2023 English local election
The 2023 Forest of Dean District Council election was held on 4 May 2023 to elect members to the Forest of Dean District Council in Gloucestershire, England. This was part of the 2023 United Kingdom local elections.
Following publication of the English devolution white paper on 16th December 2024, the Forest of Dean District Council will be required to merge with neighbouring authorities in Gloucestershire. No further elections are expected beyond 2023.
Overview.
Prior to the election the majority of the seats on the council were held by independent councillors, with 20 of the 38 councillors not representing a political party. The independents did not act as one political group, instead sitting as four different groups. Since 2017 the council had been led by Tim Gwilliam of the "Progressive Independents" group.
Following the election, the council consisted of fifteen Green, eleven Independent, five Labour, four Conservative and three Liberal Democrat councillors. Of the wards where more than 3 candidates stood, Labour councillor Di Martin and newly elected Labour councillor Matt Bishop achieved the highest share individually where they received 34% and 32% of the vote respectively in Cinderford East. At the subsequent annual council meeting on 25 May 2023, Green councillor Mark Topping was appointed Leader of the Council with support from Labour on a confidence and supply basis. Former Labour group leader Di Martin was appointed as chair of the council at the same meeting.
Election result.
! colspan="11"|2019 Forest of Dean District Council election
! colspan="2" style="width:230px"|Party
! style="width:30px"|Candidates
! style="width:30px"|Seats
! style="width:30px"|Gains
! style="width:30px"|Losses
! style="width:30px"|Net gain/loss
! style="width:30px"|Seats %
! style="width:30px"|Votes %
! style="width:60px"|Votes
! style="width:40px"|+/−
! style="background-color: ; width: 3px;" |  
! style="background-color: ; width: 3px;" |  
! style="background-color: ; width: 3px;" |  
! style="background-color: ; width: 3px;" |  
! style="background-color: ; width: 3px;" |  
Ward results.
The results for each ward were as follows, with an asterisk (*) indicating a sitting councillor standing for re-election.
Berry Hill.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Bream.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Cinderford East.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Cinderford West.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Coleford.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Dymock.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Hartpury &amp; Redmarley.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Longhope &amp; Huntley.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Lydbrook.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Lydney East.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Lydney North.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Lydney West &amp; Aylburton.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Mitcheldean Ruardean &amp; Drybrook.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Newent &amp; Taynton.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Newland &amp; Sling.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Newnham.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Pillowell.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Ruspidge.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
St Briavels.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Tidenham.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Westbury-on-Severn.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
 |- class="vcard"
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
References.
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