 937 78.0 −1.1
Independent Rowena Moore26522.0New
Majority 67256.0−2.2
Turnout 1,20242.58−10.68
Registered electors 2,823
Green hold Swing N/A

Framfield & Cross-in-Hand

Framfield & Cross-in-Hand
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ann Newton* 571 57.5 −0.7
Labour Peter Ullmann42242.5+34.5
Majority 14915.0−17.9
Turnout 99337.37−1.60
Registered electors 2,657
Conservative hold Swing 17.6

Frant & Wadhurst

Frant & Wadhurst (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Sarah Glynn-Ives 882 46.4 N/A
Conservative Johanna Howell 865 45.5 N/A
Conservative Gill Weavers76640.3N/A
Independent Serena Gadd65534.4N/A
Labour James Walker63533.4N/A
Majority N/AN/AN/A
Turnout 2,13739.09+2.52
Registered electors 5,467
Green gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Hadlow Down & Rotherfield

Hadlow Down & Rotherfield
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Lunn* Unopposed
Registered electors 2,657
Conservative hold

Hailsham Central

Hailsham Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Neil Cleaver 432 66.0 +33.8
Conservative Doina Rusu22234.0−6.3
Majority 21032.0N/A
Turnout 65426.14−4.05
Registered electors 2,502
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing 20.0

Hailsham East

Hailsham East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Gavin Blake-Coggins* 520 71.1 +12.1
Conservative James Cottenham21128.9−12.1
Majority 30942.2+24.2
Turnout 73121.75−8.44
Registered electors 3,361
Liberal Democrats hold Swing 12.1

Hailsham North

Hailsham North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Holbrook* 583 74.6 +46.6
Conservative James Hayes19925.4−7.9
Majority 38449.2N/A
Turnout 78230.35+0.90
Registered electors 2,577
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing 27.2

Hailsham North West

Hailsham North West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Glynn White 412 52.4 −1.7
Conservative Steven Keogh37547.6+1.7
Majority 374.8−3.4
Turnout 78729.25−0.75
Registered electors 2,691
Liberal Democrats hold Swing -1.7

Hailsham South

Hailsham South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Anne Blake-Coggins* 381 47.0 +18.2
Conservative Stephen Coltman30938.1−8.5
Reform UK Rob Stevens12114.9New
Majority 728.9N/A
Turnout 81128.37+2.55
Registered electors 2 859
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing 13.3

Hailsham West

Hailsham West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Richard Grocock* 293 36.9 −8.7
Liberal Democrats Alexa Clarke25532.2−4.1
Independent David Radtke21126.6New
SDP Stephen Gander344.3New
Majority 384.7−4.6
Turnout 79327.00−1.56
Registered electors 2,937
Conservative hold Swing -2.3

Hartfield

Hartfield
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Rachel Millward* 774 62.9 +19.8
Conservative Janie Robinson45637.1−19.8
Majority 31825.8N/A
Turnout 1,23043.23+7.35
Registered electors 2,937
Green gain from Conservative Swing 19.8

Heathfield North

Heathfield North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Mike Gadd 523 46.8 New
Conservative Ray Cade*37633.7−26.2
Labour David Newman20418.3+3.4
Independent Naz Mian141.3New
Majority 14713.1N/A
Turnout 1,11733.27+2.51
Registered electors 3,351
Independent gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Heathfield South

Heathfield South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Kevin Benton 716 66.0 New
Conservative Tom Guyton-Day*36934.0−34.4
Majority 34732.0N/A
Turnout 1,08536.11+6.92
Registered electors 3,005
Independent gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Hellingly

Hellingly
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent David White* 690 64.0 +1.1
Conservative Chris Bryant31123.8−2.1
Independent David Younge777.1New
Majority 37940.2+3.2
Turnout 1,07825.29−6.29
Registered electors 4,263
Independent hold Swing 1.6

Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels

Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Coleshill 1,012 52.1 +28.3
Liberal Democrats Mark Fairweather 1,000 51.4 N/A
Conservative Pam Doodes*73737.9−1.1
Conservative Nuala Geary72037.0+4.9
UKIP Laurence Keeley1839.4−10.8
UKIP Mike Pursglove1638.4N/A
Majority N/AN/AN/A
Turnout 1,95434.86−4.17
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)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Cornelie Usborne 1,720 64.8 +31.2
Green Greg Collins 1,697 63.9 N/A
Conservative Bob Bowdler*93335.2−12.3
Conservative Susan Steadman*81230.6−13.3
Majority N/AN/AN/A
Turnout 2 67844.63+6.53
Registered electors 6,000
Green gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Green gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Lower Willingdon

Lower Willingdon
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Stephen Shing* 602 54.7 −14.5
Conservative Douglas Murray34231.1+10.8
Liberal Democrats Sarah Whitehead15614.2+3.7
Majority 26023.6−25.3
Turnout 1,10042.90−1.32
Registered electors 2,564
Independent hold Swing 12.6

Maresfield

Maresfield
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Ian Tysh* 950 69.1 −38.2
Conservative Margaret Galley42430.9−31.1
Majority 52638.2N/A
Turnout 1,37445.36+8.05
Registered electors 3,039
Green gain from Conservative Swing 34.6

Mayfield & Five Ashes

Mayfield & Five Ashes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Brian Redman 716 55.4 −2.2
Green Simon Darlington-Cramond34426.6−6.7
Labour Jason Scott-Taggart23318.0+9.0
Majority 37228.8+4.5
Turnout 1,29347.99+12.30
Registered electors 2,694
Conservative hold Swing 2.2

Pevensey Bay

Pevensey Bay
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Daniel Brookbank 524 64.9 +42.3
Conservative Di Dear28335.1+4.6
Majority 24129.8N/A
Turnout 80731.85−9.18
Registered electors 2,533
Independent gain from Conservative Swing 18.8

Polegate Central

Polegate Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Chris Primett 394 37.8 N/A
Liberal Democrats Andy O'Kane26025.0New
Independent Malcolm Cunningham19718.9New
Labour Paul Hunt19018.3New
Majority 13412.8N/A
Turnout 1,04129.12N/A
Registered electors 3,575
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Polegate North

Polegate North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Lin Shing* 351 34.4 −15.4
Conservative James Heward31030.4+13.2
Independent Nathan Dunbar24123.7New
Liberal Democrats Kate Edmonds11711.5+0.1
Majority 414.00−28.7
Turnout 1,01932.08−0.10
Registered electors 3,176
Independent hold Swing -14.3

Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill

Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Daniel Shing* 554 54.1 −18.5
Conservative Cherie Berry31130.4+14.0
Liberal Democrats Andy Watkins15915.5New
Majority 24323.7−32.5
Turnout 1,02436.09+0.31
Registered electors 2,837
Independent hold Swing -16.2

South Downs

South Downs
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Greaves 660 47.9 +3.1
Liberal Democrats Katrina Best55540.3+2.4
Green Tom Harrison16311.8−5.4
Majority 1057.6+0.7
Turnout 1,37852.48+5.85
Registered electors 2,626
Conservative hold Swing 0.3

Stone Cross

Stone Cross
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Daniel Upton 335 46.5 −5.7
Liberal Democrats Caroline Adcock24433.9New
Green Nick Mawdsley14119.6−28.2
Majority 9112.6+8.2
Turnout 72023.46−0.73
Registered electors 3,069
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Uckfield East

Uckfield East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Kelvin Williams 429 46.6 +9.5
Independent Duncan Bennett29832.4New
Conservative Petrina Voelcker19321.0−7.5
Majority 13114.2−13.4
Turnout 92035.49+0.16
Registered electors 2,592
Liberal Democrats hold Swing N/A

Uckfield New Town

Uckfield New Town (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ben Cox 1,078 53.2 +18.0
Independent Spike Mayhew 727 35.9 N/A
Labour Keith Wilson70634.8N/A
Conservative Helen Firth*63431.3−4.9
Conservative Ginny Heard47123.2−14.4
Majority N/AN/AN/A
Turnout 2,03641.21+1.41
Registered electors 4,941
Labour gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Independent gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Uckfield North

Uckfield North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Daniel Manvell 444 51.6 +33.6
Independent Jackie Love22325.9New
Conservative Peter Waldock*19422.5−17.8
Majority 22125.7N/A
Turnout 86135.62+6.58
Registered electors 2,417
Labour gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted

Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Ben Reed 306 41.3 New
Conservative Adrian Marshall22630.5−13.5
Labour Christopher Field20928.2+17.3
Majority 8010.8N/A
Turnout 74134.15−2.51
Registered electors 2,170
Independent gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Upper Willingdon

Upper Willingdon
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Raymond Shing* 616 55.3 −0.9
Conservative Robert Findon29926.8−5.2
Liberal Democrats Dionne Daniel20017.9+6.1
Majority 31728.5+4.3
Turnout 1,11536.25−5.62
Registered electors 3,076
Independent hold Swing 2.1

Withyham

Withyham
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Jessika Hulbert 850 72.3 +19.6
Conservative Stephen Banham32527.7−19.6
Majority 52544.6+39.2
Turnout 1,17547.49+8.06
Registered electors 2,474
Green hold Swing 19.6

Changes 2023–2027

Uckfield New Town by-election, 4 April 2024 [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Donna Rachel French 582 36.9 New
Labour George Robert Keith Wilson57836.7+1.9
Conservative Helen Firth41326.2−5.1
Turnout 1,57730.99−10.22
Registered electors 5,088
Independent hold

By-election triggered by disqualification of independent councillor Spike Mayhew for non-attendance. [10]

On 15 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 22 May 2024 it was announced Cllr Cleaver had joined the Conservative Party, who now have 10 councillors. [12]

On 24 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]

Horam & Punnetts Town by-election, 10 July 2025
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Diane Gould 611 36.0 −28.8
Reform UK Stephen Potts56133.1New
Conservative Susan Stedman33619.8−15.2
Independent Barry Carpenter18811.1New
Turnout 1,696
Registered electors
Green hold

References

  1. ↑ "Forthcoming Elections". Wealden District Council . Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "Election timetable in England". UK Government . Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  3. ↑ "Local elections 2023: More than 400 Sussex seats up for election". The Argus . Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "English local elections 2024: South East voters to be polled on 1,304 seats". BBC News . Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  5. ↑ "Lib Dem and Green coalition officially takes up office at Wealden District Council after local election". Sussex Express . Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  6. ↑ "Sussex election results 2023: Tories lose Wealden for first time in 25 years". BBC News . Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "Wealden election result". BBC News . Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "District Ward Results". Wealden District Council . Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Election results". Wealden District Council. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  10. ↑ Barlow, Patrick (26 March 2024). "Uckfield councillor who missed meetings was partying at Butlin's". The Argus. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  11. ↑ Oxburgh, Huw (16 May 2024). "Wealden Lib Dem resigns over 'Green Party influence'". Sussex World. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  12. ↑ Oxburgh, Huw (22 May 2024). "Wealden councillor joins Conservatives following resignation from the Liberal Democrats". Sussex World. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  13. ↑ Oxburgh, Huw (24 May 2024). "Second resignation leaves Wealden coalition without majority". Sussex World. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.