# 2019 Cotswold District Council election

The 2019 Cotswold District Council election took place on 2 May 2019 to elect all members of Cotswold District Council, as part of the United Kingdom local elections. The Conservatives had controlled the council since 2003 but lost ten seats. The Liberal Democrats won overall control of the council for the first time since the council's creation in 1974. The Green Party also won their first seat on the council since the council's creation.
The Tetbury Town ward was decided by one vote. The returning officer reportedly decided the seat by allocating a doubtful ballot paper that had the word "BREXIT" written across it with an arrow pointing to the Conservative candidate, Stephen Hirst, in favour of Hirst. The hitherto tied candidate, Independent David Painter, described it as a "travesty of justice" and said "no wonder people are turned off voting". Painter sought to raise £2,500 to begin a legal challenge against the returning officer's decision. The council maintained that the returning officer's decision was in line with guidance from the Electoral Commission.

## Summary
### Election result

2019 Cotswold District Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Liberal Democrats | 29 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 52.9 | 44.5 | 12,255 | 11.1 |
| Conservative | 34 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 41.2 | 38.9 | 10,727 | 15.9 |
| Independent | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2.9 | 5.7 | 1,570 | 4.4 |
| Green | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2.9 | 5.0 | 1,370 | 2.3 |
| Labour | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 3.1 | 857 | 0.2 |
| UKIP | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 2.9 | 793 | 1.7 |

## Ward results
### Abbey Ward

Cirencester Abbey Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Harris* | 573 | 75.2 | +22.0 |
| | Conservative | Rebecca Senior | 127 | 16.7 | −20.4 |
| | Labour | Alan Mackenzie | 62 | 8.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 446 | 58.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Blockley Ward

Blockley Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sue Jepson* | 394 | 56.2 | −5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bella McMillan-Scott | 179 | 25.5 | −12.4 |
| | Green | Clare Turner | 128 | 18.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 215 | 30.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Bourton Vale Ward

Bourton Vale Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Keeling* | 494 | 64.4 | −8.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Lilley | 273 | 35.6 | +8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 221 | 28.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Bourton Village Ward

Bourton Village Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nick Maunder | 470 | 55.0 | +5.8 |
| | Conservative | Len Wilkins* | 385 | 45.0 | −5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 85 | 10.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Campden and Vale Ward

Campden and Vale Ward (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gina Blomefield | 888 | 49.2 | −5.1 |
| | Conservative | Mark Annett* | 829 | 46.0 | −11.7 |
| | UKIP | Rob McNeil-Wilson | 623 | 34.5 | +17.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marcus Efstratiou | 521 | 28.9 | +7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 206 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Chedworth and Churn Valley Ward

Chedworth and Churn Valley Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jenny Forde* | 586 | 57.6 | +7.5 |
| | Independent | David Broad | 201 | 19.7 | −30.2 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Senior | 180 | 17.7 | −32.2 |
| | UKIP | Christopher Harlow | 52 | 5.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 385 | 37.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 51.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Chesterton Ward

Cirencester Chesterton Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roly Hughes* | 538 | 85.5 | +39.6 |
| | Conservative | Diana Mackenzie-Charrington | 91 | 14.5 | −17.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 447 | 71.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Coln Valley Ward

Coln Valley Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ray Theodoulou* | 459 | 58.7 | −10.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joanna Walker | 186 | 23.8 | +5.0 |
| | Green | Michael Poole | 137 | 17.5 | +5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 273 | 34.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Ermin Ward

Ermin Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julia Judd | 464 | 57.9 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ed Smith | 338 | 42.1 | +9.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 126 | 15.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.9 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Fairford North Ward

Following the 2017 by-election, this ward was held by the Liberal Democrats.
Fairford North Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Doherty* | 493 | 69.2 | +41.4 |
| | Conservative | Rob Stead | 219 | 30.8 | −20.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 274 | 38.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 36.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Fosseridge Ward

Fosseridge Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Beale* | 620 | 68.7 | −2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dominique Simpson | 282 | 31.3 | +17.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 338 | 37.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.9 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Four Acres Ward

Cirencester Four Acres Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ray Brassington* | 407 | 69.6 | +17.1 |
| | Conservative | Edward Horsfall | 140 | 23.9 | −10.5 |
| | Labour | Richard Guilding | 38 | 6.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 267 | 45.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.3 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Grumbolds Ash with Avening Ward

Grumbolds Ash with Avening Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Morgan* | 460 | 61.3 | −10.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicky Baber | 172 | 22.9 | −5.6 |
| | Labour | Ed Shelton | 118 | 15.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 288 | 38.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Kemble Ward

Kemble Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Berry* | 538 | 57.9 | −4.3 |
| | Green | Sabrina Poole | 262 | 28.2 | N/A |
| | Labour | Sian Smith | 68 | 7.3 | N/A |
| | UKIP | John Fleming | 61 | 6.6 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 276 | 29.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Lechlade, Kempsford and Fairford South Ward

Lechlade, Kempsford and Fairford South Ward (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Stephen Andrews* | 829 | 52.0 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | Steve Trotter | 826 | 51.8 | −5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kara Wise | 483 | 30.3 | +10.2 |
| | Green | Xanthe Messenger | 468 | 29.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | Trevor Smith | 235 | 14.7 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 343 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Moreton East Ward

Moreton East Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rachel Coxcoon | 585 | 62.8 | +48.3 |
| | Conservative | David Cunningham | 314 | 33.7 | −33.6 |
| | Labour | Simon Cohen | 33 | 3.5 | −14.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 271 | 29.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Moreton West Ward

Moreton West Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Clive Webster | 468 | 55.2 | +32.1 |
| | Conservative | Alison Coggins* | 380 | 44.8 | −32.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 88 | 10.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### New Mills Ward

Cirencester New Mills Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Claire Bloomer | 353 | 75.9 | +20.3 |
| | Conservative | Frederick Hart | 112 | 24.1 | −20.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 241 | 51.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 25.3 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Northleach Ward

Northleach Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tony Dale | 557 | 62.2 | +27.1 |
| | Conservative | Jolyon Grey | 338 | 37.8 | −19.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 219 | 24.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Sandywell Ward

Sandywell Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robin Hughes* | 536 | 67.0 | −3.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Harry Chalklin | 199 | 24.9 | −4.5 |
| | Labour | Ian Pillinger | 65 | 8.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 337 | 42.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Siddington and Cerney Rural Ward

Siddington and Cerney Rural Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Evemy | 565 | 71.4 | +22.9 |
| | Conservative | Richard Davies | 226 | 28.6 | −22.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 339 | 42.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### South Cerney Village Ward

South Cerney Village :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Juliet Layton* | 565 | 83.7 | +35.1 |
| | Conservative | Margaret Saunders | 110 | 16.3 | −13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 455 | 67.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### St Michael's Ward

Cirencester St Michael's Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joe Harris* | 554 | 73.0 | +22.9 |
| | Conservative | Harry Coutts | 147 | 19.4 | −12.4 |
| | Labour | Terence Pomroy | 58 | 7.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 407 | 53.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Stow Ward

Stow Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dilys Neill* | 577 | 65.3 | +21.4 |
| | Conservative | Tom Bradley | 307 | 34.7 | −21.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 270 | 30.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Stratton Ward

Cirencester Stratton Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Patrick Coleman* | 497 | 57.1 | +5.2 |
| | Independent | Phillip Coleman | 223 | 25.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Malcolm Gilmore | 115 | 13.2 | −24.9 |
| | Labour | Gunther Strait | 35 | 4.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 274 | 31.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Tetbury East and Rural Ward

Tetbury East and Rural Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Nikki Ind | 603 | 73.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Maggie Heaven* | 217 | 26.5 | −47.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 386 | 47.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Tetbury Town Ward

Tetbury Town Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Stephen Hirst* | 232 | 40.3 | −6.8 |
| | Independent | Kevin Painter | 231 | 40.2 | +15.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rebecca Halifax | 112 | 19.5 | +11.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 0.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Tetbury with Upton Ward

Tetbury with Upton Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Norris | 334 | 48.0 | −13.5 |
| | Independent | Georgina Osman | 223 | 32.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | Jon Easterbrook | 76 | 10.9 | −9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nigel Bass | 63 | 9.1 | −9.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 111 | 16.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.0 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### The Ampneys and Hampton Ward

The Ampneys and Hampton Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lisa Spivey | 727 | 58.5 | +21.5 |
| | Conservative | David Fowles* | 516 | 41.5 | −21.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 211 | 17.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 57.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### The Beeches Ward

Cirencester Beeches :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nigel Robbins* | 526 | 79.6 | +40.1 |
| | Conservative | Robin McCorkell | 135 | 20.4 | −15.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 391 | 59.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 30.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### The Rissingtons Ward

The Rissingtons Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Andrew Maclean | 375 | 52.6 | +31.9 |
| | Conservative | Mark Mackenzie-Charrington* | 338 | 47.4 | −19.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 37 | 5.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 36.8 | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Watermoor Ward

Cirencester Watermoor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gary Selwyn | 406 | 57.8 | +9.1 |
| | Independent | Jenny Hincks* | 89 | 12.7 | −36.0 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Daniels | 82 | 11.7 | −21.3 |
| | Labour | Will Downes-Hall | 69 | 9.8 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Pete Elliot | 57 | 8.1 | −10.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 317 | 45.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 33.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections
### Fosseridge

Fosseridge, 6 May 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Cunningham | 641 | 63.7 | −5.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dominique Simpson | 251 | 25.0 | −6.3 |
| | Green | Clare Turner | 114 | 11.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 390 | 38.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,009 | 47.09 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Campden and Vale

Campden and Vale, 3 February 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom Stowe | 1,180 | 56.2 | +10.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Danny Loveridge | 920 | 43.8 | +14.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 260 | 12.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,100 | 42.35 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |