# 2023 Wyre Forest District Council election

The 2023 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 4 May 2023, to elect all 33 members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, 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 "progressive alliance" of Independent Health Concern, Labour, Green and independent councillors. The Conservatives won a majority of the seats at this election. Wyre Forest was one of only two councils where the Conservatives gained control in the 2023 elections, with the party generally losing seats and councils elsewhere.

## Summary

Prior to the election the eight Independent Health Concern councillors, five independent councillors and the one Green councillor had sat together as one "Independent Group", led by independent councillor Helen Dyke. The Independent Group and Labour together formed the council's administration, calling themselves a progressive alliance, with Helen Dyke serving as leader of the council. Local party Independent Health Concern announced in 2022 that it would no longer be fielding candidates at elections; its sitting councillors who chose to stand for re-election in 2023 did so as independent candidates.
The Conservatives and Labour saw gains, whilst the Liberal Democrats and independents (when including the former Independent Health Concern councillors) suffered loses. The only Green councillor retained her seat. Whilst the Conservatives suffered loses throughout the country, in Wyre Forest the Conservatives won a majority of the seats. Torbay and Wyre Forest were the only two councils where the Conservatives gained a majority at this election.
Conservative leader Marcus Hart was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 17 May 2023.

## Overall Results

The overall results were as follows:
2023 Wyre Forest District Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 33 | 20 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 60.6 | 29.6 | 8,609 | 2.0 |
| Labour | 15 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12.1 | 24.0 | 6,969 | 7.9 |
| Independent | 17 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 18.2 | 19.3 | 5,595 | 8.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | 17 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6.1 | 14.0 | 4,081 | 3.5 |
| Green | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | 3.0 | 13.1 | 3,799 | 5.4 |

## Ward results

The results for each ward were as follows, with an asterisk (*) indicating an incumbent councillor standing for re-election:

### Aggborough and Spennells

Aggborough and Spennells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Helen Elizabeth Dyke* | 1,324 | 64.6 | −2.9 |
| | Independent | Peter Dyke* | 1,213 | 59.2 | −2.8 |
| | Independent | John Cedric Aston* | 1,142 | 55.7 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative | Owen Boyd Cave | 483 | 23.6 | +3.3 |
| | Labour | George Price | 426 | 20.8 | +9.6 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Jordan | 366 | 17.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Richard Simon Sherrey (Simon Sherrey) | 328 | 16.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rachel Louise Akathiotis | 283 | 13.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,049 | 31.31 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,570 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Areley Kings and Riverside

Areley Kings and Riverside :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kenneth James Henderson* (Ken Henderson) | 795 | 46.1 | +14.4 |
| | Conservative | Daniel Carberry Russell (Danny Russell) | 656 | 38.1 | +8.7 |
| | Conservative | Alan Sutton | 562 | 32.6 | +6.2 |
| | Labour | Carol Gwyneth Warren | 519 | 30.1 | +5.5 |
| | Labour | Nick Bartram-Savage | 485 | 28.1 | +7.4 |
| | Independent | Robert John Lloyd (Rob Lloyd) | 424 | 24.6 | +4.0 |
| | Independent | John William Roland Thomas* | 325 | 18.9 | −18.8 |
| | Green | Valerie Margaret Wood | 307 | 17.8 | +2.2 |
| | Independent | Jason Foster | 288 | 16.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ingrid Ruth Schmeising-Barnes | 186 | 10.8 | +5.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,723 | 27.16 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,365 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern |
| | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
John Thomas had been a Health Concern councillor prior to the election.

### Bewdley and Rock

Bewdley and Rock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Emily Elizabeth Bourne | 939 | 42.8 | +3.0 |
| | Conservative | Daniel Morehead (Dan Morehead) | 841 | 38.3 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative | Nicholas Charles Wilson (Nick Wilson) | 723 | 33.0 | −2.0 |
| | Labour | Rodney Stanczyszyn (Rod Stanczyszyn) | 685 | 31.2 | −2.5 |
| | Independent | Calne Elaine Edginton-White* | 629 | 28.7 | −10.2 |
| | Labour | Nigel Knowles | 608 | 27.7 | N/A |
| | Green | Janice Christine Bell | 461 | 21.0 | N/A |
| | Independent | Anna Coleman* | 372 | 17.0 | −22.8 |
| | Green | Nigel Alastair Geary | 297 | 13.5 | N/A |
| | Independent | Roger Hugh Coleman* | 253 | 11.5 | −24.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Cloud Gollop | 156 | 7.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,194 | 31.74 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,985 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent |
Anna Coleman and Roger Coleman had both been elected as Conservatives but left the party in 2020 and joined Health Concern. Seat change compared to 2019 result.

### Blakebrook and Habberley South

Blakebrook and Habberley South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Victoria Ann Caulfield* (Vicky Caulfield) | 765 | 42.7 | +8.5 |
| | Conservative | Tracey Lee Onslow-Fage* (Tracey Onslow) | 690 | 38.5 | −1.4 |
| | Labour | Leigh Whitehouse* | 678 | 37.8 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative | Juliet Denise Smith | 551 | 30.7 | −1.1 |
| | Green | John Edward Davis | 511 | 28.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Edward James Stokes | 505 | 28.2 | −2.4 |
| | Green | Anthony Clive Wood (Clive Wood) | 385 | 21.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adrian Stanley Beavis | 212 | 11.8 | −14.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Heidi Ruth Worth | 187 | 10.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Ford | 114 | 6.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,793 | 26.23 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,851 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Broadwaters

Broadwaters :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Mary Alice Rayner* | 893 | 60.3 | +20.0 |
| | Labour | Mary McDonnell | 634 | 42.8 | +15.9 |
| | Independent | Peter Winston Montgomery Young* | 611 | 41.3 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan John Totty* | 431 | 29.1 | +8.1 |
| | Conservative | Tony Andrew Muir | 373 | 25.2 | +4.8 |
| | Conservative | Craig James Pedley | 354 | 23.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Howard Stuart Williams | 252 | 17.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,481 | 22.39 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,674 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Independent gain from Independent Health Concern | Independent gain from Independent Health Concern | Independent gain from Independent Health Concern | Independent gain from Independent Health Concern | Independent gain from Independent Health Concern |
Peter Young was a Health Concern councillor prior to the election; seat shown as independent gain from Health Concern to allow comparison with 2019 results.

### Foley Park and Hoobrook

Foley Park and Hoobrook :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nathan John Desmond* | 834 | 48.9 | +8.0 |
| | Conservative | Nichola Lynnette Gale* (Nicky Gale) | 742 | 43.5 | +9.9 |
| | Conservative | Kevin George Gale | 694 | 40.7 | +2.9 |
| | Labour | Diane Constance Smith (Di Smith) | 561 | 32.9 | +15.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Clare Cassidy | 449 | 26.3 | +11.4 |
| | Green | Douglas Peter Hine (Doug Hine) | 346 | 20.3 | N/A |
| | Green | Nicholas Atkinson (Nick Atkinson) | 278 | 16.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | Susan Caroline Meekings (Sue Meekings) | 262 | 15.3 | −17.1 |
| | Green | David John Finch (Dave Finch) | 254 | 14.9 | −6.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,707 | 23.16 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,883 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Franche and Habberley North

Franche and Habberley North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Benjamin Richard Brookes* (Ben Brookes) | 823 | 41.6 | +13.6 |
| | Conservative | George Anthony Connolly | 793 | 40.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | David Richard Ross* | 747 | 37.8 | +13.9 |
| | Labour | John Beckingham | 685 | 34.6 | +6.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jackie Anne Madden | 551 | 27.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Oliver Yasha Walker | 526 | 26.6 | +12.7 |
| | Independent | Mark Watkins | 492 | 24.9 | N/A |
| | Green | Lisa Jane Allsopp | 398 | 20.1 | +5.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,978 | 26.46 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,505 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern |
| | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern |
| | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern |
Ben Brookes and David Ross had previously won their seats in by-elections in 2021 and 2022; their seats shown as Conservative gains from Health Concern to allow comparison with 2019 results.

### Lickhill

Lickhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Little | 266 | 40.7 | +6.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Timothy Francis Schmeising-Barnes (Tim Schmeising-Barnes) | 145 | 22.2 | +13.3 |
| | Labour | William Stephen Thorneycroft | 137 | 20.9 | +5.5 |
| | Independent | Dixon Raymond Sheppard* | 106 | 16.2 | −21.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 654 | 31.03 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,127 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern | Conservative gain from Independent Health Concern |
Dixon Sheppard was a Health Concern councillor prior to the election.

### Mitton

Mitton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Nicola Jayne Martin* (Nicky Martin) | 771 | 41.1 | −11.7 |
| | Labour | Jacqueline Elizabeth Griffiths (Jackie Griffiths) | 733 | 39.1 | +17.7 |
| | Conservative | Christopher John Rogers* (Chris Rogers) | 733 | 39.1 | +4.6 |
| | Conservative | Dale Morris | 684 | 36.4 | +9.6 |
| | Conservative | Berenice Susan Dawes* | 638 | 34.0 | +0.3 |
| | Green | Michael Timothy Allarton | 546 | 29.1 | +6.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Christopher Pratt (Chris Pratt) | 471 | 25.1 | +13.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,877 | 25.05 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,502 | | |
| | Independent gain from Independent Health Concern | Independent gain from Independent Health Concern | Independent gain from Independent Health Concern | Independent gain from Independent Health Concern | Independent gain from Independent Health Concern |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Nicky Martin had been a Health Concern councillor prior to the election; seat shown as independent gain from Health Concern.

### Offmore and Comberton

Offmore and Comberton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Frances Mary Oborski* (Fran Oborski) | 777 | 39.4 | −17.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Shazu Miah* | 685 | 34.7 | −11.2 |
| | Labour | Liam Denzel Peter Carroll | 599 | 30.4 | +11.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nigel John Grace | 561 | 28.4 | −15.9 |
| | Conservative | Rosemary Elizabeth Bishop (Rose Bishop) | 548 | 27.8 | +7.3 |
| | Conservative | William Thomas Hopkins (Bill Hopkins) | 482 | 24.4 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative | Martin John Stooke | 438 | 22.2 | N/A |
| | Independent | Oliver Swain (Ollie Swain) | 438 | 22.2 | N/A |
| | Green | Brett Raymond Caulfield | 326 | 16.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,973 | 27.12 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,308 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats |

### Wribbenhall and Arley

Wribbenhall and Arley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Harrison* | 692 | 48.0 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative | John Frederick Byng* | 685 | 47.5 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | Nicole Harper | 426 | 29.5 | +4.1 |
| | Green | Corinne Lesley Bailey | 272 | 18.9 | −6.8 |
| | Independent | Pauline Watkins | 256 | 17.8 | N/A |
| | Green | Robert Charles Ireland (Rob Ireland) | 208 | 14.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher John Harvey (Chris Harvey) | 129 | 8.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,442 | 33.82 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,284 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Wyre Forest Rural

Wyre Forest Rural :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marcus John Hart* | 1,433 | 56.0 | +14.7 |
| | Conservative | Robin Macdonald Drew | 1,325 | 51.7 | +16.2 |
| | Conservative | Ian David Hardiman* | 1,222 | 47.7 | +5.6 |
| | Labour | Dean Anthony Cox | 886 | 34.6 | +15.3 |
| | Labour | David Paul Jones | 809 | 31.6 | +13.7 |
| | Green | Katherine Spohrer (Kate Spohrer) | 378 | 14.8 | −0.9 |
| | Green | Gilda Maria Davis | 336 | 13.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marcin Gorecki | 291 | 11.4 | N/A |
| | Green | Dean Jon Warren | 200 | 7.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,561 | 33.95 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,597 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |