# 2023 Colchester City Council election

The 2023 Colchester City Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Colchester City Council in Essex, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England. There were 17 of the 51 seats on the council up for election, being the usual third of the council, with one seat available for each ward. This set of seats were last contested at the 2019 election.
Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being run by a Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green coalition. No seats changed party at the election, but after the election the coalition broke down and a minority Liberal Democrat administration formed instead.

## Overview

Following the last election in 2022 a Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green coalition had formed to replace the previous Conservative and independent coalition. David King (Mile End), a Liberal Democrat, was subsequently elected leader of the council, replacing Paul Dundas (Stanway) of the Conservatives, who had lost his seat. A new Cabinet was formed consisting of four Liberal Democrats, three Labour, and one Green Party member.
No seats changed party at the 2023 election and so the council remained under no overall control. However, immediately after the election the coalition broke up when the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party directed that the Labour group could only stay in the coalition if a Labour leader of the council was appointed, which the other parties did not agree to. At the subsequent annual council meeting on 24 May 2023 a Liberal Democrat minority administration formed instead, still led by David King. The Labour and Green groups voted in support of the minority administration forming.
Although there were no changes in seats, the Conservatives and Labour both lost vote share compared to 2022, with the Liberal Democrats - who came only 100 votes behind the Conservatives in the overall popular vote - and Green Party both making modest advances.
In the marginal wards of Shrub End and Highwoods, the Liberal Democrats held off strong challenges from Labour, whilst the Conservatives held the formerly safe seat of Prettygate over the Liberal Democrat challenger by less than 1%.
Former Conservative leader Paul Dundas, who had lost his seat in 2022, was re-elected to the council and was reappointed as Conservative group leader in place of Darius Laws. The Labour group also changed its leader after the election, with Julie Young replacing Chris Pearson.

## Timeline
### 2022

* May 30: Martin Leatherdale (Lexden & Braiswick) leaves the Conservative group to sit as an Independent before resigning several days later, triggering a by-election.
* July 28: A by-election is held in Lexden & Braiswick. Sara Naylor is elected for the Conservatives.
* September 28: Mark Goacher (Castle) leaves the Green group to sit as an Independent.
* October 20: Independent councillors Gerard Oxford (Highwoods) and Beverly Oxford (Highwoods) resign, triggering a double by-election.
* November 24: Colchester is granted City status, with Colchester Borough Council changing its name to Colchester City Council.
* December 8: A double by-election is held in Highwoods. Catherine Bickersteth (Labour) and Alison Jay (Liberal Democrats) are elected.
* December 15: Steph Nissen (Castle), the leader of the Green group on the council, leaves the Green Party and defects to Labour. The same day, former Green and sitting Independent, Mark Goacher (Castle), announced he would rejoin the Green group that he had left several months previously. He subsequently becomes leader of the Green group.

### 2023

* March 2: Deputy Leader of the Council and Labour group leader, Adam Fox (Old Heath & The Hythe), announces his intention to resign as Labour group leader and stand down as a councillor when his term expires in May 2023.
* March 8: Chris Pearson (Berechurch) is elected as Labour group leader.
* March 27: Notice of election published.
* April 4: Candidate nominations close at 4pm.
* April 5: Statement of Persons Nominated released.
* April 17: Deadline to register to vote.
* April 18: Deadline to register for a postal vote.
* April 24: Deadline to register for a proxy vote.
* May 4: Date of election. Polling stations open between 7am and 10pm.

## Summary
### Election result

2023 Colchester City Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Conservative | 6 | | 35.3 | 13 | 19 | 37.3 | 13,216 | 30.5 | –4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 6 | | 35.3 | 9 | 15 | 29.4 | 13,116 | 30.3 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | 4 | | 23.5 | 11 | 15 | 29.4 | 10,610 | 24.5 | –3.7 |
| | Green | 1 | | 5.9 | 2 | 2 | 3.9 | 4,412 | 10.2 | +1.9 |
| | Independent | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1,368 | 3.2 | N/A |
| | Reform UK | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 568 | 1.3 | N/A |

### Incumbents

| Ward | Incumbent councillor | Party | Re-standing |
| Berechurch | Chris Pearson | Labour | Yes |
| Castle | Mark Goacher | Green | Yes |
| Greenstead | Tim Young | Labour | Yes |
| Highwoods | Alison Jay | Liberal Democrats | Yes |
| Lexden & Braiswick | Lewis Barber | Conservative | Yes |
| Marks Tey & Layer | Andrew Ellis | Conservative | Yes |
| Mersea & Pyefleet | Patricia Moore | Conservative | No |
| Mile End | Phil Coleman | Liberal Democrats | No |
| New Town & Christ Church | Sam McLean | Labour Co-op | Yes |
| Old Heath & The Hythe | Adam Fox | Labour Co-op | No |
| Prettygate | Leigh Tate | Conservative | Yes |
| Rural North | Nigel Chapman | Conservative | No |
| Shrub End | Sam McCarthy | Liberal Democrats | Yes |
| St. Anne's & St. John's | Helen Chuah | Liberal Democrats | No |
| Stanway | Lesley Scott-Boutell | Liberal Democrats | Yes |
| Tiptree | Barbara Wood | Conservative | No |
| Wivenhoe | Mark Cory | Liberal Democrats | Yes |

## Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated details the candidates standing in each ward. It was released on 5 April 2023.
Incumbent councillors are marked with an asterisk *

### Berechurch

Berechurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Chris Pearson* | 1,234 | 66.1 | –3.2 |
| | Conservative | Amir Anbouche | 292 | 15.6 | –4.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Collis | 171 | 9.2 | +3.0 |
| | Green | John Clifton | 99 | 5.3 | +0.5 |
| | Reform UK | Diane Baker | 71 | 3.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 942 | 50.5 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,867 | 25.4 | –2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,347 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.5 | |

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Mark Goacher* | 1,374 | 50.4 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative | Simon Crow | 655 | 24.0 | –4.1 |
| | Labour | Charlie Jasper | 492 | 18.0 | +5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Gillingham | 206 | 7.6 | –1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 719 | 26.4 | +4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,727 | 33.4 | –2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,163 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | 2.2 | |

### Greenstead

Greenstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tim Young* | 1,128 | 59.3 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative | David Crees | 356 | 18.7 | –6.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chantelle-Louise Whyborn | 199 | 10.5 | +1.4 |
| | Green | Lisa Cross | 124 | 6.5 | ±0.0 |
| | Reform UK | Kevin Blair | 94 | 4.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 772 | 40.6 | +8.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,901 | 17.0 | –1.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,195 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.4 | |

### Highwoods

Highwoods :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alison Jay* | 1,029 | 46.5 | +25.2 |
| | Labour | Pauline Bacon | 722 | 32.7 | –8.1 |
| | Conservative | David Linghorn-Baker | 375 | 17.0 | –20.9 |
| | Green | Ryan Meadows | 85 | 3.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 307 | 13.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,211 | 30.2 | +1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,327 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 16.7 | |

### Lexden & Braiswick

Lexden & Braiswick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lewis Barber* | 1,569 | 58.1 | +6.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Thomas Stevenson | 492 | 18.2 | –4.0 |
| | Labour | Sarah Bruce | 380 | 14.1 | –0.8 |
| | Green | Roger Bamforth | 258 | 9.6 | –1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,077 | 39.9 | +2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,699 | 36.8 | –0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,328 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Marks Tey & Layer

Marks Tey & Layer :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andrew Ellis* | 1,314 | 54.8 | –1.8 |
| | Labour | John Spademan | 517 | 21.6 | +3.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lydia De-Col | 285 | 11.9 | –3.6 |
| | Green | Amy Sheridan | 283 | 11.8 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 797 | 33.2 | –4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,399 | 29.3 | –1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,195 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.5 | |

### Mersea & Pyefleet

Mersea & Pyefleet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Carl Powling | 1,244 | 40.1 | –24.9 |
| | Independent | John Akker | 994 | 32.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | William Hayton | 306 | 9.9 | –9.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Knight | 202 | 6.5 | –9.0 |
| | Reform UK | Sophie Preston-Hall | 193 | 6.2 | N/A |
| | Green | Libby Kirkby-Taylor | 163 | 5.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 250 | 8.1 | –25.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,102 | 38.9 | +4.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,980 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Mile End

Mile End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Venessa Moffat | 1,624 | 61.2 | –5.1 |
| | Conservative | Phoebe Butcher | 435 | 16.4 | +0.7 |
| | Labour | James Pey | 352 | 13.3 | +1.0 |
| | Green | Amanda Kirke | 244 | 9.2 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,189 | 44.8 | –5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,655 | 27.6 | –2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,613 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 2.9 | |

### New Town & Christ Church

New Town & Christ Church :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Sam McLean* | 1,301 | 41.9 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Catherine Spindler | 990 | 31.9 | +1.6 |
| | Conservative | Chris Piggott | 399 | 12.9 | –3.2 |
| | Independent | Ian Partridge | 208 | 6.7 | N/A |
| | Green | Bob Brannan | 207 | 6.7 | –6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 311 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,105 | 32.2 | –2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,641 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 0.0 | |

### Old Heath & The Hythe

Old Heath & The Hythe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Fay Smalls | 1,383 | 59.3 | –4.9 |
| | Conservative | Richard Martin | 366 | 15.7 | –4.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Shaun Boughton | 235 | 10.1 | +3.0 |
| | Green | Andrew Canessa | 181 | 7.8 | –0.5 |
| | Independent | Jeffrey Drew | 166 | 7.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,017 | 43.6 | –0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,331 | 26.8 | –2.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,697 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.2 | |

### Prettygate

Prettygate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Leigh Tate* | 1,301 | 42.0 | –4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Loxley | 1,279 | 41.3 | +6.7 |
| | Labour | Richard Bourne | 366 | 11.8 | –1.6 |
| | Green | Natalie Edgoose | 152 | 4.9 | –0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22 | 0.7 | –11.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,098 | 39.9 | +0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,768 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.6 | |

### Rural North

Rural North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Rowe | 1,625 | 55.9 | –1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Karen Maxwell | 481 | 16.5 | –0.2 |
| | Labour | Barbara Nichols | 405 | 13.9 | +1.1 |
| | Green | John Burgess | 398 | 13.7 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,144 | 39.4 | –1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,909 | 34.4 | –1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,462 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.7 | |

### Shrub End

Shrub End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sam McCarthy* | 835 | 39.3 | +0.1 |
| | Labour | Luke Hayes | 720 | 33.9 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative | Angela Linghorn-Baker | 455 | 21.4 | –9.9 |
| | Green | Sara Ruth | 117 | 5.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 115 | 5.4 | –2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,127 | 26.0 | –0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,182 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 2.2 | |

### St. Anne's & St. John's

St. Anne's & St. John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Natalie Sommers | 1,370 | 53.6 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative | Rowan Knight | 681 | 26.6 | –7.9 |
| | Labour | Abigail Chambers | 346 | 13.5 | –0.2 |
| | Green | Sebastian Dwyer | 161 | 6.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 689 | 27.0 | +9.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,558 | 31.6 | –3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,098 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.4 | |

### Stanway

Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lesley Scott-Boutell* | 1,375 | 59.0 | +5.2 |
| | Conservative | Janice Seabrook | 698 | 30.0 | –7.5 |
| | Labour | Ian Yates | 180 | 7.7 | –1.0 |
| | Green | Pam Nelson | 77 | 3.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 677 | 29.0 | +12.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,330 | 33.4 | –1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,984 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 6.4 | |

### Tiptree

Tiptree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Dundas | 1,329 | 54.5 | –7.1 |
| | Labour | Elizabeth Holford | 419 | 17.2 | –0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jennifer Stevens | 260 | 10.7 | –2.3 |
| | Green | Clare Burgess | 222 | 9.1 | +1.7 |
| | Reform UK | Ashley Girling | 210 | 8.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 910 | 37.3 | –6.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,440 | 32.8 | +2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,440 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.2 | |

### Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Cory* | 2,083 | 73.6 | +16.8 |
| | Labour | Heather Lowe | 359 | 12.7 | –19.7 |
| | Green | Jo Wheatley | 267 | 9.4 | +4.3 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Higginson | 122 | 4.3 | –1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,724 | 60.9 | +36.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,831 | 38.6 | –5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,341 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 18.3 | |

## By-elections
### Highwoods

A by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Catherine Bickersteth (Labour).
Highwoods: 21 September 2023 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Appleton | 563 | 39.4 | –7.1 |
| | Labour | Gary Braddy | 447 | 31.3 | –1.4 |
| | Conservative | Paul Smith | 418 | 29.3 | +12.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 116 | 8.1 | –5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,428 | 19.9 | –10.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,188 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | 4.3 | |