# 2023 Forest of Dean District Council election

The 2023 Forest of Dean District Council election was held on 4 May 2023 to elect members to the Forest of Dean District Council in Gloucestershire, England. This was part of the 2023 United Kingdom local elections.
Following publication of the English devolution white paper on 16 December 2024, the Forest of Dean District Council will be required to merge with neighbouring authorities in Gloucestershire. No further elections are expected beyond 2023.

## Overview

Prior to the election the majority of the seats on the council were held by independent councillors, with 20 of the 38 councillors not representing a political party. The independents did not act as one political group, instead sitting as four different groups. Since 2017 the council had been led by Tim Gwilliam of the "Progressive Independents" group.
Following the election, the council consisted of fifteen Green, eleven Independent, five Labour, four Conservative and three Liberal Democrat councillors. Of the wards where more than 3 candidates stood, Labour councillor Di Martin and newly elected Labour councillor Matt Bishop achieved the highest share individually where they received 34% and 32% of the vote respectively in Cinderford East. At the subsequent annual council meeting on 25 May 2023, Green councillor Mark Topping was appointed Leader of the Council with support from Labour on a confidence and supply basis. Former Labour group leader Di Martin was appointed as chair of the council at the same meeting.

### Election result

2019 Forest of Dean District Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Green | 21 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 39.5 | 28.8 | 11,621 | +7.2 |
| Independent | 27 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 28.9 | 24.7 | 9,960 | –0.9 |
| Labour | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | | 13.2 | 8.0 | 3,244 | –8.4 |
| Conservative | 38 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 10.5 | 27.9 | 11,258 | –2.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7.9 | 10.5 | 4,242 | +5.3 |

## Ward results

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

### Berry Hill

Berry Hill (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Tim Gwilliam* | 571 | 44.2 | −16.0 |
| | Independent | Jamie Elsmore* | 560 | 43.4 | N/A |
| | Green | Stephen Yeates | 391 | 30.3 | +16.8 |
| | Green | Richard Henson | 282 | 21.8 | +1.0 |
| | Independent | Nigel Bluett | 209 | 16.2 | −10.2 |
| | Conservative | Clive Dunning | 202 | 15.6 | −10.8 |
| | Conservative | Valerie Nurden | 140 | 10.8 | −10.7 |
| | Independent | Scott Baine | 58 | 4.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,291 | 34.55 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Bream

Bream (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Alison Bruce | 537 | 44.5 | +25.1 |
| | Green | Beth Llewellyn | 377 | 31.3 | +13.6 |
| | Labour | Barry Faulkner | 288 | 23.9 | −1.1 |
| | Independent | Alan Grant | 283 | 23.5 | N/A |
| | Independent | Paul Hiett * | 283 | 23.5 | −9.4 |
| | Conservative | Rob Whittaker | 213 | 17.7 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative | Sarah Price | 149 | 12.4 | +0.6 |
| | Independent | Emma Gleave | 81 | 6.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,206 | 32.61 | |
| | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |

### Cinderford East

Cinderford East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Di Martin* | 458 | 60.5 | +6.1 |
| | Labour | Matt Bishop | 421 | 55.6 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative | Alan Bensted | 163 | 21.5 | +0.7 |
| | Independent | Jeremy Charlton-Wright | 157 | 20.7 | −8.5 |
| | Conservative | Freda Gittos | 137 | 18.1 | +2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 757 | 22.47 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cinderford West

Cinderford West (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jacob Sanders | 367 | 49.8 | +12.1 |
| | Independent | Mark Turner* | 359 | 48.7 | +7.2 |
| | Independent | Lynn Sterry* | 299 | 40.6 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Plummer | 131 | 17.8 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative | John Clissold | 104 | 14.1 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 737 | 23.73 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Coleford

Coleford (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Clive Elsmore* | 643 | 40.2 | −6.1 |
| | Labour | Patrick Kyne | 619 | 38.7 | +17.6 |
| | Independent | Ian Whitburn* | 577 | 36.1 | +4.5 |
| | Conservative | Carole Allaway-Martin * | 530 | 33.1 | +3.3 |
| | Green | Rachel Lane | 526 | 32.9 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Taylor | 364 | 22.8 | +5.4 |
| | Conservative | Denis Riley | 288 | 18.0 | −2.5 |
| | Conservative | Joseph Price | 226 | 14.1 | −10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,599 | 26.44 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Dymock

Dymock (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gill Kilmurray | 431 | 62.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Eli Heathfield | 259 | 37.5 | −27.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 690 | 42.41 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Hartpury & Redmarley

Hartpury & Redmarley (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Philip Burford* | 759 | 52.6 | −6.8 |
| | Conservative | Clayton Williams | 658 | 45.6 | +9.3 |
| | Green | John Turvill | 424 | 29.4 | ±0.0 |
| | Green | David Gregory | 337 | 23.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Geoff Woodyatt | 287 | 19.9 | −18.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,443 | 40.49 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Longhope & Huntley

Longhope & Huntley (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Francis | 465 | 35.2 | N/A |
| | Green | David Tradgett | 449 | 34.0 | −9.0 |
| | Independent | Alan Wood | 387 | 29.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | Jeremy Rebbeck | 340 | 25.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Gary Nicholas | 316 | 23.9 | −27.4 |
| | Conservative | Venk Shenoi | 259 | 19.6 | −26.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,322 | 40.68 | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Lydbrook

Lydbrook (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Sid Phelps* | 502 | 85.5 | +18.1 |
| | Conservative | Rosie Ker | 85 | 14.5 | +10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 587 | 32.96 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |

### Lydney East

Lydney East (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Preest* | 448 | 38.1 | −1.4 |
| | Independent | James Bevan* | 441 | 37.5 | +1.7 |
| | Green | Andrew McDermid | 440 | 37.4 | +19.1 |
| | Independent | Claire Vaughan * | 439 | 37.4 | +7.5 |
| | Labour | Andy Hewlett | 390 | 33.2 | +10.5 |
| | Conservative | Julie Kirkham | 344 | 29.3 | −0.6 |
| | Conservative | Elliott James | 314 | 26.7 | +10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,175 | 23.15 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Lydney North

Lydney North (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Harry Ives* | 483 | 76.3 | +32.6 |
| | Green | Jane Carr | 150 | 23.7 | +8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 633 | 37.46 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Lydney West & Aylburton

Lydney West & Aylburton (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Mark Topping* | 512 | 77.6 | +36.7 |
| | Conservative | Will Windsor-Clive | 148 | 22.4 | −16.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 660 | 34.17 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |

### Mitcheldean Ruardean & Drybrook

Mitcheldean Ruardean & Drybrook (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Jackie Fraser* | 958 | 49.0 | +16.6 |
| | Green | Trevor Roach | 816 | 41.7 | +19.3 |
| | Labour | Shaun Stammers | 701 | 35.9 | +13.0 |
| | Independent | Thom Forester * | 673 | 34.4 | +4.6 |
| | Independent | Andrew Gardiner * | 542 | 27.7 | −7.9 |
| | Conservative | Guy Hollier | 461 | 23.6 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Tracy Heathfield | 275 | 14.1 | −5.0 |
| | Conservative | Pam Plummer | 256 | 13.1 | −3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stewart Bean | 200 | 10.2 | −8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,955 | 33.93 | |
| | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Newent & Taynton

Newent & Taynton (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gill Moseley* | 1,044 | 64.0 |
| | Independent | Julia Gooch* | 894 | 54.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Julie Hudson | 865 | 53.1 |
| | Conservative | Jonathon Beeston | 498 | 30.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Roper | 366 | 22.5 |
| | Conservative | Nick Winter | 273 | 16.7 |
| | Conservative | Maria Edey | 258 | 15.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,630 | 30.46 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |

### Newland & Sling

Newland & Sling (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | David Wheeler* | 409 | 69.4 | +26.6 |
| | Conservative | Pam Woodyatt | 180 | 30.6 | +6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 589 | 30.45 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |

### Newnham

Newnham (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Richard Burton | 763 | 56.7 | −0.8 |
| | Green | Andy Moore | 744 | 55.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Carol Thomas | 411 | 30.5 | −9.9 |
| | Conservative | Kevin Oversby | 299 | 22.2 | −12.9 |
| | Independent | Richard Ashton | 247 | 18.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,346 | 34.63 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Pillowell

Pillowell (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Jackie Dale | 493 | 77.3 | +39.0 |
| | Conservative | Alison Taylor | 145 | 22.7 | +3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 638 | 37.16 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |

### Ruspidge

Ruspidge (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Bernie O'Neill* | 230 | 50.9 | −8.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Green | 126 | 27.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Judy Parsons | 96 | 21.2 | −19.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 452 | 25.10 | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### St Briavels

St Briavels (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Chris McFarling* | 650 | 74.5 | −6.4 |
| | Conservative | Roger Stuart | 188 | 21.6 | +2.5 |
| | Independent | Rose Collins | 34 | 3.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 872 | 45.61 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |

### Tidenham

Tidenham (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Johnathan Lane | 1,034 | 48.3 | +29.2 |
| | Green | Adrian Birch | 977 | 45.6 | +19.6 |
| | Conservative | Nick Evans* | 884 | 41.3 | +6.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jan Koning | 846 | 39.5 | +20.9 |
| | Conservative | Julian McGhee-Sumner | 661 | 30.9 | +8.6 |
| | Conservative | Gareth Hughes | 557 | 26.0 | +4.4 |
| | Independent | Maria Edwards * | 381 | 17.8 | −16.5 |
| | Independent | Gethyn Davies | 371 | 17.3 | −3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,141 | 38.74 | |
| | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Westbury-on-Severn

Westbury-on-Severn (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Simon Phelps* | 557 | 87.4 | +25.5 |
| | Conservative | Suzanne Bowen | 80 | 12.6 | −6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 637 | 39.29 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |