2023 Sevenoaks District Council election

2023 Sevenoaks District Council election
All 54 seats to Sevenoaks District Council; 28 seats needed for a majority
	Winner of each seat at the 2023 Sevenoaks District Council election
Leader before election; Peter Fleming; Conservative	Leader after election ; Julia Thornton; Conservative

2023 UK local government election

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.

Summary

The 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

The 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

The 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

Ash and New Ash Green (3 seats)
Party		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

Brasted, Chevening and Sundridge (3 seats)
Party		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

Cowden and Hever
Party		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

Crockenhill and Well Hill
Party		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

Dunton Green and Riverhead (2 seats)
Party		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

Edenbridge North and East (2 seats)
Party		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

Edenbridge South and West (2 seats)
Party		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

Eynsford
Party		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

Farningham, Horton Kirby and South Darenth (2 seats)
Party		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

Fawkham and West Kingsdown (3 seats)
Party		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

Halstead, Knockholt and Badgers Mount (2 seats)
Party		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

Hartley and Hodsoll Street (3 seats)
Party		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

Hextable (2 seats)
Party		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

Kemsing (2 seats)
Party		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

Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway
Party		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

Otford and Shoreham (2 seats)
Party		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

Penshurst, Fordcombe and Chiddingstone^[12]
Party		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

Seal and Weald (2 seats)
Party		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

Sevenoaks Eastern (2 seats)
Party		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

Sevenoaks Kippington (2 seats)
Party		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

Sevenoaks Northern (2 seats)
Party		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

Sevenoaks Town and St. John's (3 seats)
Party		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

Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village (3 seats)
Party		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

Swanley St. Mary's (2 seats)
Party		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

Swanley White Oak (3 seats)
Party		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

Westerham and Crockham Hill (2 seats)
Party		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

^ 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.

[4] 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]

[6] Three of the independent councillors sat together as the "Sevenoaks Independents", led by Darren Kitchener.^[4]

[1] "Your councillors". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 1 May 2023.

[2] Boothroyd, David (11 November 2022). "Very fine claret, a solid red". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[3] Boothroyd, David (18 November 2022). "Noted for fresh air and fun". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[5] "Your Councillors". Sevenoaks District Council. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[7] "Notice of Election - District Council". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 15 April 2023.

[8] "Local Elections 2023: Results in Sussex, Kent and Essex". ITV News. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[9] Boakye, Kwame (5 May 2023). "Sevenoaks leader loses seat". Local Government Chronicle. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[10] "Councillor Julia Thornton named as new Council Leader". Sevenoaks District Council. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[11] "Election results by party". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[12] "Statement of Persons Nominated - District - 4 May 2023". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 15 April 2023.

[13] "Kent 2023 local election results and reaction as it happened". Kent Live. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

[14] "Election results for Penshurst, Fordcombe & Chiddingstone". Sevenoaks District Council. Retrieved 6 May 2023.