2023 North Devon District Council election

The 2023 North Devon District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of North Devon District Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections in England.[2][3][4]

2023 North Devon District Council election

← 2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04) 2027 →

All 42 seats to North Devon District Council
22 seats needed for a majority
Turnout32.75
  First party Second party
  Blank Blank
Leader David Worden
Party Liberal Democrats Independent
Last election 21 seats, 37.7% 7 seats, 12.4%
Seats before 22 9[a]
Seats after 22 10
Seat change Increase 1 Increase3
Popular vote 17,501 8,158
Percentage 40.49 18.87
Swing Increase 2.8 Increase 9.0

  Third party Fourth party
  Blank Blank
Leader Jeremy Yabsley Netti Pearson
Party Conservative Green
Last election 12 seats, 25.7% 2 seats, 15.3%
Seats before 9 2
Seats after 7 3
Seat change Decrease 5 Increase 1
Popular vote 8,041 6,508
Percentage 18.60 15.06
Swing Decrease 7.1 Decrease 0.2

Winner of each seat at the 2023 North Devon District Council election

Leader before election

David Worden
Liberal Democrats

Leader after election

Ian Roome
Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats retained control of the council.

Overview

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At the last elections in 2019 the Liberal Democrats won exactly half the seats, leaving the council in no overall control. They took control in December 2022 through winning a by-election.[5]

The Liberal Democrats retained their majority on the council, taking 22 of the 42 seats.[6] Following the election they changed party leader, with Ian Roome being appointed the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 18 May 2023.[7] After the election the independent councillors and Greens formed a single group called the North Devon Independent Group led by independent councillor Malcolm Prowse.[8] The Conservatives' leader before the election, Jeremy Yabsley, did not stand for re-election. They chose Paul Crabb as their new leader after the election.[9]

Results summary

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2023 North Devon District Council election
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal Democrats 34[10] 22 3 2   1 54.76 40.49 17,501   2.8
  Independent 22 10 2 2   21.43 18.87 8,158   9.0
  Conservative 24 7 1 3   2 16.67 18.60 8,041   7.1
  Green 25 3 2 1   1 7.14 15.06 6,508   0.2
  Labour 18 0 0 0   0.00 6.95 3,003   0.4
  Communist 1 0 0 0   0.0 0.04 15   0.04

Ward results

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Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).

Barnstaple Central

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Barnstaple Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Syed Jusef 273 53.53   22.7
Conservative Reginald Howe 92 18.04   2.2
Green Howard Porter 86 16.86   28.0
Labour Roy Tomlinson 28 5.49   3.0
Independent Bobby Burden-Brewer 16 3.14 N/A
Communist Gerard Sables 15 2.94 N/A
Majority
Turnout 515 25.71   5.62
Liberal Democrats gain from Green Swing

Barnstaple with Pilton

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Barnstaple with Pilton (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ian Roome* 1,037 64.09   6.9
Liberal Democrats Mel Lovering* 845 52.22   7.9
Liberal Democrats Jo Orange* 766 47.34   0.7
Green Robbie Mack 344 21.26   6.7
Green Lou Goodger 333 20.58   7.0
Green L'Anne Knight 328 20.27   1.5
Conservative Francesca McKeever 300 18.54   0.7
Labour Finola O'Neill 206 12.73   3.4
Turnout 1,618 27.04   3.58
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Barnstaple with Westacott

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Barnstaple with Westacott (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Peter Leaver 712 52.74   7.9
Liberal Democrats David Clayton 705 52.22   12.1
Liberal Democrats Katrina Stevenson 690 51.11   18.9
Conservative Lisa MacKenzie 401 29.70   3.7
Green Steven White 263 19.48   1.0
Independent John Carter 206 15.26 N/A
Independent Val Monk 205 15.19 N/A
Labour Helen Marini 196 14.52   1.9
Turnout 1,350 24.14   3.46
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Bickington

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Bickington (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Joy Cann* 810 56.09   15.8
Liberal Democrats Will Topps* 778 53.88   13.6
Liberal Democrats Helen Walker* 741 51.32   15.0
Conservative Gary Beglin 460 31.86   0.2
Conservative Chris Hopkins 441 30.54   2.1
Green Christine Basil 361 25.00   10.8
Turnout 1,444 26.41   7.92
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Bishops Nympton

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Bishops Nympton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Robin Milton 495 68.66   5.4
Green Nicholas Withers 131 18.17   8.2
Liberal Democrats Ashraf Shah 95 13.18   2.7
Majority 364 50.49   5.71
Turnout 721 38.10   9.45
Independent hold Swing

Bratton Fleming

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Bratton Fleming
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Malcolm Prowse* 485 62.02   9.7
Green Ian Godfrey 112 14.32   4.7
Conservative Dominic Chugg 102 13.04 N/A
Labour Marian Mason 81 10.36   1.1
Majority 373 47.70   5.0
Turnout 782 40.49   4.46
Independent hold Swing

Braunton East

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Braunton East (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Liz Spear* 664 43.51   9.8
Liberal Democrats Graham Bell 642 42.07   8.5
Green David Relph 483 31.65   1.7
Green Cas Lay 390 25.56   4.9
Independent Adrian Bryant 272 17.82 N/A
Labour Nicholas Agnew 174 11.40   4.0
Turnout 1,526 39.85   0.23
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Braunton West & Georgeham

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Braunton West & Georgeham (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Simon Maddocks 659 42.27 N/A
Conservative Pru Maskell 534 34.25   3.7
Liberal Democrats Tristan Clarkson 371 23.80   6.8
Liberal Democrats Julian Cox 342 21.94   5.9
Labour Mark Cann 290 18.60   3.3
Independent Jasmine Chesters* (a) 260 16.68   14.1
Green Brett Parker 244 15.65   7.4
Turnout 1,559 41.49   2.34
Independent gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Chittlehampton

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Chittlehampton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Susan Whitehead 371 47.63   7.6
Liberal Democrats Jamie Burn 255 32.73   5.3
Green Neil Basil 109 13.99   16.7
Labour Cecily Blyther 52 6.68   4.7
Majority 116 14.9   5.6
Turnout 779 38.78   0.37
Conservative hold Swing

Chulmleigh

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Chulmleigh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Kevin Davies* 498 63.36   12.5
Conservative Judith Lee 232 29.52   11.1
Labour Harry Ellis 54 6.87   0.6
Majority 266 33.84   22.5
Turnout 786 42.73   1.60
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Combe Martin

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Combe Martin
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Brian Lethaby 382 52.04   33.6
Conservative Lawrence Irving 239 32.56 N/A
Green Robert Cornish 113 15.40   6.0
Majority 143 19.48   56.7
Turnout 740 35.05   10.27
Independent hold Swing

Fremington

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Fremington (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Frank Biederman* 1,223 72.54   6.3
Independent Neil Denton 705 41.82 N/A
Independent Jim Bell 473 28.06   1.9
Independent Bowser Harris 233 13.82 N/A
Conservative Jack Juby 207 12.28   2.1
Labour Doug McLynn 147 8.72   3.9
Liberal Democrats Keith York 128 7.59   3.1
Turnout 1,688 38.69   3.10
Independent hold
Independent hold

Heanton Punchardon

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Heanton Punchardon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Ricky Knight 275 59.40   43.9
Liberal Democrats Dennis Jenkins 113 24.41   12.6
Labour Valerie Cann 75 16.20   7.7
Majority 162 34.99   0.2
Turnout 479 25.67   5.49
Green gain from Conservative Swing

Ilfracombe East

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Ilfracombe East (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats June Williams 718 52.07   24.5
Conservative Paul Crabb* 674 48.88   13.1
Conservative Daniel Turton* 673 48.80   11.4
Labour Teresa Elliott 645 46.77   34.5
Green Linda Mack 572 41.48   26.8
Turnout 1,387 27.00   5.2
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Ilfracombe West

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Ilfracombe West (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Sara Wilson 524 48.43   11.4
Conservative Jonathan Quinn 432 39.93   13.5
Conservative Mark Fay 365 33.73 N/A
Labour Toby Ebert 337 31.15   19.4
Liberal Democrats Dave Baxter 315 29.11   12.0
Turnout 1,084 30.96   1.2
Green hold Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Instow

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Instow
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lucinda Renshaw 217 30.27   12.7
Independent Becky Coombs 188 26.22 N/A
Independent Joanne Bell 114 15.90 N/A
Green Emily Herbert 103 14.37   1.8
Labour Brendon O'Brien 66 9.21   5.3
Independent Nicholas Arthur 29 4.04 N/A
Majority 29 4.05   2.1
Turnout 724 38.53   3.48
Conservative hold Swing

Landkey

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Landkey (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Glyn Lane* (a) 498 41.26   0.6
Green Mark Haworth-Booth 454 37.61   23.9
Liberal Democrats Victoria Nel* 443 36.70   2.0
Liberal Democrats Robert Janeiro 238 19.72   13.4
Green Lucie Redwood 196 16.24   1.0
Labour Tamsin Higgs 75 6.21   1.3
Turnout 1,218 32.87   8.42
Independent hold
Green gain from Conservative
  • (a) : Glyn Lane was elected as Conservative in 2019.

Lynton & Lynmouth

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Lynton & Lynmouth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Patrinos* 363 56.28   3.1
Conservative Arthur Atherton 201 31.16   12.6
Liberal Democrats Damian Owen 81 12.56 N/A
Majority 162 25.12   12.4
Turnout 648 35.92   8.81
Independent hold Swing

Marwood

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Marwood
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Julie Hunt Unopposed
Liberal Democrats hold

Mortehoe

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Mortehoe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Malcolm Wilkinson* 309 56.49   8.9
Conservative Sue Kingdom 130 23.77   0.5
Green Shona Davis 58 10.60 n/a
Labour Oliver Bell 50 9.14   1.3
Majority 179 32.72   8.4
Turnout 550 31.70   4.62
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Newport

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Newport (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Caroline Leaver* 798 61.62   8.2
Liberal Democrats Louisa York* 654 50.50   0.7
Conservative David Hoare (Con) 352 27.18   3.0
Green Matt Chamings 245 18.92   3.9
Green Rosie Haworth-Booth 150 11.58   2.1
Labour Alison Stringer 140 10.81   1.7
Turnout 1,304 32.76   2.43
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

North Molton

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North Molton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Liz Bulled* 407 59.33   12.1
Liberal Democrats Gabi Marchewka 145 21.14   7.5
Green Chris Barraclough 134 19.53 n/a
Majority 262 38.14   4.7
Turnout 688 38.71   1.97
Conservative hold Swing

Roundswell

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Roundswell (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Knight* 656 57.44   4.3
Liberal Democrats Christopher Norman 590 51.66   3.9
Conservative Stephen Burridge 323 28.28   7.5
Conservative Simon Randall 270 23.64   8.3
Independent Alan Rennles (a) 239 20.93 n/a
Labour Ian Crawford 98 8.58   0.8
Turnout 1,148 36.35   1.54
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
  • (a) : Alan Rennles was the mayor of Barnstaple until 2023, as a member of the Liberal Democrats.

South Molton

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South Molton (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Worden* 916 65.52   20.3
Liberal Democrats Peter Bishop 600 42.92   15.4
No Description Matthew Bushell* (a) 573 40.99   4.1
Independent Paul Henderson* (b) 438 31.33   5.8
Conservative Vanessa Burnham 337 24.11   2.2
Labour Steven Hinchliffe 289 20.67   7.4
Conservative Natasha Vukic 281 20.10   3.2
Green Gill Saunders 257 18.38   7.1
Independent Marc Cornelius 245 17.53   5.1
Turnout 1,495 30.98   10.45
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent
Liberal Democrats hold
  • (a) : Matthew Bushell was elected in 2019 for the Liberal Democrats.
  • (b) : Paul Henderson was elected in 2019 for the Conservative Party.

Witheridge

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Witheridge
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Peter Jones 430 63.89 n/a
Green Woody Fox 243 36.11   19.2
Majority 187 27.78   21.7
Turnout 681 35.47   6.09
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

References

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  1. ^ Of the nine independent councillors prior to the election, seven formed the "Independents Group" led by Malcolm Prowse and two (both former Conservatives) formed the "North Devon Independent Group" led by Glyn Lane.[1]
  1. ^ "Your councillors by party". North Devon Council. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Current election information". North Devon District Council. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Election timetable in England". UK Government. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Local Elections 2023: Voters across Devon to elect new councils in May". BBC News. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  5. ^ "North Devon Lib Dems 'expecting to do well' in local elections". North Devon Gazette. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  6. ^ Murrie, Ewan; Brodie, Owen (5 May 2023). "Lib Dems retain control of North Devon Council". BBC News. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  7. ^ Clarke, Lewis (23 June 2023). "North Devon Council appoints MP-hopeful councillor Ian Roome as leader". Devon Live. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  8. ^ Clarke, Lewis (6 June 2023). "North Devon's Greens and Independents unite to challenge Lib Dems". Devon Live. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Your councillors by political grouping". North Devon Council. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Results and candidates by ward 4 May 2023". North Devon Council. Retrieved 11 April 2023.