# 2023 Torbay Council election

The 2023 Torbay Council election was held on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Torbay Council in England. It coincided with local elections across the United Kingdom.
Before the election, the council was controlled by a coalition between the Liberal Democrats, with 12 seats, and Independents, with 10 seats. The largest party was the Conservatives with 13 seats. There was one vacancy following the death of Jane Barnby in February 2023.
Torbay, along with Wyre Forest, were the only two councils gained by the Conservatives. Conservative leader David Thomas was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 16 May 2023.

## Voter requirements

To vote, residents must have registered by midnight on 17 April. Following the Elections Act 2022, voters at polling stations will need valid photo id. Voters who do not have one of the approved types of id can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. The deadline for applying for this election is 5 pm on 25 April.

## Wards

The distribution of seats by ward is:
| Ward | Seats |
| Barton with Watcombe | 3 |
| Churston with Galmpton | 2 |
| Clifton with Maidenway | 2 |
| Cockington with Chelston | 2 |
| Collaton St Mary | 1 |
| Ellacombe | 2 |
| Furzeham with Summercombe | 3 |
| Goodrington with Roselands | 2 |
| Kings Ash | 2 |
| Preston | 3 |
| Roundham with Hyde | 2 |
| Shiphay | 2 |
| St Marychurch | 3 |
| St Peters with St Marys | 2 |
| Tormohun | 3 |
| Wellswood | 2 |
| Total | 36 |

## Summary
### Election result

2023 Torbay Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 36 | 19 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 52.8 | 44.1 | 30,891 | +9.9 |
| Liberal Democrats | 36 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 41.7 | 36.6 | 25,615 | +8.8 |
| Independent | 13 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 5.6 | 8.5 | 5,962 | –11.3 |
| Green | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 8.2 | 5,751 | –0.2 |
| Labour | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1,422 | –3.4 |
| TUSC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.4 | 287 | N/A |
| Workers Party | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.2 | 149 | N/A |

## Ward results

The statement of persons nominated was published on 5 April 2023. Incumbent councillors are marked with an asterisk (*), except councillors running in a new ward who are marked with a dagger (†).

### Barton with Watcombe

Barton with Watcombe (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steve Darling* | 1,247 | 57.1 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Fox | 1,121 | 51.4 | +3.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Swithin Long* | 1,070 | 49.0 | +5.4 |
| | Conservative | Kim Tracey Brook | 684 | 31.3 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative | Damian Barton | 647 | 29.6 | +6.2 |
| | Conservative | David John Watkins | 563 | 25.8 | +3.7 |
| | Labour | Gary Christopher Hunt | 286 | 13.1 | +4.3 |
| | Green | Mick Tait | 259 | 11.9 | −0.1 |
| | Independent | Bjorn Gunter Lauer | 126 | 5.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,183 | 25.51 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Churston with Galmpton

Churston with Galmpton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Adam Simon Billings | 1,155 | 49.1 | −5.3 |
| | Conservative | Alan John Tyerman | 1,039 | 44.2 | −10.1 |
| | Independent | Karen Ann Kennedy* | 787 | 33.5 | −18.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dennis Ronald Shearman | 449 | 19.1 | −2.0 |
| | Green | Richard Wingate Spreckley | 397 | 16.9 | −6.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dan Reed | 362 | 15.4 | −1.4 |
| | Green | Alan Wyatt | 189 | 8.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,351 | 39.24 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Clifton with Maidenway

Clifton with Maidenway (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Maggi Douglas-Dunbar* | 1,004 | 53.7 | +10.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Cat Johns* | 982 | 52.6 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | Peter Bernhard Henry Middleton | 730 | 39.1 | +9.5 |
| | Conservative | Iain Leanard Palmer | 616 | 33.0 | +7.2 |
| | Green | Sue Kenning | 260 | 13.9 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,868 | 30.88 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Cockington with Chelston

Cockington with Chelston (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Nicole Jeanne Amil* | 789 | 38.3 | −3.8 |
| | Conservative | Mark Anthony Thomas Spacagna | 744 | 36.1 | +15.2 |
| | Conservative | Andrew John Barrand* | 682 | 33.1 | +9.3 |
| | Independent | Julie Diane Brandon | 528 | 25.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Hans Windheuser | 360 | 17.5 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alistair Kevin Brierley | 324 | 15.7 | +3.2 |
| | Labour | Daniel William Clemence | 255 | 12.4 | −7.9 |
| | Green | Jimi Neary | 214 | 10.4 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,059 | 34.09 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Collaton St Mary

Collaton St Mary (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Martin Robert Brook | 325 | 45.2 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Katherine Norma Oliverio | 225 | 31.3 | +14.8 |
| | Green | Kate Prendergast | 169 | 23.5 | +2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 719 | 29.88 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Ellacombe

Ellacombe (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jermaine Atiya-Alla* | 752 | 52.8 | +25.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Yannis Matthew Nicolaou | 712 | 50.0 | +23.7 |
| | Conservative | Anne Martine Madge Brooks† | 462 | 32.5 | +12.4 |
| | Conservative | Melodie Anne Ripley | 404 | 28.4 | +8.5 |
| | Green | Hazel Robertson | 201 | 14.1 | ±0.0 |
| | Workers Party | Paul Andrew Moor | 149 | 10.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,423 | 24.61 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Furzeham with Summercombe

Furzeham with Summercombe (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andrew Paul Strang | 1,148 | 47.1 | +29.8 |
| | Conservative | Hannah Emily Stevens | 960 | 39.4 | +24.2 |
| | Conservative | Jason Richard Hutchings | 898 | 36.8 | +24.2 |
| | Independent | Jackie Stockman* | 882 | 36.2 | −17.5 |
| | Independent | Bob Hyde | 525 | 21.5 | N/A |
| | Green | John Fallon | 473 | 19.4 | +3.0 |
| | Independent | Paul David Greenwood | 461 | 18.9 | N/A |
| | Green | Robert Charles Bagnall | 329 | 13.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ben Davis | 317 | 13.0 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Corcoran | 293 | 12.0 | +6.0 |
| | Independent | Michael Leon Roseveare | 292 | 12.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andy Ford | 262 | 10.7 | +5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,439 | 30.53 | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Goodrington with Roselands

Goodrington with Roselands (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Richard Fellows | 942 | 48.8 | +16.6 |
| | Conservative | Hayley Jeanette Tranter | 843 | 43.6 | +18.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tom Pentney | 709 | 36.7 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matt Pope | 593 | 30.7 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | Steve Radford | 258 | 13.4 | +6.1 |
| | Green | Sara Palmer | 247 | 12.8 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,932 | 33.13 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |

### Kings Ash

Kings Ash (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jackie Thomas* | 621 | 46.7 | +17.5 |
| | Conservative | Yvonne Marie Twelves | 555 | 41.7 | +9.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Davina Jit Kaur Luther | 445 | 33.4 | +13.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Beth Dring | 426 | 32.0 | +15.7 |
| | Labour | Eddie Harris | 219 | 16.5 | +0.7 |
| | Green | Neil Owen Rolfe | 196 | 14.7 | −4.0 |
| | TUSC | Neil Cussons | 74 | 5.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,331 | 23.82 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Preston

Preston (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Lewis* | 1,586 | 56.8 | +8.8 |
| | Conservative | Barbara Anne Lewis† | 1,567 | 56.1 | +12.7 |
| | Conservative | David Michael Thomas* | 1,442 | 51.6 | +12.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bob Cross | 883 | 31.6 | +10.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dave Law | 863 | 30.9 | +12.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dean Barry Rollings | 705 | 25.2 | +10.1 |
| | Green | Sophie Downs | 633 | 22.7 | +4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,794 | 34.65 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Roundham with Hyde

Roundham with Hyde (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Carter* | 747 | 46.4 | +13.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nigel John Penny | 668 | 41.5 | +13.4 |
| | Conservative | Alan Craig Whytock | 639 | 39.7 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative | Daniel Lawrence Boatwright | 620 | 38.5 | +9.6 |
| | Green | Jane Hughes | 302 | 18.8 | +2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,610 | 25.73 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Shiphay

Shiphay (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Darren John Cowell* | 667 | 38.2 | −2.6 |
| | Conservative | Katya Maddison | 583 | 33.4 | +5.8 |
| | Conservative | Josh Barrand | 575 | 32.9 | +7.4 |
| | Independent | Rob Loxton* | 553 | 31.6 | −6.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ann Ashworth | 319 | 18.2 | −1.4 |
| | Green | Jenny Stoneman | 212 | 12.1 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Fiona Jane Hess | 190 | 10.9 | −4.8 |
| | Independent | Mark Dent | 92 | 5.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | Kurt Lewis Napper | 64 | 3.7 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Stuart Kenneth Gale | 62 | 3.5 | −4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,748 | 28.91 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### St Marychurch

St Marychurch (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Andrew Darling | 1,568 | 50.6 | +20.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kelly Louise Stephanie Harvey | 1,537 | 49.6 | +21.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ras Virdee | 1,374 | 44.3 | +17.8 |
| | Conservative | Hazel Margaret Foster* | 1,301 | 42.0 | +8.1 |
| | Conservative | Paul Evan Jones | 1,186 | 38.3 | +6.4 |
| | Conservative | Roger Kenneth Heath | 1,080 | 34.8 | +3.3 |
| | Green | Jenny Giel | 502 | 16.2 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,100 | 34.07 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### St Peters with St Marys

St Peters with St Marys (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anna Joan Tolchard | 746 | 47.5 | +21.8 |
| | Conservative | Steve Bryant | 744 | 47.4 | +14.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David John Giles | 517 | 33.0 | +23.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dave Fordham | 472 | 30.1 | +22.0 |
| | Green | Poppy Hopkins | 307 | 19.6 | −3.1 |
| | Green | Stephen Linley-Shaw | 259 | 16.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,569 | 29.18 | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Tormohun

Tormohun (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mandy Darling* | 1,087 | 48.8 | +4.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nick Pentney* | 953 | 42.8 | +4.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Cordelia Louise Law* | 943 | 42.3 | +5.2 |
| | Conservative | Denise Ann Sinclair | 692 | 31.1 | +6.7 |
| | Conservative | Brian Raymond Lownds-Pateman | 678 | 30.4 | +8.1 |
| | Conservative | Robert Stanley Summers | 649 | 29.1 | +7.7 |
| | Labour | Olivia Catherine Bath | 404 | 18.1 | +7.5 |
| | Green | Helen Margaret Boyles | 330 | 14.8 | +3.0 |
| | Independent | Robert Martin Excell | 196 | 8.8 | −9.2 |
| | TUSC | Michelle Goodman | 151 | 6.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,228 | 24.22 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Wellswood

Wellswood (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nick Bye* | 1,482 | 66.6 | +10.3 |
| | Conservative | Patrick Antony Joyce | 1,303 | 58.6 | +9.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pamela Jane Bagnall | 582 | 26.2 | +5.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dennis Brewer | 554 | 24.9 | +15.2 |
| | Green | Richard Boyles | 272 | 12.2 | −2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,224 | 37.72 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

## Changes 2023-2027
### By-elections
#### Wellswood

Wellswood: 6 June 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hazel Foster | 938 | 42.3 | –21.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Fenton | 929 | 41.9 | +17.0 |
| | Reform UK | Mike Lister | 188 | 8.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | Jonathan Chant-Stevens | 117 | 5.3 | N/A |
| | Green | Jenny Giel | 34 | 1.5 | –10.1 |
| | Independent | Paul Moor | 11 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,223 | 38.4 | +0.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,799 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 19.1 | |