# 2024 Havant Borough Council election

The 2024 Havant Borough Council election took place on Thursday 2 May 2024, alongside the other local elections in the United Kingdom being held on the same day. All 36 members of Havant Borough Council in Hampshire were elected following boundary changes.
Prior to the election the Conservatives held a majority of the seats on the council. Following the election the council was left under no overall control, and the Conservative leader of the council, Alex Rennie, lost his seat. The Conservatives remained the largest party, but a coalition of Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Green Party formed to run the council, led by Labour councillor Philip Munday. He was appointed as leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 15 May 2024.

## Background

Since its creation in 1974, Havant has been a consistently strong council for the Conservatives. They have held majorities on the council since 1980, aside from periods of no overall control between 1990 and 2002, where the Liberal Democrats became the largest group on the council for 4 years.
In the previous election in 2023, the Conservatives lost 5 seats with 39.4% of the vote, Labour gained 1 with 24.5%, the Liberal Democrats gained 2 with 20.6%, and the Green Party won their first seat with 14.3%.

## Boundary changes

Havant usually elects its councillors in thirds, on a 4-year cycle. However, following boundary changes, all councillors were elected to the new wards. The change fixes the number of councillors for every ward at 3, which reduces the total number of councillors by 2. Each voter could cast up to three votes. The councillors elected to each ward will serve two, three or four year terms, based on their relative vote share, with the longest term being served by the councillor with the largest number of votes.
| Old wards | No. of seats | New wards | No. of seats |
| Barncroft | 2 | Bedhampton | 3 |
| Battins | 2 | Cowplain | 3 |
| Bedhampton | 3 | Emsworth | 3 |
| Bondfields | 2 | Hart Plain | 3 |
| Cowplain | 3 | Havant St Faith's | 3 |
| Emsworth | 3 | Hayling East | 3 |
| Hart Plain | 3 | Hayling West | 3 |
| Hayling East | 3 | Leigh Park Central and West Leigh | 3 |
| Hayling West | 3 | Leigh Park Hermitage | 3 |
| Purbrook | 3 | Purbrook | 3 |
| St Faith's | 3 | Stakes | 3 |
| Stakes | 3 | Waterloo | 3 |
| Warren Park | 2 | | |
| Waterloo | 3 | | |

## Summary
### Council composition

| After 2023 election | After 2023 election | After 2023 election | Before 2024 election | Before 2024 election | Before 2024 election | After 2024 election | After 2024 election | After 2024 election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Party | Party | Seats | Party | Party | Seats |
| | Conservative | 30 | | Conservative | 28 | | Conservative | 13 |
| | Labour | 4 | | Labour | 4 | | Labour | 10 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2 | | Liberal Democrats | 2 | | Liberal Democrats | 7 |
| | Green | 1 | | Green | 1 | | Green | 4 |
| | Independent | 1 | | Independent | 0 | | Independent | 0 |
| | Vacant | 0 | | Vacant | 3 | | Reform UK | 2 |
Changes:
* January 2024: Carly Scannell (Conservative) resigns; seat left vacant until 2024 election
* February 2024: Tom Moutray (independent) resigns; seat left vacant until 2024 election
* March 2024: David Guest (Conservative) resigns; seat left vacant until 2024 election

### Election result

2024 Havant Borough Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 36 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 17 | 36.1 | 37.8 | 26,370 | −1.6 |
| Labour | 15 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 27.8 | 18.5 | 12,923 | +3.3 |
| Liberal Democrats | 19 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 19.4 | 20.7 | 14,455 | +0.1 |
| Green | 19 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11.1 | 19.6 | 13,646 | +5.3 |
| Reform UK | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5.6 | 2.8 | 1,978 | N/A |
| Independent | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.6 | 441 | −2.0 |

## Results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Havant Borough Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2024.

### Bedhampton

Bedhampton (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philippa Gray* | 1,159 | 47.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Lind | 887 | 36.3 | |
| | Conservative | Liz Fairhurst* | 767 | 31.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Annie Martin | 739 | 30.2 | |
| | Conservative | Mark Inkster | 650 | 26.6 | |
| | Conservative | Trevor Hughes | 576 | 23.6 | |
| | Reform UK | Mark Collins | 493 | 20.2 | |
| | Labour | Philip Pearson | 450 | 18.4 | |
| | Green | Jim Graham | 348 | 14.2 | |
| | Green | Richard Lanchester | 288 | 11.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,448 | 28.02 | |
| | 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 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Cowplain

Cowplain (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Keast* | 1,021 | 49.0 | |
| | Conservative | Neil Bowdell* | 870 | 41.8 | |
| | Conservative | Andrew Briggs* | 852 | 40.9 | |
| | Labour | Will McGannan | 696 | 33.4 | |
| | Green | Bruce Holman | 650 | 31.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christian Notley | 609 | 29.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,106 | 27.45 | |
| | 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 |

### Emsworth

Emsworth (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Grainne Rason* | 2,457 | 64.7 | |
| | Green | Reuben Mychaleckyj | 1,976 | 52.1 | |
| | Green | Charles Robert | 1,660 | 43.7 | |
| | Conservative | Richard Kennett* | 1,364 | 35.9 | |
| | Conservative | Carole Bowerman* | 1,177 | 31.0 | |
| | Conservative | Lucy Lawrence | 954 | 25.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Bolt | 477 | 12.6 | |
| | Reform UK | John Davis | 287 | 7.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adam Bowman | 285 | 7.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,808 | 45.18 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |

### Hart Plain

Hart Plain (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ann Briggs | 777 | 40.3 | |
| | Conservative | Elaine Shimbart* | 768 | 39.8 | |
| | Conservative | James Blades* | 654 | 33.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jules Ashley | 570 | 29.5 | |
| | Labour | John Colman | 563 | 29.2 | |
| | Green | Peter May | 432 | 22.4 | |
| | Reform UK | Jonathan Harvey | 365 | 18.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,942 | 24.92 | |
| | 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 |

### Havant St. Faith's

Havant St. Faith's (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Phil Munday* | 1,845 | 57.7 | |
| | Labour | Gillian Harris* | 1,728 | 54.1 | |
| | Labour | Daniel Berwick | 1,568 | 49.1 | |
| | Conservative | John Dyer | 846 | 26.5 | |
| | Conservative | Nigel Chilcott | 785 | 24.6 | |
| | Conservative | Maurice Knowles | 630 | 19.7 | |
| | Green | Nick Saunders | 582 | 18.2 | |
| | Reform UK | Dave Etherington | 515 | 16.1 | |
| | Independent | Giles Harris | 231 | 7.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,212 | 36.48 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Hayling East

Hayling East (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mark Coates* | 1,459 | 54.6 | |
| | Green | Netty Shepherd | 992 | 37.1 | |
| | Labour | Peter Oliver | 839 | 31.4 | |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Hartridge | 806 | 30.2 | |
| | Green | Natasha Parker | 751 | 28.1 | |
| | Conservative | Eric Cundliffe | 732 | 27.4 | |
| | Conservative | Shola Attryde | 610 | 22.8 | |
| | Green | Judy Valentine | 570 | 21.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,710 | 37.17 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |

### Hayling West

Hayling West (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Gray* | 1,818 | 63.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Wilf Forrow | 1,678 | 59.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jonathan Hulls | 1,586 | 55.8 | |
| | Conservative | Julie Richardson* | 784 | 27.6 | |
| | Conservative | Brenda Linger* | 765 | 26.9 | |
| | Conservative | Edward Rees | 584 | 20.5 | |
| | Green | Aaron Bradbury | 367 | 12.9 | |
| | Green | Rob Soar | 275 | 9.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,867 | 41.80 | |
| | 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 |

### Leigh Park Central & West Leigh

Leigh Park Central & West Leigh (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jason Horton | 655 | 40.8 | |
| | Labour | Munazza Faiz | 521 | 32.5 | |
| | Reform UK | Sharon Collings | 430 | 26.8 | |
| | Conservative | Alex Rennie | 420 | 26.2 | |
| | Conservative | Richard Stone | 415 | 25.9 | |
| | Green | Cayleigh Arnold | 363 | 22.6 | |
| | Conservative | Kris Tindall | 338 | 21.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jo Lowe | 279 | 17.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Glenda Dunford | 238 | 14.8 | |
| | Independent | Malc Carpenter | 210 | 13.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,610 | 18.73 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Reform UK win (new seat) | Reform UK win (new seat) | Reform UK win (new seat) | Reform UK win (new seat) | Reform UK win (new seat) |

### Leigh Park Hermitage

Leigh Park Hermitage (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Richard Brown | 499 | 37.9 | |
| | Labour | Amy Redsull-Aveline* | 472 | 35.9 | |
| | Reform UK | Vicky Rhodes | 381 | 29.0 | |
| | Conservative | Jackie Branson | 358 | 27.2 | |
| | Conservative | Pam Crellin | 346 | 26.3 | |
| | Conservative | Yvonne Weeks | 337 | 25.6 | |
| | Green | Rayner Piper | 252 | 19.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Maria Mleczko-Miller | 227 | 17.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,319 | 15.17 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Reform UK win (new seat) | Reform UK win (new seat) | Reform UK win (new seat) | Reform UK win (new seat) | Reform UK win (new seat) |

### Purbrook

Purbrook (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Antonia Harrison | 979 | 48.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Tansom | 933 | 45.9 | |
| | Conservative | Caren Diamond* | 802 | 39.5 | |
| | Conservative | Terry Norton | 725 | 35.7 | |
| | Conservative | Husky Patel* | 705 | 34.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Kneller | 649 | 32.0 | |
| | Green | Susan James | 444 | 21.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,058 | 27.91 | |
| | 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 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Stakes

Stakes (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Elizabeth Lloyd* | 741 | 45.7 | |
| | Conservative | Sarah Milne* | 682 | 42.1 | |
| | Labour | Simon Hagan | 624 | 38.5 | |
| | Conservative | Diana Patrick* | 599 | 37.0 | |
| | Labour | David Hill | 501 | 30.9 | |
| | Green | Paul Briley | 420 | 25.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Crispin Ward | 396 | 24.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,633 | 21.57 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |

### Waterloo

Waterloo (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ryan Brent | 1,023 | 48.8 | |
| | Conservative | Peter Wade* | 977 | 46.6 | |
| | Conservative | Gwen Robinson* | 930 | 44.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jane Briggs | 529 | 25.3 | |
| | Labour | Darren Corps | 503 | 24.0 | |
| | Green | Owen Plumkett | 484 | 23.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Pratley | 417 | 19.9 | |
| | Green | Neil Attewell | 335 | 16.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,122 | 28.30 | |
| | 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 |