2023 Wealden District Council election

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.

2023 Wealden District Council election
4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)
All 45 seats to Wealden District Council
23 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader James Patridge Rachel Millward Ann Newton
Party Liberal Democrats Green Conservative
Leader since May 2023 May 2023 May 2022
Leader's seat Crowborough North Hartfield Framfield & Cross-in-Hand
Last election 4 seats, 8.9% 2 seats, 4.4% 34 seats, 75.6%
Seats before 6 4 28
Seats after 13 11 9
Seat change Increase 7 Increase 7 Decrease 19
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader David White Stephen Shing Daniel Manvell
Party Independent Independent Democrat Group Labour
Leader since May 2021 May 2007 May 2023
Leader's seat Hellingly Lower Willingdon Uckfield North
Last election 1 seats, 2.2% 4 seats, 8.9% N/A
Seats before 3 4 0
Seats after 6 4 2
Seat change Increase 3 Steady 0 Increase 2
Winner of each seat at the 2023 Wealden District Council election
Council control before election

Conservative

 Council control after election

Liberal Democrat/Green
coalition

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
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal Democrats 22 13 9 0 Increase 9 28.9 18.5 9,839 +4.8
  Green 14 11 9 0 Increase 9 24.4 21.6 11,476 +2.4
  Independent 22 10 5 0 Increase 5 22.2 15.4 8,193 +3.8
  Conservative 44 9 0 25 Decrease 25 20.0 35.0 18,601 –10.2
  Labour 11 2 2 0 Increase 2 4.4 8.6 4,570 –0.3
  UKIP 2 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.7 346 –0.7
  Reform UK 1 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.2 121 N/A
  SDP 1 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.1 34 N/A

Ward results

Wealden District Council results.[8]

Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).

Arlington
Arlington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Alison Wilson 668 54.6 +24.5
Conservative Russell Watts 446 36.5 -12.3
Liberal Democrats Catherine Hall 109 8.9 -12.2
Majority 222 18.1 N/A
Turnout 1,223 49.96 +8.02
Registered electors 2,418
Green gain from Conservative Swing 18.4

Buxted
Buxted
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Graham Shaw 671 60.2 +27.5
Conservative Laura Stevens-Smith 444 39.8 -19.5
Majority 227 20.4 N/A
Turnout 1,115 39.01 +0.67
Registered electors 2,858
Green gain from Conservative Swing 23.5

Chiddingly, East Hoathly & Waldron
Chiddingly, East Hoathly & Waldron
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Draper* 578 61.2 +6.2
Labour Tony Fielding 367 38.8 +28.0
Majority 211 22.4 -12.1
Turnout 945 34.92 -6.42
Registered electors 2,706
Conservative hold Swing -10.9

Crowborough Central
Crowborough Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Carolyn Clark 576 54.8 New
Conservative Ronald Reed* 410 39.0 -12.0
Independent Peter Bucklitsch 65 6.2 -21.9
Majority 166 15.8 N/A
Turnout 1,051 34.68 +5.93
Registered electors 3,031
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Crowborough Jarvis Brook
Crowborough Jarvis Brook
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Gareth Owen-Williams* 648 75.3 +37.6
Conservative Craig Edwards 212 24.7 -0.2
Majority 436 50.6 +37.8
Turnout 860 28.61 -2.00
Registered electors 3,006
Liberal Democrats hold Swing 18.9

Crowborough North
Crowborough North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Walter Partridge 605 54.4 New
Independent Kay Moss* 265 23.8 New
Conservative James Turgoose 243 21.8 -30.1
Majority 340 30.6 N/A
Turnout 1,113 39.85 +6.22
Registered electors 2,793
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Crowborough South East
Crowborough South East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Andrew Wilson 732 73.9 +35.8
Conservative Philip Lunn* 258 26.1 -20.3
Majority 474 47.8 N/A
Turnout 990 31.61 -0.39
Registered electors 3,122
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing 28.0

Crowborough South West
Crowborough South West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Alison Arthur 454 58.5 +35.5
Conservative Neil Waller* 322 41.5 -10.0
Majority 132 17.0 N/A
Turnout 776 31.38 +4.60
Registered electors 2,482
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing 22.7

Crowborough St Johns
Crowborough St Johns
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Martyn Everitt 572 49.5 +12.9
Conservative Richard Hallett* 501 43.4 -20.0
Labour Sarah Bammann 82 7.1 New
Majority 71 6.1 N/A
Turnout 1,155 42.33 +5.79
Registered electors 2,733
Green gain from Conservative Swing 16.4

Danehill & Fletching
Danehill & Fletching
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Christina Coleman 1,107 64.2 +23.1
Conservative Roy Galley* 545 31.6 -27.3
Independent Wes Constantinou 73 4.2 New
Majority 562 32.6 N/A
Turnout 1,725 53.08 +13.04
Registered electors 3,250
Green gain from Conservative Swing 25.2

Forest Row
Forest Row
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Diana Patterson-Vanegas* 937 78.0 -1.1
Independent Rowena Moore 265 22.0 New
Majority 672 56.0 -2.2
Turnout 1,202 42.58 -10.68
Registered electors 2,823
Green hold Swing N/A

Framfield & Cross-in-Hand
Framfield & Cross-in-Hand
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ann Newton* 571 57.5 -0.7
Labour Peter Ullmann 422 42.5 +34.5
Majority 149 15.0 -17.9
Turnout 993 37.37 -1.60
Registered electors 2,657
Conservative hold Swing 17.6

Frant & Wadhurst
Frant & Wadhurst (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Sarah Glynn-Ives 882 46.4 N/A
Conservative Johanna Howell 865 45.5 N/A
Conservative Gill Weavers 766 40.3 N/A
Independent Serena Gadd 655 34.4 N/A
Labour James Walker 635 33.4 N/A
Majority N/A N/A N/A
Turnout 2,137 39.09 +2.52
Registered electors 5,467
Green gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

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

Hailsham Central
Hailsham Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Neil Cleaver 432 66.0 +33.8
Conservative Doina Rusu 222 34.0 -6.3
Majority 210 32.0 N/A
Turnout 654 26.14 -4.05
Registered electors 2,502
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing 20.0

Hailsham East
Hailsham East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Gavin Blake-Coggins* 520 71.1 +12.1
Conservative James Cottenham 211 28.9 -12.1
Majority 309 42.2 +24.2
Turnout 731 21.75 -8.44
Registered electors 3,361
Liberal Democrats hold Swing 12.1

Hailsham North
Hailsham North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Holbrook* 583 74.6 +46.6
Conservative James Hayes 199 25.4 -7.9
Majority 384 49.2 N/A
Turnout 782 30.35 +0.90
Registered electors 2,577
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing 27.2

Hailsham North West
Hailsham North West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Glynn White 412 52.4 -1.7
Conservative Steven Keogh 375 47.6 +1.7
Majority 37 4.8 -3.4
Turnout 787 29.25 -0.75
Registered electors 2,691
Liberal Democrats hold Swing -1.7

Hailsham South
Hailsham South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Anne Blake-Coggins* 381 47.0 +18.2
Conservative Stephen Coltman 309 38.1 -8.5
Reform UK Rob Stevens 121 14.9 New
Majority 72 8.9 N/A
Turnout 811 28.37 +2.55
Registered electors 2 859
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing 13.3

Hailsham West
Hailsham West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Grocock* 293 36.9 -8.7
Liberal Democrats Alexa Clarke 255 32.2 -4.1
Independent David Radtke 211 26.6 New
SDP Stephen Gander 34 4.3 New
Majority 38 4.7 -4.6
Turnout 793 27.00 -1.56
Registered electors 2,937
Conservative hold Swing -2.3

Hartfield
Hartfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Rachel Millward* 774 62.9 +19.8
Conservative Janie Robinson 456 37.1 -19.8
Majority 318 25.8 N/A
Turnout 1,230 43.23 +7.35
Registered electors 2,937
Green gain from Conservative Swing 19.8

Heathfield North
Heathfield North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Mike Gadd 523 46.8 New
Conservative Ray Cade* 376 33.7 -26.2
Labour David Newman 204 18.3 +3.4
Independent Naz Mian 14 1.3 New
Majority 147 13.1 N/A
Turnout 1,117 33.27 +2.51
Registered electors 3,351
Independent gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Heathfield South
Heathfield South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Kevin Benton 716 66.0 New
Conservative Tom Guyton-Day* 369 34.0 -34.4
Majority 347 32.0 N/A
Turnout 1,085 36.11 +6.92
Registered electors 3,005
Independent gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Hellingly
Hellingly
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David White* 690 64.0 +1.1
Conservative Chris Bryant 311 23.8 -2.1
Independent David Younge 77 7.1 New
Majority 379 40.2 +3.2
Turnout 1,078 25.29 -6.29
Registered electors 4,263
Independent hold Swing 1.6

Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels
Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Coleshill 1,012 52.1 +28.3
Liberal Democrats Mark Fairweather 1,000 51.4 N/A
Conservative Pam Doodes* 737 37.9 -1.1
Conservative Nuala Geary 720 37.0 +4.9
UKIP Laurence Keeley 183 9.4 -10.8
UKIP Mike Pursglove 163 8.4 N/A
Majority N/A N/A N/A
Turnout 1,954 34.86 -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)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Cornelie Usborne 1,720 64.8 +31.2
Green Greg Collins 1,697 63.9 N/A
Conservative Bob Bowdler* 933 35.2 -12.3
Conservative Susan Steadman* 812 30.6 -13.3
Majority N/A N/A N/A
Turnout 2 678 44.63 +6.53
Registered electors 6,000
Green gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Green gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Lower Willingdon
Lower Willingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Stephen Shing* 602 54.7 -14.5
Conservative Douglas Murray 342 31.1 +10.8
Liberal Democrats Sarah Whitehead 156 14.2 +3.7
Majority 260 23.6 -25.3
Turnout 1,100 42.90 -1.32
Registered electors 2,564
Independent hold Swing 12.6

Maresfield
Maresfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Ian Tysh* 950 69.1 -38.2
Conservative Margaret Galley 424 30.9 -31.1
Majority 526 38.2 N/A
Turnout 1,374 45.36 +8.05
Registered electors 3,039
Green gain from Conservative Swing 34.6

Mayfield & Five Ashes
Mayfield & Five Ashes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Brian Redman 716 55.4 -2.2
Green Simon Darlington-Cramond 344 26.6 -6.7
Labour Jason Scott-Taggart 233 18.0 +9.0
Majority 372 28.8 +4.5
Turnout 1,293 47.99 +12.30
Registered electors 2,694
Conservative hold Swing 2.2

Pevensey Bay
Pevensey Bay
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Daniel Brookbank 524 64.9 +42.3
Conservative Di Dear 283 35.1 +4.6
Majority 241 29.8 N/A
Turnout 807 31.85 -9.18
Registered electors 2,533
Independent gain from Conservative Swing 18.8

Polegate Central
Polegate Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Chris Primett 394 37.8 N/A
Liberal Democrats Andy O'Kane 260 25.0 New
Independent Malcolm Cunningham 197 18.9 New
Labour Paul Hunt 190 18.3 New
Majority 134 12.8 N/A
Turnout 1,041 29.12 N/A
Registered electors 3,575
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Polegate North
Polegate North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Lin Shing* 351 34.4 -15.4
Conservative James Heward 310 30.4 +13.2
Independent Nathan Dunbar 241 23.7 New
Liberal Democrats Kate Edmonds 117 11.5 +0.1
Majority 41 4.00 -28.7
Turnout 1,019 32.08 -0.10
Registered electors 3,176
Independent hold Swing -14.3

Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill
Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Daniel Shing* 554 54.1 -18.5
Conservative Cherie Berry 311 30.4 +14.0
Liberal Democrats Andy Watkins 159 15.5 New
Majority 243 23.7 -32.5
Turnout 1,024 36.09 +0.31
Registered electors 2,837
Independent hold Swing -16.2

South Downs
South Downs
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Greaves 660 47.9 +3.1
Liberal Democrats Katrina Best 555 40.3 +2.4
Green Tom Harrison 163 11.8 -5.4
Majority 105 7.6 +0.7
Turnout 1,378 52.48 +5.85
Registered electors 2,626
Conservative hold Swing 0.3

Stone Cross
Stone Cross
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Daniel Upton 335 46.5 -5.7
Liberal Democrats Caroline Adcock 244 33.9 New
Green Nick Mawdsley 141 19.6 -28.2
Majority 91 12.6 +8.2
Turnout 720 23.46 -0.73
Registered electors 3,069
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Uckfield East
Uckfield East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Kelvin Williams 429 46.6 +9.5
Independent Duncan Bennett 298 32.4 New
Conservative Petrina Voelcker 193 21.0 -7.5
Majority 131 14.2 -13.4
Turnout 920 35.49 +0.16
Registered electors 2,592
Liberal Democrats hold Swing N/A

Uckfield New Town
Uckfield New Town (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ben Cox 1,078 53.2 +18.0
Independent Spike Mayhew 727 35.9 N/A
Labour Keith Wilson 706 34.8 N/A
Conservative Helen Firth* 634 31.3 -4.9
Conservative Ginny Heard 471 23.2 -14.4
Majority N/A N/A N/A
Turnout 2,036 41.21 +1.41
Registered electors 4,941
Labour gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Independent gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Uckfield North
Uckfield North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Daniel Manvell 444 51.6 +33.6
Independent Jackie Love 223 25.9 New
Conservative Peter Waldock* 194 22.5 -17.8
Majority 221 25.7 N/A
Turnout 861 35.62 +6.58
Registered electors 2,417
Labour gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted
Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ben Reed 306 41.3 New
Conservative Adrian Marshall 226 30.5 -13.5
Labour Christopher Field 209 28.2 +17.3
Majority 80 10.8 N/A
Turnout 741 34.15 -2.51
Registered electors 2,170
Independent gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Upper Willingdon
Upper Willingdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Raymond Shing* 616 55.3 -0.9
Conservative Robert Findon 299 26.8 -5.2
Liberal Democrats Dionne Daniel 200 17.9 +6.1
Majority 317 28.5 +4.3
Turnout 1,115 36.25 -5.62
Registered electors 3,076
Independent hold Swing 2.1

Withyham
Withyham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Jessika Hulbert 850 72.3 +19.6
Conservative Stephen Banham 325 27.7 -19.6
Majority 525 44.6 +39.2
Turnout 1,175 47.49 +8.06
Registered electors 2,474
Green hold Swing 19.6

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.
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