2023 Horsham District Council election

The 2023 Horsham District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Horsham District Council in England.[1][2] It was held on the same day as other local elections in England.

2023 Horsham District Council
4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)
All 48 seats to Horsham District Council
25 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
  Blank Blank
Party Liberal Democrats Conservative
Seats won 28 11
Seat change Increase 15 Decrease 21
  Third party Fourth party
  Blank Blank
Party Green Independent
Seats after 8 1
Seat change Increase6 Steady
Leader before election

Claire Vickers
Conservative

 Leader after election

Martin Boffey
Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats gained control of the council from the Conservatives with an 8 seat majority. It is the first time since the 1995 Horsham District Council election that the Liberal Democrats have taken control of the council. It is also the worst performance in terms of seats for the Conservative Party in any previous election to the council.

Council Composition

Prior to the election, the composition of the council was:

↓
29 13 3 3
Con LDem Grn Ind

After the election, the composition of the council was:

↓
28 11 8 1
LDem Con Grn Ind

Results summary
2023 Horsham District Council election
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal Democrats 48[3] 28 15 0 Increase 15 58.33%
  Conservative 46 11 0 21 Decrease 21 22.91%
  Green 47 8 8 0 Increase 6 16.66%
  Independent 3 1 0 0 Steady 2.08%
  Labour 31 0 0 0 Steady 0.0%
  Reform UK 2 0 0 0 Steady 0.0%
  Heritage 1 0 0 0 Steady 0.0%
  Peace 1 0 0 0 Steady 0.0%

Ward results

Billingshurst
Billingshurst
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Samantha Bateman 1,069 39.5 +8.7
Liberal Democrats Mark Baynham 1,044
Liberal Democrats John Trollope 926
Conservative Christopher Brown 871 32.2 -10.3
Conservative Danijela David 807
Conservative Nigel Jupp 802
Labour Jonathan Austin 582 21.5 +7.6
Labour Chris Henson 579
Labour Trishna Julha 532
Green Jonathan Denton 186 6.9 +6.9
Green Nikki Nama 180
Green Thomas Wilson 128
Turnout 2,688 33.43
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
  • Nigel Jupp is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Southwater & Nuthurst.[4]

Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote
Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Mike Croker 940 46.6 +12.0
Conservative Roger Noel 800 39.7 +8.3
Liberal Democrats Richard Allen 577 28.6 +28.6
Liberal Democrats Andy Mantell 148
Turnout 1,641 38.5
Green hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
  • This was the only seat at the elections where the Green Party did not stand a full quota of candidates.[5]

Broadbridge Heath
Broadbridge Heath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats James Brookes 579 40.0 -18.4
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Taylor 503
Conservative Aaron Courteney-Smith 332 22.9 -7.8
Conservative Khobi Vallis 322
Independent Terry Oliver 252 17.4 +17.4
Labour Jane McGillivray 160 11.0 +0.2
Green Sheila Humphreys 126 8.7 +8.7
Green Sandra Vallens 97
Turnout 44.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Colgate & Rusper
Colgate & Rusper (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Liz Kitchen 681 43.0 -34.5
Conservative Tony Hogben 639
Liberal Democrats Joel Dinis 485 30.6 +30.6
Liberal Democrats Simon James 297
Labour Donald Mahon 221 13.9 -8.6
Green Freya Finnegan 198 12.5 +12.5
Green Yelena Finnegan 124
Turnout 1,429 29.3
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
  • Liz Kitchen was Leader of the Council from 2001 to 2009.

Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead
Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lynn Lambert 690 40.5 -31.0
Liberal Democrats Joanne Knowles 669 39.3 +39.3
Liberal Democrats Paul Dittmer 645
Conservative Sarah Payne 633
Green Catherine Briggs 193 11.3 +11.3
Labour David Shone 152 8.9 -19.6
Green Amalia Finnegan 148
Turnout 1,673 37.8
Conservative hold Swing
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Denne
Denne (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ruth Fletcher 1,337 49.7 -1.3
Liberal Democrats John Milne 1,204
Liberal Democrats Clive Trott 1,153
Conservative Ross Dye 790 29.4 -5.1
Conservative David Walbank 780
Conservative Kimberley Williams 752
Labour Hilary Key 327 12.2 -2.4
Labour Kevin O'Sullivan 287
Labour Matthew Verrall 253
Green Jane Sharp 237 8.8 +8.8
Green Vicci Johnson 219
Green Robin Johnson 210
Turnout 2,620 34.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
  • John Milne represented Roffey North ward from 2019 to 2023. He is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Horsham Riverside.[6] He is the Liberal Democrats Prospective Parliamentary Candidate[7]

Forest
Forest
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Skipp 1,382 48.9 +9.4
Liberal Democrats Colin Minto 1,362
Liberal Democrats Jon Olson 1,316
Labour Carol Hayton 695 24.6 +2.2
Labour David Hide 662
Labour Gerard Kavanagh 560
Conservative Michael Revell 385 13.6 -7.7
Conservative Ken Eglinton 379
Conservative Julian Walden 361
Green Hannah Moor 220 7.8 +7.8
Green Tony Baker 200
Green Lawrence Leather 148
Peace James Duggan 143 5.1 -4.4
Turnout 2,711 39.5
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Henfield
Henfield (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Malcolm Eastwood 766 40.2 +40.2
Conservative Josh Potts* 753 39.52
Green Gill Perry 742 38.95
Labour Fiona Ayres 590 30.97
Green Sian Fisher 267 14.01
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Dane 193 10.13
Liberal Democrats Robert Mohamed 83 4.35
Turnout 1905
Independent hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Holbrook East
Holbrook East (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nick Grant 874 47.11 +11.71
Liberal Democrats Warwick Hellawell 784 42.64 +7.24
Conservative Karen Burgess* 640 34.5 -12.4
Conservative Simon Torn 566 30.5 -16.4
Labour Sheila Chapman 186 10.02 -7.78
Labour Lorraine Barry 172 9.27 -8.83
Green Florian Yeates 150 8.08 +8.08
Green Mark Francis 125 6.73 +6.73
Reform UK Tony Rickett 82 4.42 +4.42
Turnout 1855 40.61 +7.21
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative Swing {{{swing}}}
  • Simon Torn represented Roffey South ward from 2011 to 2019.

Holbrook West
Holbrook West (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nigel Emery 1039 50.46 +15.00
Liberal Democrats Chris Franke 913 44.34 +8.94
Conservative Peter Burgess* 750 36.42 -12.9
Conservative Christian Mitchell* 732 35.55 -13.6
Labour Raymond Chapman 192 9.32 -6.18
Green David Hall 148 7.18 +7.18
Green Una McCartan 133 6.45 +6.45
Labour Ros Shiel 112 5.43 -10.07
Turnout 2059 41.13
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative {{{swing}}}
  • Christian Mitchell is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Broadbridge. [8]

Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham
Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Nye
Conservative Tricia Youtan*
Liberal Democrats Kasia Greenwood
Liberal Democrats Brian Tweedy
Labour Araminta Barlow
Green Andrew Finnegan
Green Jennie Tomlinson
Turnout
Swing
Swing
  • Robert Nye sat on Horsham District Council in various wards from 1999 to 2011. He was leader of the Council from 2009-2011.[9]

Nuthurst & Lower Beeding
Nuthurst & Lower Beeding
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Norman Bryant
Liberal Democrats Dennis Livingstone
Labour Hazel Lamb
Green Natasha Barnes
Turnout
Swing

Pulborough, Coldwaltham & Amberley
Pulborough, Coldwaltham & Amberley (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Atkins
Conservative Paul Clarke*
Conservative Damian Stuart
Liberal Democrats Jane Berry
Liberal Democrats John Evans
Liberal Democrats Chris Geeson
Green Jon Campbell
Green Len Ellis-Brown
Green Morag Warrack
Labour Jane Mote
Reform UK John Wallace
Heritage Johanna Hughes
Turnout
Swing
Swing
Swing
  • Paul Clarke was Leader of the Council for 207 days in 2021 before resigning.[10]

Roffey North
Roffey North (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tony Bevis*
Liberal Democrats Belinda Walters
Conservative Jonathan Dancer
Conservative Tracey Grabowski
Labour Daniel Everett
Labour Kyle Wickens
Green Nicholas Linfield
Green Ian Nicol
Turnout
Swing
Swing
  • Belinda Walters represented Denne ward from 2019 to 2023.
  • Jonathan Dancer represented Roffey North ward from 2015 to 2019.

Roffey South
Roffey South (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jay Mercer
Liberal Democrats Sam Raby*
Conservative Alan Britten*
Conservative Katie Nagel
Labour Nicola Gardner
Labour Sara Loewenthal
Green Claire Adcock
Green Tony Cook
Turnout
Swing
Swing
  • Alan Britten represented Roffey South as a Liberal Democrat from 2019-2023. He previously sat as a Conservative from 2015-2019 before defecting to the Liberal Democrats ahead of the 2019 election.[11] He rejoined the Conservatives in 2023.[12]
  • Katie Nagel is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing St Leonard's Forest.[13]

Rudgwick
Rudgwick
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dick Landeryou* 497 55.03 -14.57
Liberal Democrats Patrick Mason 254 28.1 +5.1
Labour Rebecca Bainbridge 66 7.3 -0.1
Green Harry Tilney 79 8.74 +8.74
Turnout 38.87 +3.7
Conservative hold Swing

Southwater North
Southwater North (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Mike Wood 732 43.39 +7.27
Liberal Democrats Peter van der Borgh 730
Conservative Claire Vickers* 633 37.52 -16.48
Conservative John Chidlow 605 35.86 -18.16
Labour Jill Clarke 155 9.18 -0.9
Green Nick Barnett 151
Green Jill Shuker 149 8.83 +8.83
Labour Margaret Cornwell 126 7.46 -2.44
Turnout 38.19 +1.39
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative Swing {{{swing}}}
  • Claire Vickers was the Leader of the Council until losing her seat.
  • John Chidlow represented Southwater from 2011 to 2019.

Southwater South & Shipley
Southwater South & Shipley (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Colette Blackburn 889 50.2 +13.4
Liberal Democrats Alex Jeffrey 699 39.33 +2.5
Conservative Ian Stannard* 689 38.77 -4.5
Conservative Matthew Payne 686
Labour Diane Burstow 173 9.73 +0.93
Green Diana Croker 155 8.72 n/a
Green Peter Shaw 106 n/a
Turnout 1777 33.64% +1.94
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative {{{swing}}}
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative {{{swing}}}
  • Ian Stannard was the Vice-Chair of the Council until losing his seat.

Steyning & Ashurst
Steyning & Ashurst (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Victoria Finnegan
Green Nicholas Marks
Conservative Tim Lloyd*
Conservative Hattie Shoosmith
Liberal Democrats Kevin Hammond
Liberal Democrats Chris Howell
Turnout
Swing
Swing

Storrington & Washington
Storrington & Washington (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Emma Beard
Green Claudia Fisher
Green Joan Grech*
Conservative Daniel Hall
Conservative Gary Markwell
Conservative Anthony Watts
Liberal Democrats Alex Beveridge
Liberal Democrats Janine Milne
Liberal Democrats Thomas Worth
Turnout
Swing
Swing
Swing
  • Gary Markwell is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Arundel & Courtwick.[14] He also, simultaneously stood for election in Arun District Council where he was also defeated by The Green Party.[15]

Trafalgar
Trafalgar (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Martin Boffey*
Liberal Democrats Tony Frankland
Conservative Tim Nagel
Conservative David Thompson
Labour Joanne Kavanagh
Labour Adam Key
Green Wendy Breese
Green Kim Hope
Turnout
Swing
Swing
  • Martin Boffey was, heading into the election Leader of the Opposition.

West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington
West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Circus*
Conservative Joy Dennis
Conservative Alan Manton
Liberal Democrats Ian Miles
Liberal Democrats Rob Phillips
Liberal Democrats Evan Stone
Green Jenny Altamirano Smith
Green Barry Humphreys
Green Ana Sivers
Labour Nick Dalton
Independent Caroline Instance
Turnout
Swing
Swing
Swing
  • Philip Circus was Deputy Leader of the Council.
  • Joy Dennis is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Hurstpierpoint & Bolney.[16]

References
  1. "District & Parish Elections - 4 May 2023". Horsham District Council. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  2. "Local Elections 2023: More than 400 Sussex seats up for election". The Argus (Brighton). Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  3. "Horsham District Council Candidates". Horsham Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  4. "Councillor details - Councillor Nigel Jupp". westsussex.moderngov.co.uk. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  5. "Home". MidSussex, Crawley and Horsham Green Party. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  6. "Councillor details - Councillor John Milne". westsussex.moderngov.co.uk. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  7. Pack, Mark (6 February 2023). "Horsham Lib Dems select Cllr John Milne as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate". Mark Pack. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  8. "Councillor details - Councillor Christian Mitchell". westsussex.moderngov.co.uk. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  9. "Horsham council leader steps down". The Argus. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  10. "Sudden resignation of Horsham District Council leader". 12 November 2021.
  11. "Conservative councillor defects to Lib Dems". 7 March 2019.
  12. "Horsham councillor defects to Conservatives after not being re-selected by Lib Dems". 17 January 2023.
  13. "Councillor details - Councillor Katie Nagel". westsussex.moderngov.co.uk. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  14. "Councillor details - Councillor Gary Markwell". westsussex.moderngov.co.uk. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  15. Council, Arun District. "Statements of persons nominated for Arun District Council elections May 2023". Arun District Council. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  16. "Councillor details - Councillor Joy Dennis". westsussex.moderngov.co.uk. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
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