2023 Wealden District Council election explained

Election Name:2023 Wealden District Council election
Country:East Sussex
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:2019 Wealden District Council election
Previous Year:2019
Next Election:2027 Wealden District Council election
Next Year:2027
Seats For Election:All 45 seats to Wealden District Council
Majority Seats:23
Leader1:James Patridge
Party1:Liberal Democrats (UK)
Leader Since1:May 2023
Last Election1:4 seats, 8.9%
Leaders Seat1:Crowborough North
Seats Before1:6
Seats After1:13
Seat Change1: 7
Leader2:Rachel Millward
Party2:Green Party of England and Wales
Leader Since2:May 2023
Leaders Seat2:Hartfield
Last Election2:2 seats, 4.4%
Seats Before2:4
Seats After2:11
Seat Change2: 7
Leader3:Ann Newton
Party3:Conservative Party (UK)
Leader Since3:May 2022
Leaders Seat3:Framfield & Cross-in-Hand
Last Election3:34 seats, 75.6%
Seats Before3:28
Seats After3:9
Seat Change3: 19
Leader4:David White
Party4:Independent politician
Leader Since4:May 2021
Leaders Seat4:Hellingly
Last Election4:1 seats, 2.2%
Seats Before4:3
Seats After4:6
Seat Change4: 3
Leader5:Stephen Shing
Party5:Independent Democrat Group
Leader Since5:May 2007
Leaders Seat5:Lower Willingdon
Last Election5:4 seats, 8.9%
Seats Before5:4
Seats After5:4
Seat Change5: 0
Leader6:Daniel Manvell
Party6:Labour Party (UK)
Leader Since6:May 2023
Leaders Seat6:Uckfield North
Last Election6:N/A
Seats Before6:0
Seats After6:2
Seat Change6: 2
Council control
Posttitle:Council control after election
Before Election:Conservative
After Election:Liberal Democrat/Green
coalition

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.

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.

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Ward results

Wealden District Council results.[8]

Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).

Withyham

Changes 2023–2027

By-election triggered by disqualification of independent councillor Spike Mayhew for non-attendance.[9]

On 15th May 2024 Liberal Democrat councillor for Hailsham Central Ward, Cllr Neil Cleaver, resigned from his party and the 'Alliance for Wealden' (the coalition agreement between the Liberal Democrats and Green Party), therefore becoming an independent.[10] On May 22nd 2024, it was announced Cllr Cleaver had joined the Conservative Party, who now have 10 councillors.[11]

On 24th May 2024, another Liberal Democrat councillor resigned from his party. Crowborough South East's Cllr Andrew Wilson. He has not yet indicated if he will join another political group. This means the LibDem/Green 'Alliance for Wealden' is now one short of a majority.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Forthcoming Elections. Wealden District Council. 15 April 2023.
  2. Web site: Election timetable in England. UK Government. 10 April 2023.
  3. Web site: Local elections 2023: More than 400 Sussex seats up for election. The Argus. 14 April 2023.
  4. Web site: English local elections 2024: South East voters to be polled on 1,304 seats. BBC News. 14 April 2023.
  5. News: Lib Dem and Green coalition officially takes up office at Wealden District Council after local election. Sussex Express. 10 July 2023.
  6. News: Sussex election results 2023: Tories lose Wealden for first time in 25 years. BBC News. 9 May 2023.
  7. Web site: Wealden election result. BBC News. 9 May 2023.
  8. Web site: District Ward Results. Wealden District Council. 8 May 2023.
  9. News: Barlow . Patrick . Uckfield councillor who missed meetings was partying at Butlin's . 11 May 2024 . The Argus . 26 March 2024.
  10. News: Oxburgh . Huw . Wealden Lib Dem resigns over ‘Green Party influence’. 19 May 2024 . Sussex World . 16 May 2024.
  11. News: Oxburgh . Huw . Wealden councillor joins Conservatives following resignation from the Liberal Democrats. 25 May 2024 . Sussex World . 22 May 2024.
  12. News: Oxburgh . Huw . Second resignation leaves Wealden coalition without majority. 25 May 2024 . Sussex World . 24 May 2024.