2023 St Albans City and District Council election
← 2022 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04) 2024 →
18 out of 56 seats to St Albans City and District Council
29 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
  Blank Blank
Leader Chris White Brian Ellis
Party Liberal Democrats Conservative
Last election 50 seats, 47.9% 4 seats, 24.0%
Seats before 50 4
Seats won 15 1
Seats after 49 4
Seat change Decrease 1 Steady
Popular vote 20,859 11,127
Percentage 50.4% 26.8%
Swing Increase 2.5% Increase 2.8%
  Third party Fourth party
  Blank Blank
Leader Simon Grover
Party Green Independent
Last election 1 seat, 14.9% 1 seat, 2.5%
Seats before 1 1
Seats won 1 0
Seats after 2 1
Seat change Increase 1 Steady
Popular vote 5,287 0
Percentage 12.8% 0.0%
Swing Decrease 2.4% Decrease 2.5%
Winner of each seat at the 2023 St Albans City and District Council election
Leader before election

Chris White
Liberal Democrats

Leader after election

Chris White
Liberal Democrats

The 2023 St Albans City and District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of St Albans City and District Council in Hertfordshire, England.[1] This was on the same day as other local elections across England.[2]

Eighteen members of the council were up for election.

The Liberal Democrats obtained 15 seats, the Green party obtained 2 seats (including winning one from the Liberal Democrats in Clarence ward), and the Conservatives obtained 1 seat (in Harpenden South).[3][4]

The Liberal Democrats remained in control of the council after the election, with 49 out of 56 seats being held by them.[5]

On 5 May 2023, one day after the election, it was announced that there would be a by-election for a district councillor in St. Peters ward on 13 June 2023 due to a vacancy.[6]

The next elections are due to take place in May 2024.[3]

Summary

Election result

2023 St Albans City and District Council election
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Liberal Democrats 15 Decrease 1 83.3 34 49 87.5 20,859 50.4 +2.5
  Conservative 1 Steady 5.6 3 4 7.1 11,127 26.8 +2.8
  Green 2 Increase 1 11.1 0 2 3.6 5,287 12.8 –2.4
  Independent 0 Steady 0.0 1 1 1.8 0 0.0 –2.5
  Labour 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 4,075 9.8 –0.6
  Reform UK 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 49 0.1 N/A
  Communist 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 30 0.1 ±0.0

Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by St Albans City and District Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023.[7][8]

The Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Labour, and the Green Party had candidates in all 18 wards. The results for each ward were as follows:[9]

Batchwood

Batchwood
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jenni Murray* 1,184 56.4 +3.4
Labour Emma Turnbull 344 16.4 –1.2
Conservative Alexandra Clark 309 14.7 –1.6
Green Danielle Durant-Taylor 214 10.2 –2.8
Reform UK David Thurston 49 2.3 N/A
Majority 840 40.0 N/A
Turnout 2,100 37.6 –6.7
Registered electors 5,584
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase2.3

Bernards Heath

Bernards Heath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Chris Brattle 1,419 60.7 +8.2
Conservative Ambrose Killen 406 17.3 +1.2
Green Rosalind Paul 276 11.8 –10.1
Labour Jane Cloke 238 10.2 +0.8
Majority 1,013 43.4 N/A
Turnout 2,339 40.4 –6.3
Registered electors 5,796
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase3.5

Clarence

Clarence
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Matt Fisher 1,503 50.9 +18.3
Liberal Democrats Oluwasheun Onamusi 1,055 35.8 –11.1
Conservative Don Deepthi 198 6.7 –3.2
Labour George Sanderson 194 6.6 –4.0
Majority 448 15.1 N/A
Turnout 2,950 48.5 –2.3
Registered electors 6,089
Green gain from Liberal Democrats Swing Increase14.7

Cunningham

Cunningham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Keith Cotton 1,281 59.6 +0.2
Conservative Lyn Bolton 408 19.0 +3.1
Labour John Paton 293 13.6 +1.0
Green Caroline Hall 168 7.8 –4.3
Majority 873 40.6 N/A
Turnout 2,150 38.0 –3.0
Registered electors 5,660
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease1.5

Harpenden East

Harpenden East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Dason Canning* 1,221 58.0 +7.4
Conservative Nigel Turnbull 570 27.1 –3.2
Labour Neil Mulcock 172 8.2 +0.4
Green Ian Troughton 142 6.7 –4.7
Majority 651 30.9 N/A
Turnout 2,105 37.3 –6.0
Registered electors 5,637
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase5.3

Harpenden North & Rural

Harpenden North & Rural
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ayesha Rohale* 1,217 53.1 –2.5
Conservative Alexia D'Rosario 736 32.1 +2.4
Green Candida Whittome 171 7.5 –0.9
Labour Ben Dearman 167 7.3 +1.0
Majority 481 21.0 N/A
Turnout 2,291 39.3 –5.5
Registered electors 5,832
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease2.5

Harpenden South

Harpenden South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Teresa Heritage 1,220 52.0 +10.0
Liberal Democrats Denise de Mattos Bowser 885 37.7 +0.1
Labour David Crew 134 5.7 –4.2
Green Anne McQuade 106 4.6 –6.0
Majority 335 14.3 N/A
Turnout 2,345 42.2 +1.0
Registered electors 5,558
Conservative hold Swing Increase5.0

Harpenden West

Harpenden West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Fiona Gaskell* 1,256 45.4 +2.0
Conservative Matt Cowley 1,189 42.9 +9.6
Green Kyle Riley 205 7.4 –10.0
Labour Victoria Thompson 119 4.3 –1.6
Majority 67 2.5 N/A
Turnout 2,769 45.9 –3.2
Registered electors 6,036
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease3.8

Hill End

Hill End
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Graeme Shaw 1,468 66.5 +10.0
Conservative Sudha Bharadia 295 13.3 +0.6
Green Marianne Jordan 250 11.3 +0.8
Labour Steve Clark 197 8.9 ±0.0
Majority 1,173 53.2 N/A
Turnout 2,210 39.7 –6.4
Registered electors 5,569
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase4.7

London Colney

London Colney
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Guy Gampell* 646 35.6 +2.2
Labour Sam Vosper 619 34.1 +6.2
Conservative Dave Winstone 470 25.9 –4.3
Green Allie Park-Crowne 76 4.1 –3.9
Majority 27 1.5 N/A
Turnout 1,811 30.7 –1.2
Registered electors 5,897
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease2.0

Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm

Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Raj Visram* 1,156 49.9 –0.7
Conservative Frances Leonard 788 34.0 +2.3
Green James Lomas 195 8.4 –1.3
Labour Nick Pullinger 178 7.7 –0.3
Majority 368 15.9 N/A
Turnout 2,317 39.9 –7.9
Registered electors 5,809
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease1.5

Park Street

Park Street
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nuala Webb* 1,234 54.8 +7.6
Conservative James Cook 705 31.3 –3.2
Labour Laurence Chester 172 7.6 –1.4
Green Mark Park-Crowne 140 6.3 –3.1
Majority 529 23.5 N/A
Turnout 2,251 35.2 –5.9
Registered electors 6,396
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase5.5

Redbourn

Redbourn
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Andy Thurston 859 49.8 +18.0
Conservative Victoria Mead 615 35.6 +12.7
Labour Symon Vegro 156 9.0 +2.8
Green Stephen Clough 95 5.6 –2.1
Majority 244 14.2 N/A
Turnout 1,725 40.2 –1.7
Registered electors 4,292
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase2.7

Sandridge & Wheathampstead

Sandridge & Wheathampstead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sharon Hollingsworth* 1,213 48.8 +7.7
Conservative Gill Clark 960 38.6 +1.1
Green Oliver Hitch 166 6.7 –6.4
Labour James Morrell 148 6.0 –2.3
Majority 253 10.2 N/A
Turnout 2,487 41.2 –4.8
Registered electors 6,039
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase3.3

Sopwell

Sopwell
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Harriet Sherlock 1,144 55.5 +0.7
Labour Iain Grant 414 20.1 –0.8
Conservative Richard Curthoys 278 13.5 +1.4
Green Tricia Gibbons 194 9.4 –2.8
Communist Mark Ewington 30 1.5 N/A
Majority 730 35.4 N/A
Turnout 2,060 37.7 –5.1
Registered electors 5,458
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase0.8

St Peters

St Peters
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Simon Grover* 1,045 46.1 +9.4
Liberal Democrats David Partridge 760 33.4 –5.9
Conservative Graham Leonard 251 11.0 +1.0
Labour David Byatt 217 9.5 –4.6
Majority 285 12.7 N/A
Turnout 2,273 36.9 –2.7
Registered electors 6,164
Green hold Swing Increase7.7

St Stephen

St Stephen
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Stephen Cavinder 1,243 47.7 +3.5
Conservative Aaron Jacob 1,079 41.4 +6.3
Labour Janet Blackwell 156 6.0 –2.7
Green Matthew Thomas 129 4.9 –3.2
Majority 164 6.3 N/A
Turnout 2,607 39.4 –4.8
Registered electors 6,610
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease1.4

Verulam

Verulam
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Julian Degg 1,618 61.4 +4.4
Conservative Susan Devi 650 24.6 +0.5
Green Gabriel Roberts 212 8.0 –3.4
Labour Geoff Meade 157 6.0 –1.6
Majority 968 36.8 N/A
Turnout 2,637 46.1 –5.0
Registered electors 5,722
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase2.0

By-elections

St Peters

A by-election was held in the St Peters ward on 13 June 2023, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Danny Clare.[10][11]

St Peters: 13 June 2023
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Juliet Voisey 628 44.7 –1.4
Liberal Democrats David John Patridge 537 38.2 +4.8
Conservative Ambrose Killen 156 11.1 +0.1
Labour David James Byatt 84 6.0 –3.5
Majority 91 6.5 –6.2
Turnout 1,412 22.8 –14.1
Registered electors 6,196
Green gain from Liberal Democrats Swing Decrease3.1

Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm

A second by-election was held in Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm ward on 17 August 2023 following the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Elissa Da Costa-Waldman.[12][13]

Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm: 17 August 2023
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Raihaanah Ahmed 774 46.0 –3.9
Conservative Frances Leonard 661 39.3 +5.3
Green James Lomas 102 6.1 –2.3
Labour Nick Pullinger 82 4.9 –2.8
Independent Samuel Posner 62 3.7 N/A
Majority 113 6.7 -9.2
Turnout 1,685 28.8 -11.1
Registered electors 5,853
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Sandridge and Wheathampstead

A third by-election was held on 7 December 2023 due to a vacancy in the Sandridge and Wheathampstead ward.[14][15][16]

Sandridge and Wheathampstead: 7 December 2023
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Simon Johns 793 55.6 +6.8
Conservative Claudio Duran 480 33.7 -4.9
Green Oliver Hitch 78 5.5 -1.2
Labour James Morrell 68 4.8 -1.2
Majority 313 21.9 +11.7
Turnout 1,426 23.4 -18.1
Registered electors 6,093
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase13.2%

References

  1. ^ "Notice of Election" (PDF). St Albans City and District Council. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Local elections 2023: In maps and charts". BBC News. 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  3. ^ a b "Elections and results | St Albans City and District Council". www.stalbans.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  4. ^ Voce, Antonio; Leach, Anna; Hoog, Niels de; Clarke, Seán. "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". the Guardian. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  5. ^ Bates, Pearce (5 May 2023). "St Albans Election: Clarence goes Green as Lib Dems retain control". Herts Advertiser. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  6. ^ "By-election called as St Albans City and District councillor resigns". Herts Advertiser. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  7. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). St Albans City and District Council. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Local Election 2023: St Albans & District candidates revealed". Herts Advertiser. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  9. ^ "Results of the St Albans City and District Council elections held on Thursday 4 May 2023". St Albans City and District Council. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  10. ^ "By-election in St Peters ward". St Albans City and District Council. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  11. ^ Bates, Pearce (14 June 2023). "St Albans council: Green Party claim victory in St Peters ward". Herts Advertiser. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  12. ^ Bates, Pearce (18 August 2023). "St Albans: Lib Dems take Marshalswick East and Jersey Farm". Herts Advertiser. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  13. ^ "By-election called in Marshalswick East and Jersey Farm ward | St Albans City and District Council". www.stalbans.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  14. ^ "More by-elections as district and county seats open up". Herts Advertiser. 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  15. ^ "By-elections called for both District and County Councils | St Albans City and District Council". www.stalbans.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  16. ^ "By-election result for Sandridge and Wheathampstead" (PDF). St Albans City and District Council. 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
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