The 2023 Ashford Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Ashford Borough Council in Kent, England. This was on the same day as other local elections in England.
At the previous election in 2019, the Conservatives had held onto a majority winning 26 seats out of the 47 up for election. In the intervening years a number of by-elections and defections caused the council to go into no overall control, with the Conservatives continuing to govern as a minority administration, led by Gerry Clarkson. He chose not to stand for re-election in 2023.
The council remained under no overall control following the election. The Conservatives remained the largest party, but a coalition of the Ashford Independents and the Greens formed a minority administration, with Ashford Independent councillor Noel Ovenden being appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 30 May 2023.
Summary
Election result
The gain and losses in the above summary results table depict the difference between the 2019 election and the 2023 election. It does not reflect changes since any by-elections in the intervening years.
Ward results
The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Ashford Borough Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023. The results in each ward were as follows: Asterisks denote incumbent councillors seeking re-election.
Aylesford & East Stour
Beaver
Biddenden
Bircholt
Bockhanger
Bybrook
Charing
Conningbrook & Little Burton Farm
Downs North
Downs West
Furley
Goat Lees
Godinton
Highfield
Isle of Oxney
Kennington
Kingsnorth Village & Bridgefield
Mersham, Sevington South with Finberry
Norman
Park Farm North
Park Farm South
Repton
Rolvenden & Tenterden West
Roman
Saxon Shore
Singleton East
Singleton West
Stanhope
Tenterden North
Tenterden South
Tenterden St Michael's
Upper Weald
Victoria
Washford
Weald Central
Weald North
Weald South
Willesborough
Wye with Hinxhill
Changes 2023–2027
Bill Barrett, elected as a Conservative in Singleton East, joined the Ashford Independents in June 2023 before leaving the group to sit as an independent in early 2025. Labour councillors Kate Leavey and Alan Dean left the Labour group to sit as independents; Dean later joined the Green group in June 2025.
By-elections
Aylesford & East Stour
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Sojan Joseph after his election as MP for Ashford.
Rolvenden & Tenterden West
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Green councillor Kate Walder.
References