# 2023 West Devon Borough Council election

The 2023 West Devon Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023, to elect members of West Devon Borough Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England. The election for Burrator ward was delayed until 15 June 2023 following the death of one of the original candidates.
Prior to the election the council was under Conservative majority control. The election saw the council go under no overall control. The independent councillors, Greens, Liberal Democrats and Labour formed a coalition called the "West Devon Alliance" which took control, with independent councillor Mandy Ewings being appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 30 May 2023.

## Result

The overall results were as follows:

### Election result

2019 West Devon Borough Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 29 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 35.48 | 39.60 | 9,829 | 1.70 |
| Independent | 13 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 32.26 | 27.78 | 6,897 | 2.92 |
| Green | 13 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 16.13 | 17.40 | 4,318 | 5.6 |
| Liberal Democrats | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6.45 | 10.58 | 2,626 | 3.68 |
| Labour | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3.23 | 4.13 | 1,024 | 7.27 |
| Reform UK | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.52 | 130 | N/A |

## Results by Ward

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

### Bere Ferrers

Bere Ferrers (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Isabel Angela Saxby | 757 | 59.65 | +32.9 |
| | Conservative | Angela Blackman * | 478 | 37.67 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Peter Edward Crozier * | 453 | 35.70 | −3.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Graham Richard Reed | 399 | 31.44 | −9.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1269 | 43.94 | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Bridestowe

Bridestowe (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Caroline Marie Mott * | 507 | 56.02 | −6.8 |
| | Conservative | Terry Southcott * | 463 | 51.16 | −5.1 |
| | Green | Patrick John Jeffery | 401 | 44.31 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 916 | 35.56 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Buckland Monachorum

Buckland Monachorum (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ric Cheadle * | 873 | 68.85 | +9.5 |
| | Independent | Alastair Clark Cunningham | 498 | 39.28 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Philip Richard Saunders | 409 | 32.26 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ashley-Ross Christopher West | 334 | 26.34 | +9.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1277 | 41.99 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent gain from Green | Independent gain from Green | Swing | | |

### Burrator

The election in Burrator ward was delayed until 15 June 2023 following the death of Green Party candidate Neil Jameson.
Burrator (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicola Viney | 510 | 56.23 | +56.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Paul West | 401 | 44.21 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Diana Elizabeth Moyse* | 275 | 30.32 | +30.3 |
| | Conservative | Felix Davies | 221 | 24.37 | N/A |
| | Green | Dave Miller | 166 | 18.30 | N/A |
| | Labour | John Edward Churchley | 101 | 11.14 | N/A |
| | Green | Sam North | 76 | 8.38 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 907 | 31.97 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,843 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Chagford

Chagford (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Jane Elliott * | 485 | 65.28 | +16.8 |
| | Conservative | Nicky Heyworth | 258 | 34.72 | −16.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 754 | 58.68 | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Dartmoor

Dartmoor (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Mark Christian Renders * | 404 | 74.27 | −4.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Holly Greenberry-Pullen | 140 | 25.73 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 547 | 38.55 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Drewsteignton

Drewsteignton (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Steven William Guthrie | 292 | 51.14 | +12.6 |
| | Conservative | Paul James Ridgers* | 279 | 48.86 | −2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 573 | 42.63 | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Exbourne

Exbourne (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Louise Sacha Watts | 613 | 50.54 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative | Mike Casbolt | 575 | 47.40 | −2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christian Martin | 541 | 44.60 | N/A |
| | Green | Judy Sara Marguerita Maciejowska | 435 | 35.86 | −4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1226 | 37.50 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Hatherleigh

Hatherleigh (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Patrick John Derek Kimber * | 579 | 68.85 | +68.85 |
| | Conservative | Samantha Jane Wakeham | 430 | 51.13 | +51.13 |
| | Green | Andrew Robert Pratt | 289 | 34.36 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 847 | 33.60 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Mary Tavy

Mary Tavy (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Robert John Oxborough | 240 | 41.45 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Stanley Gilpin | 127 | 21.93 | −13.7 |
| | Independent | Dave Herbert | 113 | 19.52 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Gordon Lynn Brown | 99 | 17.10 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 586 | 44.63 | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Milton Ford

Milton Ford (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Neil Jory * | Unopposed | N/A | −66.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | N/A | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Okehampton North

Okehampton North (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Tony Leech * | 695 | 50.44 | −12.3 |
| | Conservative | Kevin Ball * | 548 | 39.77 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Herbert Dexter | 428 | 31.06 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Lois Esther Samuel | 425 | 30.84 | −12.0 |
| | Green | Colin James Trier | 370 | 26.85 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Peter Cecil Eastment | 312 | 22.64 | −7.3 |
| | Independent | Deborah Judith Sanger | 310 | 22.50 | N/A |
| | Labour | Finley Lewis Reece Morris | 267 | 19.38 | −12.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1387 | 32.29 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Okehampton South

Okehampton South (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Paul Richard Vachon * | 433 | 53.46 | +5.6 |
| | Green | Malcolm William Calder | 417 | 51.48 | +15.4 |
| | Conservative | Julie Veronica Yelland * | 368 | 45.43 | +7.6 |
| | Conservative | Clare Mary Gerardine Kemp | 194 | 23.95 | −2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 810 | 28.59 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### South Tawton

South Tawton (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Lynn Christine Daniel * | 476 | 68.20 | +7.0 |
| | Conservative | Simon John Powell | 222 | 31.80 | −7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 705 | 45.78 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | +7.0 | |

### Tamarside

Tamarside (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Edmonds * | 313 | 64.01 | −9.4 |
| | Green | Matthew Paul Faith | 141 | 28.83 | N/A |
| | Reform UK | Lawrence Grose | 35 | 7.16 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 492 | 34.26 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -8.0 | |

### Tavistock North

Tavistock North (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Jeff Moody * | 822 | 57.08 | −3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pete Squire | 685 | 47.57 | +24.0 |
| | Green | Terry Vincent Wheeler | 540 | 37.50 | N/A |
| | Independent | Michael Arthur Fife Cook | 505 | 35.07 | N/A |
| | Conservative | David Edward Turnbull * | 414 | 28.75 | +10.0 |
| | Conservative | Judy Ann Hughes | 333 | 23.13 | +4.7 |
| | Conservative | John Nicholas Gray | 268 | 18.61 | N/A |
| | Reform UK | Brian Anthony Arden Trew | 95 | 6.60 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1442 | 35.67 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Tavistock South East

Tavistock South East (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Adam Duncan Bridgewater | 734 | 60.36 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Debo Sellis * | 604 | 49.67 | −0.1 |
| | Green | Amy St. Clair Hookway | 472 | 38.82 | +9.8 |
| | Conservative | Richard Ivor John Phillips | 378 | 31.09 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1224 | 42.44 | |
| | Independent gain from Independent | Independent gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Tavistock South West

Tavistock South West (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Anne Johnson | 662 | 77.07 | N/A |
| | Independent | Mandy Victoria Louise Ewings * | 608 | 70.78 | +18.7 |
| | Conservative | Andy Nelson | 157 | 18.28 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative | Candy Gynn-Martin | 122 | 14.20 | −2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 860 | 29.07 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

## Changes 2023–2027

Tavistock North by-election, 22 June 2023 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ursula Forhan Mann | 233 | 25.49 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Holly Greenbury-Pullen | 233 | 25.49 | −22.1 |
| | Green | Annabel Judith Martn | 215 | 23.52 | −14.0 |
| | Conservative | Judy Ann Hughes | 176 | 19.26 | −3.9 |
| | Labour | Uwem Eno Udo | 57 | 6.24 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 914 | 22.68 | −12.99 |
| | Independent gain from Green | Independent gain from Green | Swing | | |
The Tavistock North by-election was triggered by the resignation of Green councillor Terry Wheeler. The Independent and Liberal Democrat candidates won the same number of votes, but the Independent was elected on the drawing of lots.
Tavistock North by-election, 2 May 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Holly Greenbury-Pullen | 387 | 28.1 | −19.5 |
| | Conservative | Judy Ann Hughes | 348 | 25.2 | +2.1 |
| | Green | Sara Louise Wood | 289 | 21.0 | −16.5 |
| | Labour | Uwem Eno Udo | 195 | 14.1 | N/A |
| | Independent | Michael Fife Cook | 160 | 11.6 | −23.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,379 | 33.78 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
By-election triggered by resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Pete Squire.