# 2023 West Berkshire Council election

The 2023 West Berkshire Council election took take place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of West Berkshire Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.
Prior to the election the council was under Conservative control, with the party having held a majority of the seats since 2005. The Liberal Democrats took control at the election, winning 29 of the 43 seats. The Conservative leader of the council, Lynne Doherty, lost her seat. At the subsequent annual council meeting on 25 May 2023, Liberal Democrat leader Lee Dillon was appointed leader of the council. The Conservatives appointed Ross Mackinnon to be their new leader in opposition.

## Councillors standing down

| Councillor | Ward | First elected | Party |
| Jeff Beck | Newbury Clay Hill | 2000 | Conservative |
| Jeff Cant | Newbury Clay Hill | 2019 | Conservative |
| Hilary Cole | Chieveley and Cold Ash | 2007 | Conservative |
| James Cole | Hungerford and Kintbury | 2015 | Conservative |
| Nassar Hunt | Thatcham Central | 2019 | Liberal Democrats |
| Gareth Hurley | Pangbourne | 2019 | Conservative |
| Rick Jones | Tilehurst and Purley | 2015 | Conservative |
| Alan Law | Basildon | 2007 | Conservative |
| Royce Longton | Burghfield and Mortimer | 1993 | Liberal Democrats |
| Graham Pask | Bucklebury | 1987 | Conservative |
| Claire Rowles | Hungerford and Kintbury | 2019 | Conservative |
| Garth Simpson | Chieveley and Cold Ash | 2011 | Conservative |
| Andrew Williamson | Tilehurst and Purley | 2019 | Conservative |
| Keith Woodhams | Thatcham West | 1997 | Liberal Democrats |

## Results summary

The Liberal Democrats gained a majority on West Berkshire council for the first time since 2003, beating the Conservative Party.
This election saw the Labour Party win a seat on the council for the first time since its formation.

### Election result

2023 West Berkshire Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Liberal Democrats | 43 | 29 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 67.4 | 42.8 | 22,063 | +10.9 |
| Conservative | 43 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 25.6 | 31.2 | 16,074 | −6.2 |
| Green | 18 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4.7 | 16.9 | 8,692 | −2.5 |
| Labour | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2.3 | 7.1 | 3,639 | −2.7 |
| Reform UK | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 0.4 | 222 | New |
| UKIP | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 0.2 | 89 | −1.5 |
| Heritage | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 0.2 | 86 | New |
| Independent | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 1.3 | 696 | New |

## Ward Results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by West Berkshire Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023.
Winning candidates are highlighted in bold.

### Aldermaston

Aldermaston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dominic Boeck | 562 | 51.0 | −4.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Zdena Burne | 333 | 30.2 | −2.9 |
| | Labour | Philippa Heath | 128 | 11.6 | −0.2 |
| | Green | Matthew Lowe | 80 | 7.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 229 | 20.8 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,108 | 36.8 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −3.5 | |

### Basildon

Basildon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Laura Coyle | 727 | 58.6 | +34.7 |
| | Conservative | Hazel Preston-Barnes | 513 | 41.4 | −14.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 214 | 17.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,249 | 45.3 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +24.5 | |

### Bradfield

Bradfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ross Mackinnon | 601 | 57.2 | −5.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Bucknall | 357 | 34.0 | +6.8 |
| | Labour | Michael Woodward | 93 | 8.8 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 244 | 23.2 | −11.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,054 | 36.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.9 | |

### Bucklebury

Bucklebury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Read | 828 | 54.7 | +35.0 |
| | Conservative | Georgina Woods | 521 | 34.4 | −28.1 |
| | Green | Graham Loader | 164 | 10.8 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 307 | 20.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,519 | 52.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +31.5 | |

### Burghfield and Mortimer

Burghfield and Mortimer (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nick Carter | 1,499 | 49.2 | +4.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vicky Poole | 1,438 | 47.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoff Mayes | 1,330 | 43.6 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative | Graham Bridgman | 1,146 | 37.6 | −2.4 |
| | Conservative | Dave Kilshaw | 1,055 | 34.6 | −4.6 |
| | Conservative | Amanda Mackinnon | 1,032 | 33.9 | −1.9 |
| | Labour | Sarah Timms | 450 | 14.8 | −4.6 |
| | Green | Peter Gower | 434 | 14.2 | −16.5 |
| | Labour | Christian Savill | 306 | 10.0 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,058 | 38.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | 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 |

### Chieveley and Cold Ash

Chieveley and Cold Ash (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Heather Codling | 1,156 | 47.6 | +21.5 |
| | Conservative | Paul Dick | 1,049 | 43.2 | −9.6 |
| | Conservative | Pip Witheridge | 878 | 36.1 | −13.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tom McCann | 829 | 34.1 | N/A |
| | Green | Jill Hoblin | 585 | 24.1 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,440 | 44.9 | |
| | 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 |

### Downlands

Downlands :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Clive Hooker | 644 | 55.6 | −6.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Boyd | 288 | 24.8 | −3.0 |
| | Green | Jane Gartshore | 146 | 12.6 | New |
| | Labour | Ian McKay | 81 | 7.0 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 356 | 30.7 | −3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,167 | 38.9 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.8 | |

### Hungerford and Kintbury

Hungerford and Kintbury (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Denise Gaines | 2,036 | 54.7 | +15.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tony Vickers | 1,704 | 45.8 | +8.6 |
| | Conservative | Dennis Benneyworth | 1,572 | 42.2 | −6.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Julian Swift-Hook | 1,509 | 40.5 | +10.8 |
| | Conservative | Peter Tompkins | 1,380 | 37.1 | −8.6 |
| | Conservative | Ben Podger | 1,356 | 36.4 | −7.6 |
| | Green | Trish Whitham | 829 | 22.3 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,738 | 42.1 | |
| | 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 |

### Lambourn

Lambourn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Howard Woollaston | 618 | 59.8 | −3.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diana Pattenden | 262 | 25.4 | +1.4 |
| | Green | Susan Millington | 153 | 14.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 356 | 34.5 | −4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,037 | 33.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.3 | |

### Newbury Central

Newbury Central (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Colston | 1,358 | 60.0 | +11.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Louise Sturgess | 1,316 | 58.2 | +10.7 |
| | Conservative | Sean Doherty | 650 | 28.7 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative | JC Jardim | 619 | 27.4 | +0.8 |
| | Green | Bobby Pop | 399 | 17.6 | −4.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,272 | 41.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Newbury Clay Hill

Newbury Clay Hill (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stuart Gourley | 1,311 | 69.4 | +33.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nigel Foot | 1,077 | 57.0 | +32.5 |
| | Conservative | Richard Almond | 432 | 22.9 | −20.8 |
| | Conservative | Jeanette Clifford | 422 | 22.3 | −14.5 |
| | Independent | John Gotelee | 263 | 13.9 | N/A |
| | Green | Karen Swaffield | 242 | 12.8 | −9.1 |
| | Heritage | David McMahon | 86 | 4.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,896 | 33.9 | |
| | 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 |

### Newbury Greenham

Newbury Greenham (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Phil Barnett | 1,716 | 55.5 | +7.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Billy Drummond | 1,532 | 49.6 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Erik Pattenden | 1,484 | 48.0 | +6.3 |
| | Green | Michael Wakelyn-Green | 918 | 29.7 | +9.1 |
| | Conservative | Sarah James | 754 | 24.4 | −2.9 |
| | Conservative | Linda Verner | 725 | 23.5 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative | Joseph Clarke | 713 | 23.1 | −2.1 |
| | Labour | Gary Puffett | 426 | 13.8 | +4.3 |
| | Reform UK | James Anfield | 143 | 4.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,100 | 33.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Newbury Speen

Newbury Speen (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martha Vickers | 1,109 | 44.8 | +11.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Antony Amirtharaj | 1,062 | 42.9 | N/A |
| | Green | Steve Masters | 831 | 33.5 | −23.2 |
| | Conservative | Lynne Doherty | 791 | 31.9 | −3.5 |
| | Conservative | David Dudman | 748 | 30.2 | −4.6 |
| | Reform UK | Jose Ferreira | 79 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,487 | 43.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Green | Liberal Democrats gain from Green | Liberal Democrats gain from Green | Liberal Democrats gain from Green | Liberal Democrats gain from Green |
| | 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 |

### Newbury Wash Common

Newbury Wash Common (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Patrick Clark | 1,774 | 54.0 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adrian Abbs | 1,712 | 52.1 | −2.4 |
| | Green | David Marsh | 1,495 | 45.5 | −8.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vaughan Miller | 1,480 | 45.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | James Davies | 686 | 20.9 | −12.4 |
| | Conservative | Clive Hunt | 676 | 20.6 | −6.7 |
| | Conservative | Andrea Stephenson | 627 | 19.1 | −6.0 |
| | Independent | Simon Kirby | 433 | 13.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,305 | 46.5 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |

### Pangbourne

Pangbourne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matthew Shakespeare | 678 | 53.1 | +22.6 |
| | Conservative | Michael Male | 444 | 34.8 | −16.9 |
| | Labour | Mark Farrington | 94 | 7.4 | −10.5 |
| | Green | Tim Hall | 61 | 4.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 234 | 18.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,282 | 45.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +19.8 | |

### Ridgeway

Ridgeway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Carolyne Culver | 952 | 68.8 | +6.9 |
| | Conservative | Edward Iliffe | 345 | 24.9 | −6.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pam Lusby Taylor | 87 | 6.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 607 | 43.9 | +12.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,387 | 45.1 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | +6.4 | |

### Thatcham Central

Thatcham Central (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephanie Steevenson | 1,040 | 56.5 | +9.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Iain Cottingham | 1,024 | 55.6 | +15.7 |
| | Conservative | Richard Crumly | 511 | 27.8 | −3.6 |
| | Conservative | Iain Murphy | 482 | 26.2 | −0.6 |
| | Green | Estella Collins | 267 | 14.5 | −0.5 |
| | Labour | Mike Brook | 196 | 10.6 | +3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,858 | 34.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Thatcham Colthrop and Crookham

Thatcham Colthrop and Crookham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Owen Jeffrey | 794 | 70.1 | +27.7 |
| | Conservative | Steve Ardagh-Walter | 339 | 29.9 | −19.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 455 | 40.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,145 | 44.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +23.8 | |

### Thatcham North East

Thatcham North East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lee Dillon | 1,131 | 61.4 | +6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jeremy Cottam | 1,048 | 56.9 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative | Simon Carr | 514 | 27.9 | −8.0 |
| | Conservative | Dominic Parry | 432 | 23.5 | −8.1 |
| | Green | Kath Hodgson | 376 | 20.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,849 | 32.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Thatcham West

Thatcham West (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jeff Brooks | 1,110 | 63.5 | +13.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Justin Pemberton | 871 | 50.3 | +4.7 |
| | Conservative | Jason Collis | 439 | 25.4 | −1.2 |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Pearson | 344 | 19.9 | −3.7 |
| | Green | Elizabeth Parsloe | 215 | 12.4 | −2.0 |
| | Labour | Sarah Berrington | 121 | 7.0 | +0.9 |
| | Labour | Nick East | 99 | 5.7 | +1.1 |
| | UKIP | Gary Johnson | 89 | 5.1 | −9.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,741 | 32.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Theale

Theale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Macro | 585 | 70.7 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Parkhill | 148 | 17.9 | −4.9 |
| | Labour | Suzie Ferguson | 94 | 11.4 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 437 | 52.8 | +8.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,307 | 36.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +4.0 | |

### Tilehurst and Purley

Tilehurst and Purley (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Janine Lewis | 1,195 | 42.4 | +22.1 |
| | Conservative | Jane Langford | 1,191 | 42.2 | −10.4 |
| | Conservative | Paul Kander | 1,183 | 41.9 | −9.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Billows | 1,133 | 40.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Thomas Marino | 1,097 | 38.9 | −10.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gary Norman | 633 | 22.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | James Warren | 599 | 21.2 | −3.5 |
| | Green | Jacqueline Paynter | 545 | 19.3 | −6.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,831 | 34.4 | |
| | 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 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Tilehurst Birch Copse

Tilehurst Birch Copse (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jo Stewart | 777 | 45.3 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | Clive Taylor | 737 | 42.9 | +18.8 |
| | Conservative | Tony Linden | 736 | 42.9 | −5.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ceinwen Lally | 438 | 25.5 | +11.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andy Moore | 345 | 20.1 | +8.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,719 | 28.9 | |
| | 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 |

### Tilehurst South and Holybrook

Tilehurst South and Holybrook (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Somner | 827 | 49.8 | −8.4 |
| | Conservative | Biyi Oloko | 716 | 43.1 | −12.2 |
| | Labour | Charles Croal | 620 | 37.3 | +12.0 |
| | Labour | Liz Bell | 554 | 33.4 | +9.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andre Browne | 261 | 15.7 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Grout | 203 | 12.2 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,673 | 29.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |