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.
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All 54 seats to Sevenoaks District Council 28 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Winner of each seat at the 2023 Sevenoaks District Council election | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Summary
editThe 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]
The Green Party gained their first seats on the council in, winning all three seats in Ash/New Ash Green plus one in Eynsford.
Election result
editThe overall results were:[9]
2023 Sevenoaks District Council election | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
Conservative | 54 | 33 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 61.1 | 51.1 | 31,747 | –6.9 | |
Liberal Democrats | 29 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 25.9 | 28.1 | 17,449 | +13.2 | |
Green | 20 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 7.4 | 10.7 | 6,629 | +4.2 | |
Independent | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 3,273 | –5.2 | |
Labour | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 4.7 | 2,923 | –5.0 | |
Reform UK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 83 | N/A | ||
SDP | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 78 | N/A |
Candidates
editThe 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
editParty | 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
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nigel Williams* | 918 | 49.4 | −7.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Sandra Robinson | 897 | 48.3 | N/A | |
Liberal Democrats | Michelle Alger | 895 | 48.1 | N/A | |
Liberal Democrats | Jennifer McCloskey | 884 | 47.6 | N/A | |
Conservative | James London* | 877 | 47.2 | −4.0 | |
Conservative | Keith Bonin* | 845 | 45.5 | −6.4 | |
Majority | |||||
Turnout | 1,859 | 39 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing |
Cowden and Hever
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Angela Baker | 690 | 59.4 | +2.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | James Morgan | 566 | 48.7 | +24.0 | |
Conservative | Stuart McGregor* | 556 | 47.8 | +2.3 | |
Majority | |||||
Turnout | 1,162 | 28 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing |
Edenbridge South and West
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Alan Layland* | 495 | 55.1 | +14.6 | |
Conservative | Margot McArthur* | 415 | 46.2 | +4.6 | |
Liberal Democrats | Caroline Mace | 396 | 44.0 | +23.4 | |
Liberal Democrats | Jon Aldridge | 393 | 43.7 | +4.6 | |
Majority | |||||
Turnout | 899 | 28 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Eynsford
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
editParty | 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
edit- ^ 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]
- ^ Three of the independent councillors sat together as the "Sevenoaks Independents", led by Darren Kitchener.[4]
- ^ "Your councillors". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ Boothroyd, David (11 November 2022). "Very fine claret, a solid red". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ Boothroyd, David (18 November 2022). "Noted for fresh air and fun". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Your Councillors". Sevenoaks District Council. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Notice of Election - District Council". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "Local Elections 2023: Results in Sussex, Kent and Essex". ITV News. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ Boakye, Kwame (5 May 2023). "Sevenoaks leader loses seat". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Councillor Julia Thornton named as new Council Leader". Sevenoaks District Council. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Election results by party". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated - District - 4 May 2023". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "Kent 2023 local election results and reaction as it happened". Kent Live. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Election results for Penshurst, Fordcombe & Chiddingstone". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 6 May 2023.