2023 West Berkshire Council election

The 2023 West Berkshire Council election took take place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of West Berkshire Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.[1][2][3]

2023 West Berkshire Council election
4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)
All 43 seats to West Berkshire Council
22 seats needed for a majority
Turnout38%
  First party Second party
  Blank Blank
Leader Lee Dillon Lynne Doherty
Party Liberal Democrats Conservative
Leader's seat Thatcham North East Newbury Speen
(defeated)
Last election 16 seats, 31.9% 24 seats, 37.4%
Seats won 29 11
Seat change Increase 13 Decrease 13
Popular vote 22,063 16,074
Percentage 42.8% 31.2%
Swing Increase 10.9% Decrease 6.2%
  Third party Fourth party
  Blank
Leader Carolyne Culver
Party Green Labour
Leader's seat Ridgeway
Last election 3 seats, 19.3% 0 seats, 9.7%
Seats won 2 1
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 1
Popular vote 8,692 3,639
Percentage 16.9% 7.1%
Swing Decrease 2.5% Decrease 2.7%
Leader before election

Lynne Doherty
Conservative

 Leader after election

Lee Dillon
Liberal Democrats

Prior to the election the council was under Conservative control, with the party having held a majority of the seats since 2005. The Liberal Democrats took control at the election, winning 29 of the 43 seats. The Conservative leader of the council, Lynne Doherty, lost her seat.[4] At the subsequent annual council meeting on 25 May 2023, Liberal Democrat leader Lee Dillon was appointed leader of the council.[5] The Conservatives appointed Ross Mackinnon to be their new leader in opposition.[6]

Councillors standing down
Councillor Ward First elected Party
Jeff Beck Newbury Clay Hill 2000 Conservative
Jeff Cant Newbury Clay Hill 2019 Conservative
Hilary Cole Chieveley and Cold Ash 2007 Conservative
James Cole Hungerford and Kintbury 2015 Conservative
Nassar Hunt Thatcham Central 2019 Liberal Democrats
Gareth Hurley Pangbourne 2019 Conservative
Rick Jones Tilehurst and Purley 2015 Conservative
Alan Law Basildon 2007 Conservative
Royce Longton Burghfield and Mortimer 1993 Liberal Democrats
Graham Pask Bucklebury 1987 Conservative
Claire Rowles Hungerford and Kintbury 2019 Conservative
Garth Simpson Chieveley and Cold Ash 2011 Conservative
Andrew Williamson Tilehurst and Purley 2019 Conservative
Keith Woodhams Thatcham West 1997 Liberal Democrats

Results summary

The Liberal Democrats gained a majority on West Berkshire council for the first time since 2003, beating the Conservative Party.

This election saw the Labour Party win a seat on the council for the first time since its formation.

Election result
2023 West Berkshire Council election
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal Democrats 43 29 13 0 Increase 13 67.4 42.8 22,063 +10.9
  Conservative 43 11 0 13 Decrease 13 25.6 31.2 16,074 −6.2
  Green 18 2 0 1 Decrease 1 4.7 16.9 8,692 −2.5
  Labour 15 1 1 0 Increase 1 2.3 7.1 3,639 −2.7
  Reform UK 2 0 0 0 Steady 0 0.4 222 New
  UKIP 1 0 0 0 Steady 0 0.2 89 −1.5
  Heritage 1 0 0 0 Steady 0 0.2 86 New
  Independent 2 0 0 0 Steady 0 1.3 696 New

Ward Results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by West Berkshire Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023.[7]

Winning candidates are highlighted in bold.

Aldermaston
Aldermaston
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dominic Boeck 562 51.0 -4.1
Liberal Democrats Zdena Burne 333 30.2 −2.9
Labour Philippa Heath 128 11.6 −0.2
Green Matthew Lowe 80 7.3 New
Majority 229 20.8 −1.2
Turnout 1,108 36.8
Conservative hold Swing −3.5

Basildon
Basildon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Laura Coyle 727 58.6 +34.7
Conservative Hazel Preston-Barnes 513 41.4 −14.2
Majority 214 17.3 N/A
Turnout 1,249 45.3
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +24.5

Bradfield
Bradfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ross Mackinnon 601 57.2 −5.1
Liberal Democrats Richard Bucknall 357 34.0 +6.8
Labour Michael Woodward 93 8.8 −1.8
Majority 244 23.2 −11.9
Turnout 1,054 36.3
Conservative hold Swing −5.9

Bucklebury
Bucklebury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Chris Read 828 54.7 +35.0
Conservative Georgina Woods 521 34.4 −28.1
Green Graham Loader 164 10.8 −3.0
Majority 307 20.3 N/A
Turnout 1,519 52.8
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +31.5

Burghfield and Mortimer
Burghfield and Mortimer (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nick Carter 1,499 49.2 +4.1
Liberal Democrats Vicky Poole 1,438 47.2 N/A
Liberal Democrats Geoff Mayes 1,330 43.6 +2.7
Conservative Graham Bridgman 1,146 37.6 -2.4
Conservative Dave Kilshaw 1,055 34.6 -4.6
Conservative Amanda Mackinnon 1,032 33.9 -1.9
Labour Sarah Timms 450 14.8 -4.6
Green Peter Gower 434 14.2 -16.5
Labour Christian Savill 306 10.0 -1.0
Turnout 3,058 38.0
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative

Chieveley and Cold Ash
Chieveley and Cold Ash (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Heather Codling 1,156 47.6 +21.5
Conservative Paul Dick 1,049 43.2 -9.6
Conservative Pip Witheridge 878 36.1 -13.1
Liberal Democrats Tom McCann 829 34.1 N/A
Green Jill Hoblin 585 24.1 -4.0
Turnout 2,440 44.9
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Conservative hold

Downlands
Downlands
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Clive Hooker 644 55.6 −6.6
Liberal Democrats John Boyd 288 24.8 −3.0
Green Jane Gartshore 146 12.6 New
Labour Ian McKay 81 7.0 −3.0
Majority 356 30.7 -3.7
Turnout 1,167 38.9
Conservative hold Swing −4.8

Hungerford and Kintbury
Hungerford and Kintbury (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Denise Gaines 2,036 54.7 +15.1
Liberal Democrats Tony Vickers 1,704 45.8 +8.6
Conservative Dennis Benneyworth 1,572 42.2 -6.3
Liberal Democrats Julian Swift-Hook 1,509 40.5 +10.8
Conservative Peter Tompkins 1,380 37.1 -8.6
Conservative Ben Podger 1,356 36.4 -7.6
Green Trish Whitham 829 22.3 +1.4
Turnout 3,738 42.1
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Conservative hold

Lambourn
Lambourn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Howard Woollaston 618 59.8 −3.3
Liberal Democrats Diana Pattenden 262 25.4 +1.4
Green Susan Millington 153 14.8 New
Majority 356 34.5 −4.6
Turnout 1,037 33.4
Conservative hold Swing −2.3

Newbury Central
Newbury Central (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Martin Colston 1,358 60.0 +11.4
Liberal Democrats Louise Sturgess 1,316 58.2 +10.7
Conservative Sean Doherty 650 28.7 +0.8
Conservative JC Jardim 619 27.4 +0.8
Green Bobby Pop 399 17.6 -4.7
Turnout 2,272 41.1
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Newbury Clay Hill
Newbury Clay Hill (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Stuart Gourley 1,311 69.4 +33.5
Liberal Democrats Nigel Foot 1,077 57.0 +32.5
Conservative Richard Almond 432 22.9 -20.8
Conservative Jeanette Clifford 422 22.3 -14.5
Independent John Gotelee 263 13.9 N/A
Green Karen Swaffield 242 12.8 -9.1
Heritage David McMahon 86 4.6 N/A
Turnout 1,896 33.9
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative

Newbury Greenham
Newbury Greenham (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Phil Barnett 1,716 55.5 +7.0
Liberal Democrats Billy Drummond 1,532 49.6 -0.2
Liberal Democrats Erik Pattenden 1,484 48.0 +6.3
Green Michael Wakelyn-Green 918 29.7 +9.1
Conservative Sarah James 754 24.4 -2.9
Conservative Linda Verner 725 23.5 -3.7
Conservative Joseph Clarke 713 23.1 -2.1
Labour Gary Puffett 426 13.8 +4.3
Reform UK James Anfield 143 4.6 N/A
Turnout 3,100 33.8
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Newbury Speen
Newbury Speen (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Martha Vickers 1,109 44.8 +11.5
Liberal Democrats Antony Amirtharaj 1,062 42.9 N/A
Green Steve Masters 831 33.5 -23.2
Conservative Lynne Doherty 791 31.9 -3.5
Conservative David Dudman 748 30.2 -4.6
Reform UK Jose Ferreira 79 3.2 N/A
Turnout 2,487 43.1
Liberal Democrats gain from Green
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative

Newbury Wash Common
Newbury Wash Common (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Patrick Clark 1,774 54.0 -0.5
Liberal Democrats Adrian Abbs 1,712 52.1 -2.4
Green David Marsh 1,495 45.5 -8.0
Liberal Democrats Vaughan Miller 1,480 45.0 N/A
Conservative James Davies 686 20.9 -12.4
Conservative Clive Hunt 676 20.6 -6.7
Conservative Andrea Stephenson 627 19.1 -6.0
Independent Simon Kirby 433 13.2 N/A
Turnout 3,305 46.5
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Green hold

Pangbourne
Pangbourne
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Matthew Shakespeare 678 53.1 +22.6
Conservative Michael Male 444 34.8 −16.9
Labour Mark Farrington 94 7.4 −10.5
Green Tim Hall 61 4.8 New
Majority 234 18.3 N/A
Turnout 1,282 45.9
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +19.8

Ridgeway
Ridgeway
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Carolyne Culver 952 68.8 +6.9
Conservative Edward Iliffe 345 24.9 −6.0
Liberal Democrats Pam Lusby Taylor 87 6.3 New
Majority 607 43.9 +12.9
Turnout 1,387 45.1
Green hold Swing +6.4

Thatcham Central
Thatcham Central (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Stephanie Steevenson 1,040 56.5 +9.3
Liberal Democrats Iain Cottingham 1,024 55.6 +15.7
Conservative Richard Crumly 511 27.8 -3.6
Conservative Iain Murphy 482 26.2 -0.6
Green Estella Collins 267 14.5 -0.5
Labour Mike Brook 196 10.6 +3.9
Turnout 1,858 34.4
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Thatcham Colthrop and Crookham
Thatcham Colthrop and Crookham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Owen Jeffrey 794 70.1 +27.7
Conservative Steve Ardagh-Walter 339 29.9 −19.9
Majority 455 40.2 N/A
Turnout 1,145 44.4
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +23.8

Thatcham North East
Thatcham North East (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Lee Dillon 1,131 61.4 +6.1
Liberal Democrats Jeremy Cottam 1,048 56.9 +3.4
Conservative Simon Carr 514 27.9 -8.0
Conservative Dominic Parry 432 23.5 -8.1
Green Kath Hodgson 376 20.4 N/A
Turnout 1,849 32.0
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Thatcham West
Thatcham West (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jeff Brooks 1,110 63.5 +13.6
Liberal Democrats Justin Pemberton 871 50.3 +4.7
Conservative Jason Collis 439 25.4 -1.2
Conservative Jonathan Pearson 344 19.9 -3.7
Green Elizabeth Parsloe 215 12.4 -2.0
Labour Sarah Berrington 121 7.0 +0.9
Labour Nick East 99 5.7 +1.1
UKIP Gary Johnson 89 5.1 -9.3
Turnout 1,741 32.4
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Theale
Theale
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Alan Macro 585 70.7 +3.1
Conservative Thomas Parkhill 148 17.9 −4.9
Labour Suzie Ferguson 94 11.4 +1.8
Majority 437 52.8 +8.0
Turnout 2,307 36.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +4.0

Tilehurst and Purley
Tilehurst and Purley (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Janine Lewis 1,195 42.4 +22.1
Conservative Jane Langford 1,191 42.2 -10.4
Conservative Paul Kander 1,183 41.9 -9.1
Liberal Democrats Simon Billows 1,133 40.2 N/A
Conservative Thomas Marino 1,097 38.9 -10.0
Liberal Democrats Gary Norman 633 22.4 N/A
Labour James Warren 599 21.2 -3.5
Green Jacqueline Paynter 545 19.3 -6.7
Turnout 2,831 34.4
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Tilehurst Birch Copse
Tilehurst Birch Copse (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jo Stewart 777 45.3 -3.5
Labour Clive Taylor 737 42.9 +18.8
Conservative Tony Linden 736 42.9 -5.6
Liberal Democrats Ceinwen Lally 438 25.5 +11.8
Liberal Democrats Andy Moore 345 20.1 +8.5
Turnout 1,719 28.9
Conservative hold
Labour gain from Conservative

Tilehurst South and Holybrook
Tilehurst South and Holybrook (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Somner 827 49.8 -8.4
Conservative Biyi Oloko 716 43.1 -12.2
Labour Charles Croal 620 37.3 +12.0
Labour Liz Bell 554 33.4 +9.9
Liberal Democrats Andre Browne 261 15.7 -1.3
Liberal Democrats John Grout 203 12.2 -1.0
Turnout 1,673 29.2
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

References
  1. "Upcoming elections in West Berkshire". West Berkshire Council. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. "Candidates announced for May 4th council elections". Kennet Radio. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  3. "Election timetable in England". UK Government. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  4. Zaccaro, Maria (6 May 2023). "Tories lose control of three Berkshire councils". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  5. "Leader and Executive confirmed for 2023/24". West Berkshire Council. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  6. Aamani, Hinna (13 May 2023). "West Berkshire Conservatives appoint new leader". Newbury Today. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  7. "Notices of Election for District Elections 2023". West Berkshire Council. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
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