The 2023 Cotswold District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect all 34 members of Cotswold District Council in Gloucestershire, England. It was held on the same day as other local elections in England.
The Liberal Democrats won 22 seats, an increase of four, and retained control of the council. The Conservatives won nine seats, the Green Party won two and an independent won one. The Conservative group leader, Tony Berry, lost his seat in Kemble.
Summary
Election result
Tetbury with Upton The successful Liberal Democrat candidate in Tetbury with Upton, Chris Twells, was serving as the councillor for Salford City Council's Ordsall ward at the time of the close of nominations. Following his election to Cotswold District Council, he resigned from Salford City Council.
Ward results
The ward results were as follows.
Abbey
Blockley
Bourton Vale
Bourton Village
Campden and Vale
Chedworth and Churn Valley
Chesterton
Coln Valley
Ermin
Fairford North
Fosseridge
Four Acres
Grumbolds Ash with Avening
Kemble
Lechlade, Kempsford and Fairford South
Moreton East
Moreton West
New Mills
Northleach
Sandywell
Siddington and Cerney Rural
South Cerney Village
St Michael's
Stow
Stratton
Tetbury East and Rural
Tetbury Town
Tetbury with Upton
The Ampneys and Hampton
The Beeches
The Rissingtons
Watermoor
Changes since the election
Changes 2023–2027 Chris Twells was suspended from the Liberal Democrats shortly after the election and sat as an independent. The council's first published political composition after the election therefore recorded 21 Liberal Democrats, nine Conservatives, two Greens and two non-grouped independents. Twells joined the Liberal Party in July 2024, before returning to sit as an independent in November 2024.
By-elections
Lechlade, Kempsford & Fairford South
The by-election followed the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Clare Muir on 7 November 2023 for personal reasons.
Cirencester Chesterton
The by-election followed the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Roly Hughes on 28 November 2024.
Tetbury with Upton
The by-election followed Chris Twells's resignation from the council on 19 March 2025.
Cirencester Watermoor
The by-election followed the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Gary Selwyn on 24 March 2025.
The Rissingtons
The by-election followed the resignation of Green councillor Andrew Maclean after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
The Beeches
The by-election followed the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Nigel Robbins, who retired after nearly 13 years as a district and county councillor.
St Michael's
The by-election followed the resignation of former council leader Joe Harris.
Blockley
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Green councillor Clare Turner, with new work commitments being cited as the reason for her resignationhttps://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk/election-announced-for-blockley-ward-following-resignation/.
References