2023 Sevenoaks District Council election

The 2023 Sevenoaks District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Sevenoaks District Council in Kent, England.[5] This was on the same day as other local elections across England.

2023 Sevenoaks District Council election
4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)
All 54 seats to Sevenoaks District Council
28 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Peter Fleming[1] Elizabeth Purves
Party Conservative Liberal Democrats Green
Last election 46 seats, 58.0% 3 seats, 14.9% 0 seats, 6.5%
Seats before 45[lower-alpha 1] 4 0
Seats after 33 14 4
Seat change Decrease13 Increase11 Increase4
  Fourth party Fifth party
  Blank Blank
Party Independent Labour
Last election 4 seats, 10.5% 1 seat, 9.7%
Seats before 4[lower-alpha 2] 1
Seats after 3 0
Seat change Decrease1 Decrease1
Leader before election

Peter Fleming
Conservative

 Leader after election

Julia Thornton
Conservative

Summary

The Conservatives lost 13 seats compared to the previous election in 2019, but nevertheless retained a majority of the seats on the council.[6] One of those Conservatives who lost their seat was the leader of the council, Peter Fleming, who had been leader since 2005.[7] Julia Thornton was chosen as new leader of the Conservative group and was formally appointed as leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 23 May 2023.[8]

Election result

The overall results were:[9]

2023 Sevenoaks District Council election
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 54 33 -13
  Liberal Democrats 29 14 +11
  Independent 10 3 -1
  Labour 11 0 -1
  Green 20 4 +4
  Reform UK 1
  SDP 1

Candidates

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Sevenoaks District Council following the close of nominations on 4 April 2023.[10] The results in each ward were as follows:[11]

Ash and New Ash Green
Ash and New Ash Green (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Laura Manston 1,066 65.6 +27.0
Green Shani Manamperi 1,018 62.6 N/A
Green Mark Lindop 918 56.5 N/A
Conservative Claire Nelson* 589 36.2 -24.5
Conservative George Pender* 537 33.0 -21.4
Conservative Andrew Juxon 460 28.3 -15.1
Majority
Turnout 1,625 36
Green gain from Conservative Swing
Green gain from Conservative Swing
Green gain from Conservative Swing

Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge
Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel Williams* 918 49.4
Liberal Democrats Sandra Robinson 897 48.3
Liberal Democrats Michelle Alger 895 48.1
Liberal Democrats Jennifer McCloskey 884 47.6
Conservative James London* 877 47.2
Conservative Keith Bonin* 845 45.5
Majority
Turnout 1,859 39
Conservative hold Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Cowden and Hever
Cowden and Hever
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Barnett 337 53.7 +53.7
Liberal Democrats Kenton Ward 164 26.2 N/A
Green Juliet Townsend 126 20.1 N/A
Majority
Turnout 627 38
Conservative hold Swing

Crockenhill and Well Hill
Crockenhill and Well Hill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Rachel Waterton* 500 86.7 +54.7
Conservative Luke Taylor 77 13.3 -10.9
Majority
Turnout 577 37
Independent hold Swing

Dunton Green and Riverhead
Dunton Green and Riverhead (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kim Bayley* 639 45.9 +45.9
Conservative Graham Clark 588 42.2 +42.2
Liberal Democrats Libby Ancrum 464 33.3 N/A
Liberal Democrats Richard Gustard 354 25.4 N/A
Independent Freda England 323 23.2 N/A
Labour Carl Marten 176 12.6 N/A
Labour Gavin Owen 153 11.0 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,392 33
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Edenbridge North and East
Edenbridge North and East (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Angela Baker 690 59.4
Liberal Democrats James Morgan 566 48.7
Conservative Stuart McGregor* 556 47.8
Majority
Turnout 1,162 28
Conservative hold Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Edenbridge South and West
Edenbridge South and West (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Layland* 495 55.1
Conservative Margot McArthur* 415 46.2
Liberal Democrats Caroline Mace 396 44.0
Liberal Democrats Jon Aldridge 393 43.7
Majority
Turnout 899 28
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Eynsford
Eynsford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Michael Barker 378 63.7 +15.6
Conservative Alan Cheeseman* 215 36.3 -15.1
Majority
Turnout 593 41
Green gain from Conservative Swing

Farningham, Horton Kirby and South Darenth
Farningham, Horton Kirby and South Darenth (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan White 550 56.4 -1.7
Conservative Laurence Ball 541 55.4 -2.2
Liberal Democrats Tristan Ward 357 36.6 -3.3
Green Toby Croker 309 31.7 N/A
Majority
Turnout 976 26
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Fawkham and West Kingsdown
Fawkham and West Kingsdown (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lynda Harrison* 820 67.4 +17.5
Conservative Emily Bulford* 758 62.3 +18.6
Conservative Sean Malone 532 43.7 +6.2
Independent Maxine Fothergill* 416 34.2 -13.9
Green Sandie Peters 284 23.3 -5.0
Green Chris Russell 249 20.5 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,217 25
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Halstead, Knockholt and Badgers Mount
Halstead, Knockholt and Badgers Mount (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gary Williamson* 620 63.9 -12.2
Conservative John Grint* 604 62.2 -6.2
Liberal Democrats Laura Covill 336 34.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats John Roberts 286 29.5 N/A
Majority
Turnout 971 36
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Hartley and Hodsoll Street
Hartley and Hodsoll Street (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Larry Abraham* 1,066 70.0 -4.9
Conservative Penny Cole* 1,055 69.3 -0.9
Conservative Perry Cole* 1,041 68.4 +4.0
Green Mark Chang 381 25.0 -4.9
Green Mike Young 381 25.0 +0.4
Green Richard Cobbold 374 24.6 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,522 32
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Hextable
Hextable (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Darren Kitchener* 631 72.3 +9.7
Independent Chrissy Hudson* 444 50.9 +1.7
Independent Henry Bull 300 34.4 N/A
Conservative Jaami al-Choudhury 154 17.6 +5.7
Conservative Anwara Ali 154 17.6 +6.9
Majority
Turnout 873 27
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Kemsing
Kemsing (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simon Reay* 646 56.0 -13.4
Conservative Christopher Haslam 567 49.2 -15.8
Green Ian Head 471 40.8 N/A
Liberal Democrats Gareth Willis 437 37.9 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,153 35
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway
Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Malcolm Silander 410 58.6 N/A
Conservative Michael Gemmell Smith 290 41.4 +41.4
Majority
Turnout 700 38
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Otford and Shoreham
Otford and Shoreham (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Edwards-Winser* 759 54.8 -3.4
Conservative Irene Roy* 639 46.2 -6.9
Liberal Democrats Benedict Bannister 427 30.9 -1.9
Liberal Democrats Iain Porter 402 29.0 +10.7
Green Maya Forth 294 21.2 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,384 38
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone
Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Richard Streatfeild* 433 53.5 N/A
Conservative Ian Butcher 376 46.5 +46.5
Majority 57 7.0 N/A
Turnout 809 42 N/A
Liberal Democrats hold Swing N/A

Seal and Weald
Seal and Weald (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julia Thornton* 567 51.1 -11.7
Conservative Roddy Hogarth* 564 50.9 -7.6
Liberal Democrats Andrew Michaelides 534 48.2 +5.8
Green Gabriel Preutu 380 34.3 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,109 34
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Sevenoaks Eastern
Sevenoaks Eastern (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tony Clayton* 911 79.0 +16.4
Liberal Democrats Elizabeth Purves* 871 75.5 +12.6
Conservative Paul Julius 235 20.4 -3.3
Conservative Barbara Reade 212 18.4 -3.7
Majority
Turnout 1,153 39
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Sevenoaks Kippington
Sevenoaks Kippington (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Chloe Gustard 811 51.7 +9.4
Liberal Democrats Nicholas Varley 781 49.7 N/A
Conservative Avril Hunter* 730 46.5 -14.4
Conservative James Turner 652 41.5 -18.2
SDP Ian Grattidge 78 5.0 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,570 43
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Sevenoaks Northern
Sevenoaks Northern (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Claire Shea 750 65.4 +10.5
Liberal Democrats Alan Leaman 688 60.0 +21.1
Conservative Irene Collins* 389 33.9 -6.2
Conservative Kassia Estrada-Castillon 269 23.5 -15.4
Reform UK Daniel Kersten 83 7.2 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,146 36
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Sevenoaks Town and St. John's
Sevenoaks Town and St. John's (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Susan Camp 1,165 55.2 +20.2
Liberal Democrats Victoria Granville 1,156 54.8 +26.8
Liberal Democrats David Skinner 1,103 52.3 +26.1
Conservative Peter Fleming* 936 44.3 -5.0
Conservative Caroline Platt 863 40.9 -4.2
Conservative Simon Raikes* 843 39.9 5.2
Majority
Turnout 2,111 43
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village
Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Clare Barnes* 858 64.9 +8.1
Conservative Michael Horwood 808 61.1 +10.0
Conservative Nina Scott 655 49.5 +11.8
Labour David Griffiths 369 27.9 +5.4
Labour Melvyn George 338 25.6 +4.9
Labour Ian Rashbrook 334 25.3 +8.4
Independent Tony Searles 271 20.5 -8.1
Majority
Turnout 1,322 29
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Swanley St. Mary's
Swanley St. Mary's (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lesley Dyball* 417 64.9 +37.8
Conservative Cathy Morgan 354 55.1 +23.0
Labour Jackie Griffiths* 229 35.6 +1.8
Labour Jordan Selvey 217 33.7 +2.5
Majority
Turnout 643 20
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Swanley White Oak
Swanley White Oak (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Glynnis Darrington* 630 58.2 +12.6
Conservative Paul Darrington* 609 56.3 +9.1
Conservative Jasmine Ferrari 591 54.6 +5.6
Labour Angela George 298 27.5 -3.0
Labour Mark Fittock 289 26.7 -2.5
Labour Theo Michael 244 22.6 -5.6
Independent Sarah Andrews* 164 15.2 -33.8
Independent Jen Tuckfield 139 12.8 N/A
Independent Albert Venter 85 7.9 -1.5
Majority
Turnout 1,082 23
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Westerham and Crockham Hill
Westerham and Crockham Hill (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kevin Maskell* 586 53.7 -5.5
Conservative Diana Esler* 569 52.1 -9.5
Liberal Democrats Tom Mackay 357 32.7 N/A
Labour Peter Storey 276 25.3 -14.3
Liberal Democrats Richard Baxter 221 20.2 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,092 31
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

References
  1. Includes two vacant seats formerly held by Conservatives: Farningham, Horton and South Darenth ward, previously held by Brian Carroll prior to his resignation in November 2022,[2] and Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway ward, previously held by James Osborne-Jackson prior to his resignation in November 2022.[3]
  2. Three of the independent councillors sat together as the "Sevenoaks Independents", led by Darren Kitchener.[4]
  1. "Your councillors". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  2. Boothroyd, David (11 November 2022). "Very fine claret, a solid red". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  3. Boothroyd, David (18 November 2022). "Noted for fresh air and fun". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  4. "Your Councillors". Sevenoaks District Council. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  5. "Notice of Election - District Council". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  6. "Local Elections 2023: Results in Sussex, Kent and Essex". ITV News. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  7. Boakye, Kwame (5 May 2023). "Sevenoaks leader loses seat". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  8. "Councillor Julia Thornton named as new Council Leader". Sevenoaks District Council. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  9. "Election results by party". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  10. "Statement of Persons Nominated - District - 4 May 2023". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  11. "Kent 2023 local election results and reaction as it happened". Kent Live. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  12. "Election results for Penshurst, Fordcombe & Chiddingstone". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
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