2023 Wyre Forest District Council election

Last updated
2023 Wyre Forest District Council election
Worcestershire flag.svg
←  2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)2027 →
All 33 seats on Wyre Forest District Council
17 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderMarcus HartHelen DykeLeigh Whitehouse
Party Conservative Independent Labour
Last election14 seats, 31.6%5 seats, 10.6%2 seats, 16.1%
Seats before1452
Seats after2064
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 6Increase2.svg 1Increase2.svg 2
Popular vote8,6095,5956,969
Percentage29.619.324.0
SwingDecrease2.svg2.0Increase2.svg8.7Increase2.svg7.9
 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderFran Oborski
Party Liberal Democrats Green Independent Health Concern
Last election3 seats, 10.5%1 seat, 7.7%8 seats, 17.3%
Seats before318
Seats after210
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 1Steady2.svgDecrease2.svg8
Popular vote4,0813,799n/a
Percentage14.013.1
SwingIncrease2.svg3.5Increase2.svg5.4
Wyre Forest UK local election 2023 map.svg
Map of the results
Leader before election

Helen Dyke
Independent
No overall control

Leader after election

Marcus Hart
Conservative

The 2023 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 4 May 2023, to elect all 33 members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.

Contents

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being run by a "progressive alliance" of Independent Health Concern, Labour, Green and independent councillors. The Conservatives won a majority of the seats at this election. Wyre Forest was one of only two councils where the Conservatives gained control in the 2023 elections, with the party generally losing seats and councils elsewhere.

Summary

Prior to the election the eight Independent Health Concern councillors, five independent councillors and the one Green councillor had sat together as one "Independent Group", led by independent councillor Helen Dyke. The Independent Group and Labour together formed the council's administration, calling themselves a progressive alliance, with Helen Dyke serving as leader of the council. [1] Local party Independent Health Concern announced in 2022 that it would no longer be fielding candidates at elections; its sitting councillors who chose to stand for re-election in 2023 did so as independent candidates. [2]

The Conservatives and Labour saw gains, whilst the Liberal Democrats and independents (when including the former Independent Health Concern councillors) suffered loses. The only Green councillor retained her seat. Whilst the Conservatives suffered loses throughout the country, in Wyre Forest the Conservatives won a majority of the seats. Torbay and Wyre Forest were the only two councils where the Conservatives gained a majority at this election. [3]

Conservative leader Marcus Hart was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 17 May 2023. [4]

Overall Results

The overall results were as follows: [5]

2023 Wyre Forest District Council election
PartyCandidatesSeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Conservative 332071Increase2.svg660.629.68,609Decrease2.svg2.0
  Labour 15420Increase2.svg212.124.06,969Increase2.svg7.9
  Independent 17621Increase2.svg118.219.35,595Increase2.svg8.7
  Liberal Democrats 17201Decrease2.svg16.114.04,081Increase2.svg3.5
  Green 17100Steady2.svg3.013.13,799Increase2.svg5.4

Ward results

The results for each ward were as follows, with an asterisk (*) indicating an incumbent councillor standing for re-election: [6] [7]

Aggborough and Spennells

Aggborough and Spennells
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Helen Elizabeth Dyke* 1,324 64.6 -2.9
Independent Peter Dyke* 1,213 59.2 -2.8
Independent John Cedric Aston* 1,142 55.7 +1.2
Conservative Owen Boyd Cave48323.6+3.3
Labour George Price42620.8+9.6
Conservative Thomas Jordan36617.9N/A
Conservative Richard Simon Sherrey
(Simon Sherrey)		32816.0N/A
Liberal Democrats Rachel Louise Akathiotis28313.8N/A
Turnout 2,04931.31
Registered electors 6,570
Independent hold
Independent hold
Independent hold

Areley Kings and Riverside

Areley Kings and Riverside
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Kenneth James Henderson*
(Ken Henderson)		795 46.1 +14.4
Conservative Daniel Carberry Russell
(Danny Russell)		656 38.1 +8.7
Conservative Alan Sutton 562 32.6 +6.2
Labour Carol Gwyneth Warren51930.1+5.5
Labour Nick Bartram-Savage48528.1+7.4
Independent Robert John Lloyd
(Rob Lloyd)		42424.6+4.0
Independent John William Roland Thomas*32518.9-18.8
Green Valerie Margaret Wood30717.8+2.2
Independent Jason Foster28816.7N/A
Liberal Democrats Ingrid Ruth Schmeising-Barnes18610.8+5.6
Turnout 1,72327.16
Registered electors 6,365
Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern
Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern
Conservative hold

John Thomas had been a Health Concern councillor prior to the election.

Bewdley and Rock

Bewdley and Rock
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Emily Elizabeth Bourne 939 42.8 +3.0
Conservative Daniel Morehead
(Dan Morehead)		841 38.3 +2.7
Conservative Nicholas Charles Wilson
(Nick Wilson)		723 33.0 -2.0
Labour Rodney Stanczyszyn
(Rod Stanczyszyn)		68531.2-2.5
Independent Calne Elaine Edginton-White*62928.7-10.2
Labour Nigel Knowles60827.7N/A
Green Janice Christine Bell46121.0N/A
Independent Anna Coleman*37217.0-22.8
Green Nigel Alastair Geary29713.5N/A
Independent Roger Hugh Coleman*25311.5-24.1
Liberal Democrats Cloud Gollop1567.1N/A
Turnout 2,19431.74
Registered electors 6,985
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Conservative gain from Independent

Anna Coleman and Roger Coleman had both been elected as Conservatives but left the party in 2020 and joined Health Concern. Seat change compared to 2019 result. [8]

Blakebrook and Habberley South

Blakebrook and Habberley South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Victoria Ann Caulfield*
(Vicky Caulfield)		765 42.7 +8.5
Conservative Tracey Lee Onslow-Fage*
(Tracey Onslow)		690 38.5 -1.4
Labour Leigh Whitehouse* 678 37.8 +4.1
Conservative Juliet Denise Smith55130.7-1.1
Green John Edward Davis51128.5N/A
Conservative Edward James Stokes50528.2-2.4
Green Anthony Clive Wood
(Clive Wood)		38521.5N/A
Liberal Democrats Adrian Stanley Beavis21211.8-14.6
Liberal Democrats Heidi Ruth Worth18710.4N/A
Liberal Democrats Simon Ford1146.4N/A
Turnout 1,79326.23
Registered electors 6,851
Green hold
Conservative hold
Labour hold

Broadwaters

Broadwaters
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Mary Alice Rayner* 893 60.3 +20.0
Labour Mary McDonnell 634 42.8 +15.9
Independent Peter Winston Montgomery Young* 611 41.3 +3.2
Liberal Democrats Alan John Totty*43129.1+8.1
Conservative Tony Andrew Muir37325.2+4.8
Conservative Craig James Pedley35423.9N/A
Conservative Howard Stuart Williams25217.0N/A
Turnout 1,48122.39
Registered electors 6,674
Independent hold
Labour hold
Independent gain from Independent Health Concern

Peter Young was a Health Concern councillor prior to the election; seat shown as independent gain from Health Concern to allow comparison with 2019 results.

Foley Park and Hoobrook

Foley Park and Hoobrook
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Nathan John Desmond* 834 48.9 +8.0
Conservative Nichola Lynnette Gale*
(Nicky Gale)		742 43.5 +9.9
Conservative Kevin George Gale 694 40.7 +2.9
Labour Diane Constance Smith
(Di Smith)		56132.9+15.9
Liberal Democrats Clare Cassidy44926.3+11.4
Green Douglas Peter Hine
(Doug Hine)		34620.3N/A
Green Nicholas Atkinson
(Nick Atkinson)		27816.3N/A
Independent Susan Caroline Meekings
(Sue Meekings)		26215.3-17.1
Green David John Finch
(Dave Finch)		25414.9-6.1
Turnout 1,70723.16
Registered electors 7,883
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Franche and Habberley North

Franche and Habberley North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Benjamin Richard Brookes*
(Ben Brookes)		823 41.6 +13.6
Conservative George Anthony Connolly 793 40.1 N/A
Conservative David Richard Ross* 747 37.8 +13.9
Labour John Beckingham68534.6+6.6
Liberal Democrats Jackie Anne Madden55127.9N/A
Liberal Democrats Oliver Yasha Walker52626.6+12.7
Independent Mark Watkins49224.9N/A
Green Lisa Jane Allsopp39820.1+5.9
Turnout 1,97826.46
Registered electors 7,505
Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern
Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern
Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern

Ben Brookes and David Ross had previously won their seats in by-elections in 2021 and 2022; their seats shown as Conservative gains from Health Concern to allow comparison with 2019 results.

Lickhill

Lickhill
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative David Little 266 40.7 +6.6
Liberal Democrats Timothy Francis Schmeising-Barnes
(Tim Schmeising-Barnes)		14522.2+13.3
Labour William Stephen Thorneycroft13720.9+5.5
Independent Dixon Raymond Sheppard*10616.2-21.0
Turnout 65431.03
Registered electors 2,127
Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern

Dixon Sheppard was a Health Concern councillor prior to the election.

Mitton

Mitton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Nicola Jayne Martin*
(Nicky Martin)		771 41.1 -11.7
Labour Jacqueline Elizabeth Griffiths
(Jackie Griffiths)		733 39.1 +17.7
Conservative Christopher John Rogers*
(Chris Rogers)		733 39.1 +4.6
Conservative Dale Morris68436.4+9.6
Conservative Berenice Susan Dawes*63834.0+0.3
Green Michael Timothy Allarton54629.1+6.9
Liberal Democrats Peter Christopher Pratt
(Chris Pratt)		47125.1+13.4
Turnout 1,87725.05
Registered electors 7,502
Independent gain from Independent Health Concern
Labour gain from Conservative
Conservative hold

Nicky Martin had been a Health Concern councillor prior to the election; seat shown as independent gain from Health Concern.

Offmore and Comberton

Offmore and Comberton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Frances Mary Oborski*
(Fran Oborski)		777 39.4 -17.2
Liberal Democrats Shazu Miah* 685 34.7 -11.2
Labour Liam Denzel Peter Carroll 599 30.4 +11.5
Liberal Democrats Nigel John Grace56128.4-15.9
Conservative Rosemary Elizabeth Bishop
(Rose Bishop)		54827.8+7.3
Conservative William Thomas Hopkins
(Bill Hopkins)		48224.4+6.0
Conservative Martin John Stooke43822.2N/A
Independent Oliver Swain
(Ollie Swain)		43822.2N/A
Green Brett Raymond Caulfield32616.5N/A
Turnout 1,97327.12
Registered electors 7,308
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats

Wribbenhall and Arley

Wribbenhall and Arley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paul Harrison* 692 48.0 +6.0
Conservative John Frederick Byng* 685 47.5 +6.6
Labour Nicole Harper42629.5+4.1
Green Corinne Lesley Bailey27218.9-6.8
Independent Pauline Watkins25617.8N/A
Green Robert Charles Ireland
(Rob Ireland)		20814.4N/A
Liberal Democrats Christopher John Harvey
(Chris Harvey)		1298.9N/A
Turnout 1,44233.82
Registered electors 4,284
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Wyre Forest Rural

Wyre Forest Rural
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Marcus John Hart* 1,433 56.0 +14.7
Conservative Robin Macdonald Drew 1,325 51.7 +16.2
Conservative Ian David Hardiman* 1,222 47.7 +5.6
Labour Dean Anthony Cox88634.6+15.3
Labour David Paul Jones80931.6+13.7
Green Katherine Spohrer
(Kate Spohrer)		37814.8-0.9
Green Gilda Maria Davis33613.1N/A
Liberal Democrats Marcin Gorecki29111.4N/A
Green Dean Jon Warren2007.8N/A
Turnout 2,56133.95
Registered electors 7,597
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

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Independent Community & Health Concern, abbr.ICHC, is a political party based in Kidderminster, United Kingdom. The party was founded in 2000, having grown out of the campaign to restore the casualty unit at Kidderminster Hospital. Since 2015 it has successfully contested local elections within the Wyre Forest local government area, which includes Kidderminster.

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Wyre Forest is a local government district in Worcestershire, England. It is named after the ancient woodland of Wyre Forest. The largest town is Kidderminster, where the council is based. The district also includes the towns of Stourport-on-Severn and Bewdley, along with several villages and surrounding rural areas.

The 1998 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 7 May 1998 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One-third of the council was up for election and the Labour Party stayed in overall control of the council.

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The 2000 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 4 May 2000 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.

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The 2002 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.

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The 2003 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.

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The 2004 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 10 June 2004 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 2003. The council stayed under no overall control, but with the Conservatives taking over as the largest party on the council from the Health Concern party.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Wyre Forest District Council election</span>

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References

  1. ↑ "Your District Councillor". Wyre Forest District Council. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  2. ↑ Rawlins, Jack (18 May 2022). "Independent Health Concern party to 'retire' from political fray". Kidderminster Shuttle. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  3. ↑ Madeley, Peter. "Leader vows to 'get the basics right' as Tories take over Wyre Forest in rare council gain". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  4. ↑ Rawlins, Jack (18 May 2023). "Wyre Forest District Council: New council chairman and leader elected". Kidderminster Shuttle. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Wyre Forest result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  6. ↑ "2023 election results". Wyre Forest District Council. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  7. ↑ "Council". Wyre Forest District Council. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  8. ↑ Boothroyd, David (25 September 2020). "Lib Dems climb the Mendips". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
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