# 2023 Epping Forest District Council election

The 2023 Epping Forest District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Epping Forest District Council in Essex, England. There were 18 of the 58 seats up for election, being the usual approximate third of the council. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.
The Conservatives retained their majority on the council.

## Summary
### Election result

The overall results were:
2023 Epping Forest District Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Conservative | 14 | 1 | 77.8 | 20 | 34 | 58.6 | 7,214 | 48.3 | +8.0 |
| | Loughton Residents | 0 | | 0.0 | 13 | 13 | 22.4 | N/A | N/A | –17.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 3 | 2 | 16.7 | 3 | 6 | 10.3 | 3,349 | 22.4 | +4.1 |
| | Independent | 1 | | 5.6 | 2 | 3 | 5.2 | 690 | 4.6 | –1.3 |
| | Green | 0 | | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 3.4 | 314 | 2.1 | –1.3 |
| | Labour | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2,940 | 19.7 | +6.5 |
| | British Democrats | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 187 | 1.3 | N/A |
| | Reform UK | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 107 | 0.7 | +0.6 |
| | English Democrat | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 34 | 0.2 | –0.1 |
| | Shared Ground | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 32 | 0.2 | –0.5 |
| | TUSC | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 67 | 0.4 | ±0.0 |

## Candidates

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Epping Forest District Council following the close of nomination on 5 April 2023. The results for each ward were:

### Broadley Common, Epping Upland & Nazeing

Broadley Common, Epping Upland & Nazeing :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andy Green | 288 | 69.7 | –1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Griffiths | 68 | 16.5 | +8.1 |
| | Labour | Sarebjit Sangha | 57 | 13.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 220 | 53.2 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 413 | 23.5 | –1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,755 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.0 | |
The previous incumbent, Nigel Avey, had been elected as a Conservative in 2019 but left the party to sit as an independent earlier in 2023. He did not stand for re-election. Seat recorded as a Conservative hold to compare with the previous election.

### Buckhurst Hill West

Buckhurst Hill West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Aniket Patel* | 730 | 44.4 | –14.1 |
| | Labour | Tom Kasperkowicz | 273 | 16.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | Jo Share-Berina | 222 | 13.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ishvinder Matharu | 190 | 11.6 | –21.2 |
| | Green | Alan Fricker | 147 | 8.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | Lyubka Vesselinov | 51 | 3.1 | N/A |
| | Shared Ground | Thomas Hall | 32 | 1.9 | –6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 457 | 27.8 | +2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,653 | 31.6 | –1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,226 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash

Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Keska* | 520 | 57.6 | –1.3 |
| | Labour | Ron Huish | 168 | 18.6 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Monica Richardson | 157 | 17.4 | +2.3 |
| | Reform UK | Peter Bell | 57 | 6.3 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 352 | 39.0 | –4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 904 | 26.8 | –1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,380 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.1 | |

### Epping Hemnall

Epping Hemnall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Cherry McCredie* | 1,123 | 65.9 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative | Mari-Louise Whitbread | 450 | 26.4 | –2.0 |
| | Labour | Inez Collier | 130 | 7.6 | –1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 673 | 39.5 | +5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,724 | 35.5 | –2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,852 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 2.6 | |

### Epping Lindsay and Thornwood Common

Epping Lindsay and Thornwood Common :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Razia Sharif | 1,052 | 54.7 | +11.5 |
| | Conservative | Sue Jones | 750 | 39.0 | –8.2 |
| | Labour | Simon Bullough | 120 | 6.2 | –3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 302 | 15.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,956 | 37.0 | –0.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,284 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 9.9 | |

### Grange Hill

Grange Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Lisa Morgan | 417 | 38.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | David Saunders | 374 | 34.3 | –27.1 |
| | Labour | Onike Gollo | 240 | 22.0 | –16.6 |
| | Green | Tony Hanch | 59 | 5.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 42 | 4.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,102 | 21.4 | –4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,143 | | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
The previous incumbent, Sheree Rackham, had been elected as a Conservative in 2019. She left the party in 2022 and subsequently sat as an independent for the remainder of her term. She did not stand for re-election. Seat recorded as a Conservative hold to compare with the previous election.

### Hastingwood, Matching and Sheering Village

Hastingwood, Matching and Sheering Village :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Morgan* | 379 | 67.2 | N/A |
| | Labour | Michelle Gwynn | 123 | 21.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Ward | 62 | 11.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 256 | 45.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 565 | 28.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,965 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Lambourne

Lambourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Craig McCann | 257 | 69.6 | –5.1 |
| | Labour | Alison Wingfield | 62 | 16.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Naomi Davies | 50 | 13.6 | –11.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 195 | 52.8 | +3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 371 | 23.5 | –3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,578 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Lower Nazeing

Lower Nazeing :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Bassett* | 469 | 65.1 | –4.0 |
| | Labour | Elizabeth Marsh | 104 | 14.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elaine Thatcher | 97 | 13.5 | –17.4 |
| | Reform UK | Martin Harvey | 50 | 6.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 365 | 50.7 | +6.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 723 | 21.5 | –1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,360 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Lower Sheering

Lower Sheering :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lesley Paine | 226 | 45.5 | +13.7 |
| | Conservative | Simon Baker | 206 | 41.4 | –26.8 |
| | Labour | Janine Williams | 65 | 13.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20 | 4.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 503 | 29.5 | +6.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,706 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 20.3 | |

### North Weald Bassett

North Weald Bassett :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jaymey McIvor* | 507 | 57.9 | –5.5 |
| | Labour | Kevin Hind | 221 | 25.2 | +5.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Edward Barnard | 148 | 16.9 | –0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 286 | 32.7 | –11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 892 | 24.7 | –3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,603 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.7 | |

### Roydon

Roydon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Whitbread* | 315 | 64.9 | –6.4 |
| | Labour | Alex Kyriacou-Drummond | 170 | 35.1 | +19.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 145 | 29.8 | –25.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 487 | 28.3 | +0.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,724 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 12.9 | |
Chris Whitbread changed ward at this election; he was the sitting councillor for Epping Lindsey and Thornwood Common.

### Shelley

Shelley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nigel Bedford* | 162 | 49.1 | N/A |
| | Labour | Tom Acornley | 110 | 33.3 | N/A |
| | English Democrat | Robin Tilbrook | 34 | 10.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Sinfield | 24 | 7.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 52 | 15.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 330 | 17.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,894 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Waltham Abbey High Beach

Waltham Abbey High Beach :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tim Matthews* | 289 | 67.5 | +3.7 |
| | Labour | Martin Morris | 139 | 32.5 | +17.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 150 | 35.0 | –8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 431 | 21.3 | –9.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,024 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.8 | |

### Waltham Abbey Honey Lane

Waltham Abbey Honey Lane :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sam Kane* | 487 | 54.4 | –4.5 |
| | Labour | Simon Harris | 367 | 41.0 | +6.1 |
| | TUSC | Ian Pattison | 42 | 4.7 | –1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 120 | 13.4 | –10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 908 | 20.5 | –3.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,435 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.3 | |

### Waltham Abbey North East

Waltham Abbey North East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jodie Lucas* | 426 | 56.5 | –7.8 |
| | Labour | Angela Ayre | 208 | 27.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Phil Chadburn | 120 | 15.9 | –19.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 218 | 28.9 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 758 | 24.3 | –2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,125 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Waltham Abbey Paternoster

Waltham Abbey Paternoster :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Maria Markham | 293 | 39.4 | –20.5 |
| | Labour | Robert Greyson | 250 | 33.6 | –3.0 |
| | British Democrats | Julian Leppert* | 187 | 25.2 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Bea Gardner | 13 | 1.7 | –1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43 | 5.8 | –17.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 751 | 22.3 | +2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,374 | | |
| | Conservative gain from British Democrats | Conservative gain from British Democrats | Swing | 8.8 | |
Julian Leppert had been elected as a For Britain Movement councillor in 2019. On that party's demise in July 2022 he joined the British Democratic Party, under which banner he stood for re-election in 2023 and was defeated.

### Waltham Abbey South West

Waltham Abbey South West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Joseph Parsons* | 312 | 52.3 | –16.8 |
| | Labour | Debbie Wild | 133 | 22.3 | +2.5 |
| | Green | Dave Plummer | 108 | 18.1 | +12.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marc Beecroft | 32 | 5.4 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Josh Asker | 12 | 2.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 179 | 30.0 | –19.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 603 | 18.3 | –6.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,297 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Green | Conservative gain from Green | Swing | 9.7 | |
Joseph Parsons had won this seat for the Conservatives from the Greens at a by-election in October 2022. Seat recorded as a Conservative gain from Greens here to allow comparison to last full elections.