2023 Wyre Forest District Council election

2023 Wyre Forest District Council election
← 2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04) 2027 →
All 33 seats on Wyre Forest District Council
17 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Marcus Hart Helen Dyke Leigh Whitehouse
Party Conservative Independent Labour
Last election 14 seats, 31.6% 5 seats, 10.6% 2 seats, 16.1%
Seats before 14 5 2
Seats after 20 6 4
Seat change Increase 6 Increase 1 Increase 2
Popular vote 8,609 5,595 6,969
Percentage 29.6 19.3 24.0
Swing Decrease2.0 Increase8.7 Increase7.9
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Fran Oborski
Party Liberal Democrats Green Independent Health Concern
Last election 3 seats, 10.5% 1 seat, 7.7% 8 seats, 17.3%
Seats before 3 1 8
Seats after 2 1 0
Seat change Decrease 1 Steady Decrease8
Popular vote 4,081 3,799 n/a
Percentage 14.0 13.1
Swing Increase3.5 Increase5.4
Map of the results
Leader before election

Helen Dyke
Independent
No overall control

Leader after election

Marcus Hart
Conservative

The 2023 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 4 May 2023, to elect all 33 members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being run by a "progressive alliance" of Independent Health Concern, Labour, Green and independent councillors. The Conservatives won a majority of the seats at this election. Wyre Forest was one of only two councils where the Conservatives gained control in the 2023 elections, with the party generally losing seats and councils elsewhere.

Summary

Prior to the election the eight Independent Health Concern councillors, five independent councillors and the one Green councillor had sat together as one "Independent Group", led by independent councillor Helen Dyke. The Independent Group and Labour together formed the council's administration, calling themselves a progressive alliance, with Helen Dyke serving as leader of the council.[1] Local party Independent Health Concern announced in 2022 that it would no longer be fielding candidates at elections; its sitting councillors who chose to stand for re-election in 2023 did so as independent candidates.[2]

The Conservatives and Labour saw gains, whilst the Liberal Democrats and independents (when including the former Independent Health Concern councillors) suffered loses. The only Green councillor retained her seat. Whilst the Conservatives suffered loses throughout the country, in Wyre Forest the Conservatives won a majority of the seats. Torbay and Wyre Forest were the only two councils where the Conservatives gained a majority at this election.[3]

Conservative leader Marcus Hart was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 17 May 2023.[4]

Overall Results

The overall results were as follows:[5]

2023 Wyre Forest District Council election
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 33 20 7 1 Increase6 60.6 29.6 8,609 Decrease2.0
  Labour 15 4 2 0 Increase2 12.1 24.0 6,969 Increase7.9
  Independent 17 6 2 1 Increase1 18.2 19.3 5,595 Increase8.7
  Liberal Democrats 17 2 0 1 Decrease1 6.1 14.0 4,081 Increase3.5
  Green 17 1 0 0 Steady 3.0 13.1 3,799 Increase5.4

Ward results

The results for each ward were as follows, with an asterisk (*) indicating an incumbent councillor standing for re-election:[6][7]

Aggborough and Spennells

Aggborough and Spennells
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Helen Elizabeth Dyke* 1,324 64.6 −2.9
Independent Peter Dyke* 1,213 59.2 −2.8
Independent John Cedric Aston* 1,142 55.7 +1.2
Conservative Owen Boyd Cave 483 23.6 +3.3
Labour George Price 426 20.8 +9.6
Conservative Thomas Jordan 366 17.9 N/A
Conservative Richard Simon Sherrey
(Simon Sherrey) 		328 16.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Rachel Louise Akathiotis 283 13.8 N/A
Turnout 2,049 31.31
Registered electors 6,570
Independent hold
Independent hold
Independent hold

Areley Kings and Riverside

Areley Kings and Riverside
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kenneth James Henderson*
(Ken Henderson) 		795 46.1 +14.4
Conservative Daniel Carberry Russell
(Danny Russell) 		656 38.1 +8.7
Conservative Alan Sutton 562 32.6 +6.2
Labour Carol Gwyneth Warren 519 30.1 +5.5
Labour Nick Bartram-Savage 485 28.1 +7.4
Independent Robert John Lloyd
(Rob Lloyd) 		424 24.6 +4.0
Independent John William Roland Thomas* 325 18.9 −18.8
Green Valerie Margaret Wood 307 17.8 +2.2
Independent Jason Foster 288 16.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Ingrid Ruth Schmeising-Barnes 186 10.8 +5.6
Turnout 1,723 27.16
Registered electors 6,365
Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern
Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern
Conservative hold

John Thomas had been a Health Concern councillor prior to the election.

Bewdley and Rock

Bewdley and Rock
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Emily Elizabeth Bourne 939 42.8 +3.0
Conservative Daniel Morehead
(Dan Morehead) 		841 38.3 +2.7
Conservative Nicholas Charles Wilson
(Nick Wilson) 		723 33.0 −2.0
Labour Rodney Stanczyszyn
(Rod Stanczyszyn) 		685 31.2 −2.5
Independent Calne Elaine Edginton-White* 629 28.7 −10.2
Labour Nigel Knowles 608 27.7 N/A
Green Janice Christine Bell 461 21.0 N/A
Independent Anna Coleman* 372 17.0 −22.8
Green Nigel Alastair Geary 297 13.5 N/A
Independent Roger Hugh Coleman* 253 11.5 −24.1
Liberal Democrats Cloud Gollop 156 7.1 N/A
Turnout 2,194 31.74
Registered electors 6,985
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Conservative gain from Independent

Anna Coleman and Roger Coleman had both been elected as Conservatives but left the party in 2020 and joined Health Concern. Seat change compared to 2019 result.[8]

Blakebrook and Habberley South

Blakebrook and Habberley South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Victoria Ann Caulfield*
(Vicky Caulfield) 		765 42.7 +8.5
Conservative Tracey Lee Onslow-Fage*
(Tracey Onslow) 		690 38.5 −1.4
Labour Leigh Whitehouse* 678 37.8 +4.1
Conservative Juliet Denise Smith 551 30.7 −1.1
Green John Edward Davis 511 28.5 N/A
Conservative Edward James Stokes 505 28.2 −2.4
Green Anthony Clive Wood
(Clive Wood) 		385 21.5 N/A
Liberal Democrats Adrian Stanley Beavis 212 11.8 −14.6
Liberal Democrats Heidi Ruth Worth 187 10.4 N/A
Liberal Democrats Simon Ford 114 6.4 N/A
Turnout 1,793 26.23
Registered electors 6,851
Green hold
Conservative hold
Labour hold

Broadwaters

Broadwaters
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Mary Alice Rayner* 893 60.3 +20.0
Labour Mary McDonnell 634 42.8 +15.9
Independent Peter Winston Montgomery Young* 611 41.3 +3.2
Liberal Democrats Alan John Totty* 431 29.1 +8.1
Conservative Tony Andrew Muir 373 25.2 +4.8
Conservative Craig James Pedley 354 23.9 N/A
Conservative Howard Stuart Williams 252 17.0 N/A
Turnout 1,481 22.39
Registered electors 6,674
Independent hold
Labour hold
Independent gain from Independent Health Concern

Peter Young was a Health Concern councillor prior to the election; seat shown as independent gain from Health Concern to allow comparison with 2019 results.

Foley Park and Hoobrook

Foley Park and Hoobrook
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nathan John Desmond* 834 48.9 +8.0
Conservative Nichola Lynnette Gale*
(Nicky Gale) 		742 43.5 +9.9
Conservative Kevin George Gale 694 40.7 +2.9
Labour Diane Constance Smith
(Di Smith) 		561 32.9 +15.9
Liberal Democrats Clare Cassidy 449 26.3 +11.4
Green Douglas Peter Hine
(Doug Hine) 		346 20.3 N/A
Green Nicholas Atkinson
(Nick Atkinson) 		278 16.3 N/A
Independent Susan Caroline Meekings
(Sue Meekings) 		262 15.3 −17.1
Green David John Finch
(Dave Finch) 		254 14.9 −6.1
Turnout 1,707 23.16
Registered electors 7,883
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Franche and Habberley North

Franche and Habberley North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Benjamin Richard Brookes*
(Ben Brookes) 		823 41.6 +13.6
Conservative George Anthony Connolly 793 40.1 N/A
Conservative David Richard Ross* 747 37.8 +13.9
Labour John Beckingham 685 34.6 +6.6
Liberal Democrats Jackie Anne Madden 551 27.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Oliver Yasha Walker 526 26.6 +12.7
Independent Mark Watkins 492 24.9 N/A
Green Lisa Jane Allsopp 398 20.1 +5.9
Turnout 1,978 26.46
Registered electors 7,505
Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern
Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern
Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern

Ben Brookes and David Ross had previously won their seats in by-elections in 2021 and 2022; their seats shown as Conservative gains from Health Concern to allow comparison with 2019 results.

Lickhill

Lickhill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Little 266 40.7 +6.6
Liberal Democrats Timothy Francis Schmeising-Barnes
(Tim Schmeising-Barnes) 		145 22.2 +13.3
Labour William Stephen Thorneycroft 137 20.9 +5.5
Independent Dixon Raymond Sheppard* 106 16.2 −21.0
Turnout 654 31.03
Registered electors 2,127
Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern

Dixon Sheppard was a Health Concern councillor prior to the election.

Mitton

Mitton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Nicola Jayne Martin*
(Nicky Martin) 		771 41.1 −11.7
Labour Jacqueline Elizabeth Griffiths
(Jackie Griffiths) 		733 39.1 +17.7
Conservative Christopher John Rogers*
(Chris Rogers) 		733 39.1 +4.6
Conservative Dale Morris 684 36.4 +9.6
Conservative Berenice Susan Dawes* 638 34.0 +0.3
Green Michael Timothy Allarton 546 29.1 +6.9
Liberal Democrats Peter Christopher Pratt
(Chris Pratt) 		471 25.1 +13.4
Turnout 1,877 25.05
Registered electors 7,502
Independent gain from Independent Health Concern
Labour gain from Conservative
Conservative hold

Nicky Martin had been a Health Concern councillor prior to the election; seat shown as independent gain from Health Concern.

Offmore and Comberton

Offmore and Comberton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Frances Mary Oborski*
(Fran Oborski) 		777 39.4 −17.2
Liberal Democrats Shazu Miah* 685 34.7 −11.2
Labour Liam Denzel Peter Carroll 599 30.4 +11.5
Liberal Democrats Nigel John Grace 561 28.4 −15.9
Conservative Rosemary Elizabeth Bishop
(Rose Bishop) 		548 27.8 +7.3
Conservative William Thomas Hopkins
(Bill Hopkins) 		482 24.4 +6.0
Conservative Martin John Stooke 438 22.2 N/A
Independent Oliver Swain
(Ollie Swain) 		438 22.2 N/A
Green Brett Raymond Caulfield 326 16.5 N/A
Turnout 1,973 27.12
Registered electors 7,308
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats

Wribbenhall and Arley

Wribbenhall and Arley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Harrison* 692 48.0 +6.0
Conservative John Frederick Byng* 685 47.5 +6.6
Labour Nicole Harper 426 29.5 +4.1
Green Corinne Lesley Bailey 272 18.9 −6.8
Independent Pauline Watkins 256 17.8 N/A
Green Robert Charles Ireland
(Rob Ireland) 		208 14.4 N/A
Liberal Democrats Christopher John Harvey
(Chris Harvey) 		129 8.9 N/A
Turnout 1,442 33.82
Registered electors 4,284
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Wyre Forest Rural

Wyre Forest Rural
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus John Hart* 1,433 56.0 +14.7
Conservative Robin Macdonald Drew 1,325 51.7 +16.2
Conservative Ian David Hardiman* 1,222 47.7 +5.6
Labour Dean Anthony Cox 886 34.6 +15.3
Labour David Paul Jones 809 31.6 +13.7
Green Katherine Spohrer
(Kate Spohrer) 		378 14.8 −0.9
Green Gilda Maria Davis 336 13.1 N/A
Liberal Democrats Marcin Gorecki 291 11.4 N/A
Green Dean Jon Warren 200 7.8 N/A
Turnout 2,561 33.95
Registered electors 7,597
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

References

  1. ^ "Your District Councillor". Wyre Forest District Council. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  2. ^ Rawlins, Jack (18 May 2022). "Independent Health Concern party to 'retire' from political fray". Kidderminster Shuttle. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  3. ^ Madeley, Peter. "Leader vows to 'get the basics right' as Tories take over Wyre Forest in rare council gain". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  4. ^ Rawlins, Jack (18 May 2023). "Wyre Forest District Council: New council chairman and leader elected". Kidderminster Shuttle. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Wyre Forest result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  6. ^ "2023 election results". Wyre Forest District Council. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Council". Wyre Forest District Council. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  8. ^ Boothroyd, David (25 September 2020). "Lib Dems climb the Mendips". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 12 February 2024.