The 2023 Tendring District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect all 48 members of Tendring District Council in Essex, England. This would be on the same day as other local elections across England and parish council elections in the district.
The council was under no overall control prior to the election, being led by Conservative councillor Neil Stock, who had been leader of the council since 2015. He chose not to stand for re-election.
After the election, the council remained under no overall control. A coalition of independent councillors, Labour and the Liberal Democrats formed to take control of the council. At the subsequent annual council meeting on 23 May 2023, independent councillor Mark Thompson was appointed leader of the council, Labour group leader Ivan Henderson was made deputy leader of the council, and Liberal Democrat group leader Gary Scott was made chair of the council.
Summary
Election result
Ward results
The Statement of Nominated Persons, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023. The ward results were as follows:
Alresford and Elmstead
Ardleigh and Little Bromley
Bluehouse
James Codling and Mary Newton were elected in 2019 as UKIP members.
Brightlingsea
Burrsville
Cann Hall
Gina Placey was elected in 2019 as a member of Tendring First.
Coppins
Alex Porter was elected in 2019 as a member of UKIP.
Dovercourt All Saints
Dovercourt Bay
Dovercourt Tollgate
Dovercourt Vines and Parkeston
Eastcliff
Frinton
Harwich and Kingsway
Homelands
Kirby Cross
Kirby-le-Soken and Hamford
Lawford, Manningtree and Mistley
Little Clacton
Pier
St Bartholomew's
St James
St John's
St Osyth
St Paul's
Stour Valley
The Bentleys and Frating
The Oakleys and Wix
Thorpe, Beaumont and Great Holland
Walton
Weeley and Tendring
Peter Harris was elected in 2019 as a Foundation Party member.
West Clacton and Jaywick Sands
Changes 2023–2027
Nick Turner (Frinton), elected as a Conservative in May 2023, had moved to independent by September 2023.
Jeff Bray (Little Clacton) and Peter Harris (Weeley & Tendring), both elected as Conservatives, left the party in November 2023 to sit as independents.
Richard Everett (Frinton), elected as a Conservative in 2023, left the party in February 2024 to sit as an independent.
Richard Everett subsequently joined the Tendring Residents' Alliance political group after leaving the Conservative group.
Dan Casey initially joined the Tendring Independents group after the election, but then gave notice that he no longer wished to be treated as a member of that group and remained ungrouped.
James Codling (Bluehouse), elected as a Conservative, left the party on 11 June 2024 to sit as an independent.
On 24 June 2024, independent councillors Nick Turner (Frinton), Richard Everett (Frinton), Jeff Bray (Little Clacton) and James Codling (Bluehouse) joined Reform UK, giving the party its first representation on the council.
Nick Turner (Frinton) died in 2025, triggering the Frinton by-election.
Mark Stephenson, leader of the Tendring Independents group, left the group in January 2025 and became an ungrouped independent.
Michael Bush left the Tendring Independents group in December 2024 and became ungrouped.
Following her election in June 2025, Anne Davis joined the Reform UK political group.
Richard Everett left the Reform UK political group in August 2025 and became ungrouped.
By-elections
By-election triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Ian Lennard.
By-election triggered by the resignation of long-serving councillor Lynda McWilliams.
By-election triggered by the death of councillor Nick Turner.
References