# 2023 South Hams District Council election

The 2023 South Hams District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect all 31 members of South Hams District Council in Devon, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England. All 20 wards were up for election, each with either one, two or three councillors to be elected.
The council was under Conservative majority control prior to the election, with the leader of the council being Judy Pearce, who had led the council since 2019. She did not stand for re-election.
The election saw the Liberal Democrats win a majority of the seats on the council for the first time in its history. Liberal Democrat group leader Julian Brazil was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 25 May 2023.

## Results summary

2023 South Hams District Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Liberal Democrats | 27 | 19 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 61.3 | 43.2 | 19,931 | 12.6 |
| Conservative | 30 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 22.6 | 31.1 | 14,359 | 7.0 |
| Green | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | | 9.7 | 12.4 | 5,733 | 0.1 |
| Labour | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3.2 | 7.6 | 3,521 | 6.3 |
| Independent | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3.2 | 5.0 | 2,299 | 0.1 |
| TUSC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.3 | 149 | n/a |
| Heritage | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.3 | 128 | n/a |

## Ward results

Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).

### Allington & Strete

Allington & Strete :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Laurel Lawford | 628 | 55.7 | +17.5 |
| | Conservative | Richard Foss* | 412 | 36.5 | −6.3 |
| | Green | Joseph Waters | 88 | 7.8 | −7.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,138 | 47.24 | +3.12 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 11.9 | |

### Bickleigh & Cornwood

Bickleigh & Cornwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Oram | 435 | 54.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Barrie Spencer* | 357 | 45.1 | −31.0 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 797 | 35.06 | +3.39 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

### Blackawton & Stoke Fleming Ward

Blackawton & Stoke Fleming :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Rake | 527 | 56.7 | +10.6 |
| | Conservative | Helen Reeve* | 402 | 43.3 | −4.1 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 2 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 929 | 44.02 | −0.97 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 7.3 | |

### Charterlands

Charterlands :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bernard Taylor* | 523 | 50.7 | −1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Kirk | 509 | 49.3 | +16.9 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,040 | 42.71 | −2.21 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -9.2 | |

### Dartington & Staverton

Dartington & Staverton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Jacqi Hodgson* | 740 | 72.3 | −9.2 |
| | Conservative | Jeremy Luck | 154 | 15.1 | −3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Catherine Pannell | 129 | 12.6 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 4 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,027 | 45.3 | −2.9 |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | -2.9 | |

### Dartmouth & East Dart

Dartmouth & East Dart Ward (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ben Cooper | 1,235 | 52.0 | +23.3 |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Hawkins* | 1,135 | 47.8 | −3.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ged Yardy | 1,121 | 47.2 | +15.4 |
| | Conservative | Hilary Bastone* | 930 | 39.1 | −9.3 |
| | Conservative | Rosemary Rowe* | 836 | 35.2 | −0.3 |
| | Independent | Kim Sturgess | 299 | 12.6 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 12 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,388 | 39.28 | −5.62 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

### Ermington & Ugborough

Ermington & Ugborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alison DeWynter | 534 | 57.0 | +37.7 |
| | Conservative | Richard Hosking | 298 | 31.8 | −27.1 |
| | Green | Meirion Jones | 105 | 11.2 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 942 | 40.05 | +1.10 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 32.4 | |

### Ivybridge East

Ivybridge East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Victor Abbott* | 755 | 54.9 | +9.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matt Steele | 596 | 43.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Karen Pringle* | 412 | 30.0 | −14.6 |
| | Conservative | Helen Hillman | 342 | 24.9 | −13.3 |
| | Labour | David Trigger | 218 | 15.9 | −21.1 |
| | Green | Hilary Jones | 183 | 13.3 | N/A |
| | Green | Richard Hoyland | 100 | 7.3 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 2 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,377 | 29.9 | −0.43 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

### Ivybridge West

Ivybridge West (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nadine Dommett | 882 | 57.2 | +25.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pablo Munoz | 810 | 52.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Lance Austen* | 438 | 28.4 | −24.1 |
| | Conservative | Stanley Murphy | 304 | 19.7 | −29.8 |
| | Green | Nick Hart-Williams | 184 | 11.9 | N/A |
| | Green | Alistair Henderson | 164 | 10.6 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Tony Rea | 149 | 9.7 | −29.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,552 | 31.81 | +2.21 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

### Kingsbridge

Kingsbridge (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Denise O'Callaghan* | 1,011 | 67.0 | +17.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susie Jackson* | 907 | 60.1 | +15.2 |
| | Conservative | Helen Baker | 584 | 38.7 | +4.6 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Greaves | 331 | 21.9 | −10.9 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,515 | 34.38 | −2.52 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Loddiswell & Aveton Gifford

Loddiswell & Aveton Gifford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lee Bonham | 487 | 58.2 | +11.2 |
| | Conservative | Paul Holmes | 260 | 31.1 | −8.5 |
| | Labour | Paul Furlong | 90 | 10.7 | −1.8 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 1 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 838 | 38.33 | +1.83 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 9.8 | |

### Marldon & Littlehempston

Marldon & Littlehempston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Samantha Pinfold | 355 | 44.6 | +21.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Smith | 262 | 33.0 | +19.0 |
| | Green | David Bradbury | 178 | 22.4 | +8.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 800 | 34.48 | −4.19 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | N/A | |

### Newton & Yealmpton

Newton & Yealmpton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dan Thomas* | 1,433 | 70.3 | +12.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tom Eadie | 1,225 | 60.1 | −2.5 |
| | Conservative | Tony Carlson | 580 | 28.4 | −2.7 |
| | Labour | Peter Gold | 259 | 12.7 | +4.8 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,046 | 41.31 | −0.10 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Salcombe and Thurlestone

Salcombe and Thurlestone (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Mark Long* | 1,160 | 63.7 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative | Samantha Dennis | 618 | 34.0 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative | Jim Heaven | 513 | 28.2 | −8.1 |
| | Independent | Nikki Turton | 447 | 24.6 | N/A |
| | Green | Lewis Worrall | 257 | 14.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Kerr | 229 | 12.6 | −4.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 4 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,824 | 45.76 | −3.02 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### South Brent

South Brent (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Guy Pannell* | 1,168 | 58.9 | +23.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Hancock | 1,013 | 51.1 | +18.9 |
| | Conservative | Peter Smerdon* | 685 | 34.5 | −1.6 |
| | Conservative | Lister Bass | 533 | 26.9 | −7.8 |
| | Green | Steve Nayar | 370 | 18.7 | −1.5 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 15 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,998 | 47.26 | −2.70 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

### Stokenham

Stokenham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Julian Brazil* | 712 | 73.9 | +6.5 |
| | Conservative | Joshua Gardner | 193 | 20.0 | −9.1 |
| | Green | Lucy Fleming | 58 | 6.0 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 3 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 966 | 45.1 | −2.37 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 7.8 | |

### Totnes

Totnes (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Birch* | 1,490 | 51.0 | +6.1 |
| | Green | Georgina Allen | 1,433 | 49.0 | +6.5 |
| | Green | Anna Presswell | 971 | 33.2 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Anderson | 948 | 32.4 | +4.1 |
| | Green | John Cummings | 902 | 30.9 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Lloyd | 799 | 27.3 | −1.8 |
| | Labour | Jill Hannam | 482 | 16.5 | −4.1 |
| | Independent | Jo Sweett* | 393 | 13.4 | −29.1 |
| | Conservative | Richard O'Connor | 310 | 10.6 | −1.2 |
| | Conservative | Helena Penfold | 264 | 9.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Jamie Rogers | 251 | 8.6 | N/A |
| | Heritage | Jason Liosatos | 72 | 2.5 | N/A |
| | Heritage | Becca Collings | 56 | 1.9 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 4 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,927 | 42.47 | −3.85 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | N/A | |
Jo Sweett had been elected as a Green councillor in 2019, but left the party in 2021 to sit as an independent councillor. Seat shown as a Green hold for comparison with the 2019 result.

### Wembury and Brixton

Wembury and Brixton (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julie Carson | 733 | 44.1 | −9.3 |
| | Conservative | Alison Nix | 718 | 43.2 | −5.5 |
| | Labour | Steve Oliver | 657 | 39.5 | +26.4 |
| | Labour | Ed Parsons | 580 | 34.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Blake | 400 | 24.1 | +6.9 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 13 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,676 | 36.16 | −4.06 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### West Dart

West Dart :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | John McKay* | 699 | 65.9 | +1.7 |
| | Conservative | Stuart Greaves | 362 | 34.1 | −1.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 16 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,077 | 52.72 | +6.52 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.7 | |

### Woolwell

Woolwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nicky Hopwood* | 526 | 70.3 | −15.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Claire Hutson | 222 | 29.7 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 4 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 752 | 33.48 | −1.32 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |