2023 East Devon District Council election

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2023 East Devon District Council election
← 2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04) 2027 →
All 60 seats to East Devon District Council
31 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Philip Skinner (defeated)
Party Independent Liberal Democrats Conservative
Last election 19 seats, 23.6% 8 seats, 15.3% 20 seats, 36.2%
Seats before 16 7 21
Seats after 19 18 17
Seat change Steady Increase 10 Decrease 3
Popular vote 20,854 23,378 27,980
Percentage 25.6% 28.7% 34.4%
Swing Increase 2.1% Increase 13.5% Decrease 1.8%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Blank Blank Blank
Party Labour Green Liberal
Last election 0 seats, 6.3% 2 seats, 3.4% 0 seats, 0.0%
Seats before 2[a] 2 0
Seats after 3 2 1
Seat change Increase 3 Steady Increase1
Popular vote 4,698 3,898 534
Percentage 5.8% 4.8% 0.7%
Swing Decrease 0.6% Increase 1.4% N/A
  Seventh party
  Blank
Leader Paul Arnott
Party East Devon Alliance
Last election 11 seats, 14.0%
Seats before 12
Seats after 0
Seat change Decrease11
Popular vote 0
Percentage 0.0%
Swing Decrease 14.0%
Winner of each seat at the 2023 East Devon District Council election
Leader before election

Paul Arnott
East Devon Alliance
No overall control

Leader after election

Paul Arnott
Liberal Democrat
No overall control

The 2023 East Devon District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect all 60 members of East Devon District Council in Devon, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.

The council remained under no overall control, being led by an alliance of the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Labour and some of the independent councillors.

Overview[edit]

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being led by the "Democratic Alliance Group" of 23 councillors, comprising the East Devon Alliance, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and two of the independent councillors. The group was led by Paul Arnott of the East Devon Alliance. They were supported by some of the other independent groups and Labour. The 16 independent councillors who did not represent a registered political party were divided into five different groupings:

  • The Independents (5)
  • Independent Progressive Group (4)
  • Cranbrook Voice (3)
  • Part of Democratic Alliance Group (2)
  • Not aligned to a group (2)

There was also one vacant seat on the council.[3][4]

The local party of the East Devon Alliance did not contest the 2023 election. Of the 12 councillors it had prior to the election, four stood as Liberal Democrats, five stood as independent candidates and three did not stand for re-election. The East Devon Alliance leader Paul Arnott, who was also leader of the council, was one of those who stood as a Liberal Democrat, having already joined the party at a national level in 2022.[5][6]

The election saw the council remain under no overall control. The Conservative group leader, Philip Skinner, lost his seat. A Democratic Alliance Group formed again after the election, this time comprising the Liberal Democrats, Greens and nine of the independent councillors. Of the other independent councillors, nine formed the "Independent Group" and one sat with the single Liberal councillor as the "Independent Councillor Group". Paul Arnott was re-appointed leader of the council after the election, this time as a Liberal Democrat.[7]

Results[edit]

Following the results, the council remained under no overall control.[8]

2023 East Devon District Council election[9]
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Independent 27 19 9 11 Decrease 2 31.7 25.7 20,854 +2.1
  Liberal Democrats 34 18 12 2 Increase 10 30.0 28.8 23,378 +13.5
  Conservative 53 17 6 9 Decrease 3 28.3 34.4 27,980 -1.8
  Labour 8 3 3 0 Increase 3 5.0 5.7 4,698 -0.6
  Green 8 2 1 1 Steady 3.3 4.8 3898 +1.4
  Liberal 1 1 1 0 Increase 1 1.7 0.7 534 +0.7
  Heritage 1 0 0 0 Steady 0 0.1 57 +0.1
  East Devon Alliance 0 0 0 11 Decrease 11 0 0 0 -14.0
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 –1.1

Ward Results[edit]

The ward results were as follow, with an asterisk(*) indicating a sitting councillor standing for re-election.

Axminster[edit]

Axminster
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Paul Hayward 1,219 55.4 N/A
Independent Sarah Jackson* 1,065 48.4 +2.3
Independent Simon Smith 893 40.6 N/A
Conservative Ian Hall* 801 36.4 -1.3
Conservative Steve Holt 544 24.7 -4.8
Liberal Democrats Gillian Jordan 531 24.1 -1.7
Conservative David Willey 420 19.1 -15.0
Labour Jeremy Walden 395 17.9 -0.7
Majority
Turnout 2,202 34.7
Independent gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Independent gain from Conservative Swing
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Beer & Branscombe[edit]

Beer & Branscombe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Heath 431 56.9 N/A
Conservative Maria Hall 170 22.5 N/A
Liberal Democrats Peter Burrows 156 20.6 N/A
Majority
Turnout 757 36.0
Independent gain from Independent Swing

Broadclyst[edit]

Broadclyst
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sarah Chamberlain* 711 42.4 -8.8
Green Paula Fearnley 700 41.8 +6.2
Liberal Democrats Eleanor Rylance* 689 41.1 -5.3
Liberal Democrats Katie Jones 661 39.4 +6.2
Independent Jane Chanot 482 28.8 N/A
Conservative Colin Trudgeon 474 28.3 -14.0
Conservative Keith Bickers 430 25.7 -3.2
Majority
Turnout 1,676 27.7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Green gain from Conservative Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Budleigh & Raleigh[edit]

Budleigh & Raleigh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Charlotte Fitzgerald 1,174 40.9 N/A
Conservative Henry Riddell 1,086 37.8 -3.6
Independent Melanie Martin 1,076 37.5 N/A
Conservative Patsy Hayman 1,046 36.4 -0.1
Liberal Democrats Catriona Cunningham 882 30.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Jed Falby 878 30.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats Penny Lewis 865 30.1 -3.7
Conservative David Walsh 848 29.5 -7.7
Majority
Turnout 2,872 44.3
Independent gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Clyst Valley[edit]

Clyst Valley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Mike Howe* 361 53.3 +53.3
Conservative Will French 182 26.9 +26.9
Liberal Democrats Adrian Lock 134 19.8 N/A
Majority
Turnout 677 35.9
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Coly Valley[edit]

Coly Valley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Arnott* 959 58.1 +2.5
Conservative Helen Parr* 845 51.2 +0.8
Conservative John Tristram 567 34.3 -2.7
Majority
Turnout 1,652 42.5
Liberal Democrats gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Cranbrook[edit]

Cranbrook
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Kim Bloxham* 614 60.4 -2.0
Independent Kevin Blakey* 521 51.3 -1.4
Independent Sam Hawkins* 458 45.1 -3.2
Independent Vincent Wilton 424 41.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Rebecca Lipscombe 246 24.2 +5.3
Conservative Barry Rogers 137 13.5 -14.6
Conservative Alexandra Croft 123 12.1 -15.2
Heritage Lisa Goudie 57 5.6 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,016 21.0
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Dunkeswell & Otterhead[edit]

Dunkeswell & Otterhead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Yehudi Levine 758 46.4 +10.8
Conservative Colin Brown* 741 45.4 -8.8
Independent Gary Burford 370 22.7 N/A
Labour Ollie Tucker 322 19.7 -0.9
Conservative Ian Morgan 109 6.7 -49.2
Majority
Turnout 1,633 36.5
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Conservative hold Swing

The number of votes for Ian Morgan was in fact 682 (41.8%). However, his result was declared in error as 109 votes by the returning officer.[10] Under UK election law this result stands, as it can only be changed through a petition to a court. This is unlikely to take place given the elected candidates were not affected by this error.

Exe Valley[edit]

Exe Valley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jamie Kemp* 475 70.5 +13.8
Conservative Kevin Wraight 199 29.5 -13.8
Majority
Turnout 674 35.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Exmouth Brixington[edit]

Exmouth Brixington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Maddy Chapman* 734 42.2 -4.8
Conservative Fred Caygill* 673 38.7 -6.2
Conservative Cherry Nicholas 662 38.0 -6.8
Liberal Democrats Andrew Colman* 579 33.3 -12.9
Labour Jamie Wickenden 559 32.1 +5.1
Independent Aurora Bailey 518 29.8 -14.7
Independent Ian Kirvan 471 27.1 N/A
Green Malcolm Marrett 434 24.9 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,740 28.4
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Exmouth Halsdon[edit]

Exmouth Halsdon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tim Dumper 1,099 56.2 +42.3
Liberal Democrats Andrew Toye 964 49.3 +33.8
Labour Daniel Wilson 839 42.9 N/A
Conservative Pauline Stott 820 41.9 +21.6
Conservative Richard Parr 638 32.6 +7.2
Majority
Turnout 1,957 33.2
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Labour gain from Green Swing

Exmouth Littleham[edit]

Exmouth Littleham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Anne Hall 1,144 49.4 +27.0
Liberal Democrats Nick Hookway* 1,075 46.5 -0.3
Conservative Brian Bailey 986 42.6 +20.6
Conservative Oliver Kerr 952 41.1 +12.6
Liberal Democrats David Poor 834 36.0 +15.6
Green Mike Rosser 784 33.9 N/A
Majority
Turnout 2,314 34.5
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Exmouth Town[edit]

Exmouth Town
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Joe Whibley* 1,043 66.3 +20.0
Green Olly Davey* 988 62.8 +19.4
Liberal Democrats Eileen Wragg* 974 61.9 +25.2
Conservative Dominic Nancekievill 338 21.5 +5.1
Conservative Sylvia Wills 331 21.0 +5.5
Majority
Turnout 1,573 27.8
Independent hold Swing
Green hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Exmouth Withycombe Raleigh[edit]

Exmouth Withycombe Raleigh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Steve Gazzard* 521 58.5 +58.5
Liberal Democrats Matt Hall 432 48.5 +48.5
Conservative Josh Donald 242 27.2 N/A
Labour Andrew Woodward 236 26.5 N/A
Conservative Brian Richards 218 24.5 N/A
Majority
Turnout 890 25.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Feniton[edit]

Feniton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alasdair Bruce* 359 51.6 +39.2
Green Jane Collins 351 49.4 N/A
Majority
Turnout 710 31.7
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

Honiton St Michael's[edit]

Honiton St Michael's
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jenny Brown 708 47.9 -9.1
Labour Violet Bonetta 598 40.5 N/A
Liberal Roy Collins 534 36.2 N/A
Conservative Brice Cornelius 531 36.0 -19.0
Conservative Paul Carter 508 34.4 -3.8
Independent Joanne Fotheringham 477 32.3 N/A
Independent Nicholas Ingham 419 28.4 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,477 26.7
Conservative hold Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Liberal gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Honiton St Paul's[edit]

Honiton St Paul's
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Tony McCollum* 642 58.6 +3.8
Conservative John Diviani-O'Leary 460 42.0 +8.6
Conservative Andrew Pearsall 454 41.4 +8.1
No Description John Taylor 329 30.0 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,096 22.8
Independent hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Newbridges[edit]

Newbridges
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Iain Chubb* 423 49.7 -24.4
Liberal Democrats Veronica Dower 335 39.4 N/A
Labour Clara Douglas 93 10.9 -15.0
Majority
Turnout 851 41.0
Conservative hold Swing

Newton Poppleford & Harpford[edit]

Newton Poppleford & Harpford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Christopher Burhop* 633 82.1 N/A
Conservative Josh Harrison 138 17.9 +4.1
Majority
Turnout 771 42.7
Independent gain from East Devon Alliance Swing

Ottery St Mary[edit]

Ottery St Mary
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Vicky Johns* 1,565 70.8 +3.1
Independent Peter Faithfull* 944 42.7 +3.1
Labour Bethany Collins 794 35.9 +18.7
Liberal Democrats Jamie Aylward 771 34.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Graham Woolnough 556 25.1 N/A
Conservative Charlie Hobson 429 19.4 -2.1
Conservative Mohammed Sarul Islam 192 8.7 -10.6
Conservative Mohammed Zayan Islam 153 6.9 -4.2
Majority
Turnout 2,212 36.0
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Labour gain from Independent Swing

Seaton[edit]

Seaton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Dan Ledger* 1,404 65.7 +0.8
Conservative Marcus Hartnell* 1,167 54.6 +9.1
Conservative Derek Haggerty 858 40.1 +19.2
Liberal Democrats Steve Hunt 770 36.0 +14.6
Labour Honey Barlow Marshall 494 23.1 +10.7
Majority
Turnout 2,138 36.3
Independent gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Conservative gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Sidmouth Rural[edit]

Sidmouth Rural
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Loudoun* 586 73.0 +30.7
Conservative Christina Richards 217 27.0 +6.2
Majority
Turnout 803 42.3
Independent gain from East Devon Alliance Swing

Sidmouth Sidford[edit]

Sidmouth Sidford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Marianne Rixson* 1,256 53.0 -20.5
Conservative Stuart Hughes* 1,216 51.3 -9.1
Conservative Mike Goodman 1,191 50.3 +8.3
Liberal Democrats Lisa Garner 1,119 47.2 N/A
Majority
Turnout 2,370 37.5
Liberal Democrats gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Conservative gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Sidmouth Town[edit]

Sidmouth Town
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ian Barlow 994 60.6 N/A
Conservative Charlotte Richards 811 49.4 -15.2
Independent Denise Bickley* 785 47.8 -9.7
Conservative John Zarczynski 406 24.7 -0.8
Majority
Turnout 1,641 43.3
Independent gain from East Devon Alliance Swing
Conservative gain from East Devon Alliance Swing

Tale Vale[edit]

Tale Vale
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Richard Jefferies 627 59.8 +18.1
Conservative Philip Skinner* 421 40.2 -7.9
Majority
Turnout 1,048 48.3
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Trinity[edit]

Trinity
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Susan Westerman 512 53.7 N/A
Conservative Andy Turner 441 46.3 -25.5
Majority
Turnout 953 43.8
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

West Hill & Aylesbeare[edit]

West Hill & Aylesbeare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Jess Bailey* 956 84.2 +7.2
Conservative Alan Richardson 285 25.1 +2.1
Liberal Democrats Iain Fairbarn 54 4.8 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,135 51.4
Independent hold Swing

Whimple & Rockbeare[edit]

Whimple & Rockbeare
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Todd Olive 440 51.0 N/A
Conservative Richard Lawrence* 422 49.0 +24.0
Majority
Turnout 862 40.0
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing

Woodbury & Lympstone[edit]

Woodbury & Lympstone
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Geoff Jung* 929 53.9 -19.1
Conservative Ben Ingham* 724 42.0 -34.0
Conservative Cheryl McGauley 622 36.1 +13.5
Green Alex Taylor 566 32.8 N/A
Labour Amanda Ford 286 16.6 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,724 41.0
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

Yarty[edit]

Yarty
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Duncan MacKinder 442 52.3 +41.8
Conservative Richard Norman 328 38.8 +7.3
Green Duncan Staddon 75 8.9 N/A
Majority
Turnout 845 40.0
Liberal Democrats gain from East Devon Alliance Swing

References[edit]

  1. ^ Including one vacant seat previously held by Paul Millar, who was elected as an independent in 2019, joined Labour in July 2021, and resigned in early 2023 ahead of the election.[1][2]
  1. ^ Boothroyd, David (16 July 2021). "Labour bricking it in Tividale". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  2. ^ Boothroyd, David (3 February 2023). "Bristol fashion now wearing Green". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Your councillors by political grouping". East Devon District Council. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  4. ^ Kershaw, Rob (24 February 2023). "East Devon Conservative quits group as he 'can't defend the indefensible'". Devon Live. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  5. ^ Kershaw, Rob (23 March 2023). "East Devon Independents to stand as Liberal Democrats in elections". Devon Live. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  6. ^ Arnott, Paul (7 June 2022). "East Devon District Council leader joins national Lib Dems ahead of by-election". Sidmouth Herald. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Council meeting, 24 May 2023". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Local elections 2023: Lib Dems make gains as East Devon stays hung". BBC News. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  9. ^ [1], Accessed 26 July 2023
  10. ^ "8. Declaration of results for East Devon District Council Dunkeswell & Otterhead Ward 4 May 2023". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
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