# 2023 Rutland County Council election

The 2023 Rutland County Council election was held on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Rutland County Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.
Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being run by a coalition of the Conservatives and independents. After the election the council remained under no overall control, but the Liberal Democrats became the largest party. They subsequently formed a minority administration with the Green Party councillor.

## Overview

There had been several by-elections and changes of allegiance between the last full council election in 2019 and 2023. Immediately before the 2023 election there were four political parties represented on the council and 13 independent councillors who did not belong to a registered political party. Some of the parties and independents formed political groups:
* The "Independent & Green Group", led by Rosemary Powell, comprised five of the independent councillors plus the one Green councillor.
* "Together4Rutland", led by Nick Begy, comprised four of the independent councillors, all of whom had originally been elected as Conservatives.
The other parties formed their own groups, and the remaining four independent councillors (three of whom had originally been elected as Conservatives) were not aligned to any group. The council was led by the Conservatives with support from the Independent & Green Group. The Conservative leader, Lucy Stephenson, was leader of the council, and Independent & Green Group leader, Rosemary Powell, was deputy leader of the council.
After the election the Liberal Democrats were the largest party with 11 seats and formed a new group with the one Green councillor which formed a minority administration. Liberal Democrat & Green group leader Gale Waller was elected leader of the council at the annual meeting on 22 May 2023 by 15 votes to 12 over Independent Rosemary Powell.

## Results summary

121167 :
| Political group ||
| Political group | Political group | Seats | +/⁠– |
| | Liberal Democrats | 11 | +8 |
| | Independent | 7 | -1 |
| | Conservative | 6 | -9 |
| | Labour | 2 | +2 |
| | Green | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 27 | 0 |

## Results by ward

Rutland County Council election result.
Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).

### Barleythorpe

Barleythorpe (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Tracy Carr | 366 | 68.0 | N/A |
| | Green | Hans Zollinger-Ball | 280 | 52.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Sue Coleman | 126 | 23.4 | −5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 539 | 28.96 | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
| | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent |

### Braunston & Martinsthorpe

Braunston & Martinsthorpe (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Johnson | 522 | 57.0 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative | Giles Clifton | 408 | 44.5 | −5.4 |
| | Conservative | Edward Baines* | 377 | 41.2 | −12.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 918 | 45.60 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Cottesmore

Cottesmore (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Abigail MacCartney* | 331 | 58.9 | +8.4 |
| | Independent | Samantha Harvey* | 302 | 53.7 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative | Graeme Douglas | 195 | 34.7 | −11.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 568 | 28.43 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative |
Samantha Harvey had been elected as a Conservative in 2019 but left the party to sit as an independent in May 2022. She was re-elected as an independent in 2023, which is recorded here as an independent gain from the Conservatives to allow comparison with the previous election.

### Exton

Exton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kiloran Heckels | 225 | 51.8 | +51.8 |
| | Independent | June Fox* | 209 | 48.2 | +48.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16 | 3.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 444 | 37.41 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
June Fox had been elected as a Conservative in 2019 but left the party to sit as an independent in the Together4Rutland group in April 2022. She stood as an independent in 2023 but was defeated. The seat is recorded here as Conservative hold to allow comparison with the previous election.

### Greetham

Greetham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Nick Begy* | 333 | 79.3 | +79.3 |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Collins | 87 | 20.7 | +20.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 246 | 58.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 424 | 37.39 | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Nick Begy had been elected as a Conservative in 2019 but left the party to sit as an independent in the Together4Rutland group in April 2022. He was re-elected as an independent, which is recorded here as an independent gain from the Conservatives to allow comparison with the previous election.

### Ketton

Ketton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Karen Payne* | 391 | 52.0 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | Matthew Farina | 387 | 51.5 | −11.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Canham | 346 | 46.0 | +16.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 754 | 33.30 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
The other previous incumbent for this seat, Gordon Brown, had been elected as a Conservative in 2019 but left the party in April 2022 to sit as an independent in the Together4Rutland group. He did not stand for re-election. The seat is recorded as a Conservative hold here to allow comparison with the previous election.

### Langham

Langham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Oliver Hemsley* | 218 | 47.2 | −27.2 |
| | Conservative | Edward Heckels | 163 | 35.3 | −39.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Davies | 81 | 17.5 | −8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 55 | 11.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 465 | 40.05 | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Oliver Hemsley had been elected as a Conservative in 2019 but left the party to sit as an independent in May 2022. He was re-elected as an independent, which is recorded here as an independent gain from the Conservatives to allow comparison with the previous election.

### Lyddington

Lyddington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Andrew Brown* | Unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Normanton

Normanton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gale Waller* | 603 | 67.9 | +67.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tim Smith | 582 | 65.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Gibbs | 243 | 27.4 | +27.4 |
| | Conservative | Ian Coleman | 235 | 26.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 894 | 37.45 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative |

### Oakham North East

Oakham North East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Hannah Edwards | 497 | 74.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Chatfield | 427 | 64.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Chris Booth | 197 | 29.5 | −27.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 671 | 31.24 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative |
One of the previous incumbents, Alan Walters, had been elected as a Conservative in 2019 but left the party in November 2021 to sit as an independent. He did not stand for re-election in 2023. That seat is recorded here as a Liberal Democrat gain from Conservatives to allow for comparison with the previous election.

### Oakham North West

Oakham North West (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Steve McRobb | 276 | 44.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | Ramsay Ross | 217 | 34.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Christopher Clark | 166 | 26.7 | +26.7 |
| | Independent | Paul Ainsley* | 151 | 24.3 | +24.3 |
| | Independent | Christopher Nix | 139 | 22.4 | N/A |
| | Independent | David Romney | 91 | 14.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 624 | 24.82 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent |
Paul Ainsley had been elected as a Conservative in 2019 but left the party to sit as an independent in 2021, subsequently joining the Together4Rutland group. He stood for re-election as an independent in 2023 but was defeated. The seat is recorded here as a Labour gain from the Conservatives to allow comparison with the previous election. The other Oakham North West seat had been won by Labour in a by-election in 2021.

### Oakham South

Oakham South (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diane Ellison | 920 | 68.0 | +1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Browne* | 909 | 67.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ray Payne* | 811 | 59.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Michael Rook | 363 | 26.8 | −21.5 |
| | Independent | Martin Brookes | 249 | 18.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,355 | 36.07 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative |
At the 2019 election, one of the three Oakham South seats had been won by the Liberal Democrats and two by Conservatives. The Liberal Democrats had gained the other two seats in by-elections in 2021 and 2022.

### Ryhall & Casterton

Ryhall & Casterton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Wilby* | 345 | 52.6 | +52.6 |
| | Independent | Kevin Corby | 334 | 50.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Darnley Rayside | 202 | 30.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Lee Bushby | 200 | 30.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 657 | 29.08 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent |
The independent elected in May 2019 did not meet the deadline to formally accept his position as a councillor; a Conservative won the by-election in September 2019. A Green won a second by-election in March 2022 but did not contest the seat in 2023.

### Uppingham

Uppingham (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Lambert* | 904 | 75.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine Wise | 780 | 65.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Lucy Stephenson* | 579 | 48.6 | −8.6 |
| | Conservative | Mo Cerrone | 236 | 19.8 | −21.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,199 | 38.40 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Green | Liberal Democrats gain from Green | Liberal Democrats gain from Green | Liberal Democrats gain from Green | Liberal Democrats gain from Green |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Stephen Lambert had won a by-election in May 2022.

### Whissendine

Whissendine :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Rosemary Powell* | Unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

## Changes 2023-2027
### By-elections
#### Oakham North East

The election was triggered after the death of Cllr Hannah Edwards.
Oakham North East by-election: 21 November 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linda Chatfield | 244 | 40.9 | –30.7 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Clark | 237 | 39.7 | +11.3 |
| | Reform UK | Ben Callaghan | 93 | 15.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | Katie Ross | 23 | 3.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 597 | 27.0 | –4.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 21.0 | |