The 2023 Wealden District Council election was held on 4 May 2023 to elect all 45 members of Wealden District Council. 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.
Results summary
The Conservatives lost the council to no overall control for the first time in 25 years. This is also the first time that the Labour Party has been elected to the Council, with two members being elected in Uckfield.
Ward results
Wealden District Council results.
Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).
Arlington
Buxted
Chiddingly, East Hoathly & Waldron
Crowborough Central
Crowborough Jarvis Brook
Crowborough North
Crowborough South East
Crowborough South West
Crowborough St Johns
Danehill & Fletching
Forest Row
Framfield & Cross-in-Hand
Frant & Wadhurst
Hadlow Down & Rotherfield
Hailsham Central
Hailsham East
Hailsham North
Hailsham North West
Hailsham South
Hailsham West
Hartfield
Heathfield North
Heathfield South
Hellingly
Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels
Horam & Punnetts Town
Lower Willingdon
Maresfield
Mayfield & Five Ashes
Pevensey Bay
Polegate Central
Polegate North
Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill
South Downs
Stone Cross
Uckfield East
Uckfield New Town
Uckfield North
Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted
Upper Willingdon
Withyham
Changes 2023–2027
By-election triggered by disqualification of independent councillor Spike Mayhew for non-attendance.
On 15 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. On 22 May 2024 it was announced Cllr Cleaver had joined the Conservative Party, who now have 10 councillors.
On 24 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.
References
