Wealden District Council elections

Local government elections in East Sussex, England

Wealden District Council in East Sussex, England is elected every four years. From 2003 until the election in 2019, 55 councillors were elected from 35 wards. From 2019, 45 councillors have been elected from 41 wards.[1]

## Political control

[edit]

Since the first election to the council in 1973 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:[2]

Party in control | Years

|

| Conservative | 1973–1995
| No overall control | 1995–1997
| Conservative | 1997–2023
| No overall control | 2023-present

### Leadership

[edit]

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:[3]

Councillor | Party | From | To

|
|
|

Rupert Thornely-Taylor |  | Conservative | 18 Jul 2001 | 4 May 2003
Nigel Coltman |  | Conservative | 21 May 2003 | 6 May 2007
Pam Doodes |  | Conservative | 23 May 2007 | 19 May 2010
Bob Standley |  | Conservative | 19 May 2010 | 18 May 2022
Ann Newton |  | Conservative | 18 May 2022 | 18 May 2023
James Partridge |  | Liberal Democrats | 18 May 2023 | Present

## Council elections

[edit]

The table below shows the composition of seats held on the council directly after each election. Click on the year for full details of each election.

Composition of the council[4] Year  | Conservative | Liberal Democrats[a] | Green | Labour | Independents
& Others  | Council control
after election

|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |
Local government reorganisation; council established (56 seats)
1973 | 29 | 3  | –  | 1  | 23  |  | Conservative
1976 | 39 | 0  | 0  | 0  | 17  |  | Conservative
1979 | 48 | 1  | 0  | 0  | 7  |  | Conservative
New ward boundaries (58 seats)[5]
1983 | 48 | 2  | 0  | 0  | 8  |  | Conservative
1987 | 49 | 5  | 0  | 0  | 4  |  | Conservative
1991 | 44 | 11  | 0  | 0  | 3  |  | Conservative
1995 | 29 | 24  | 0  | 0  | 5  |  | No overall control
1999 | 34 | 22  | 0  | 0  | 2  |  | Conservative
New ward boundaries (58 seats)[6]
2003 | 34 | 15  | 0  | 0  | 6  |  | Conservative
New ward boundaries (58 seats)[7]
2007 | 34 | 12  | 2  | 0  | 7  |  | Conservative
2011 | 47 | 3  | 0  | 0  | 5  |  | Conservative
2015 | 50 | 0  | 0  | 0  | 5  |  | Conservative
New ward boundaries (45 seats)[8]
2019 | 34 | 4  | 2  | 0  | 5  |  | Conservative
2023 | 9  | 13 | 11  | 2  | 10  |  | No overall control
|  |  |  |  |

## District result maps

[edit]

* 2003 results map

* 2007 results map

* 2011 results map

* 2015 results map

* 2019 results map

* 2023 results map

## By-election results

[edit]

By-elections occur when seats become vacant between council elections. Below is a summary of recent by-elections;[9] full by-election results can be found by clicking on the by-election name.

By-election | Date | Incumbent party | Winning party

|
|
|

Pevensey Weston  | 28 November 1996  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Wadhurst  | 4 September 1997  |  | Independent |  | Conservative
Buxted  | 28 September 1997  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Pevensey Westham  | 28 September 1997  |  | Liberal Democrats |  | Conservative
Herstmonceux  | 2 April 1998  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Polegate South  | 28 May 1998  |  | Liberal Democrats |  | Liberal Democrats
Heathfield by-election | 7 June 2001  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Uckfield by-election (2) | 29 November 2001  |  | Liberal Democrats |  | Conservative
Herstmonceux by-election | 4 April 2002  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Uckfield by-election | 27 June 2002  |  | Conservative |  | Liberal Democrats
Uckfield Ridgewood by-election | 16 September 2004  |  | Liberal Democrats |  | Liberal Democrats
Pevensey and Westham by-election | 29 September 2005  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Crowborough North by-election | 6 April 2006  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Uckfield New Town by-election | 29 June 2006  |  | Liberal Democrats |  | Liberal Democrats
Uckfield New Town by-election | 17 July 2008  |  | Liberal Democrats |  | Liberal Democrats
Alfriston by-election | 25 September 2008  |  | Conservative |  | Liberal Democrats
Heathfield North and Central by-election | 23 September 2010  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Polegate North by-election | 2 August 2012  |  | Liberal Democrats |  | Liberal Democrats
Heathfield North and Central by-election | 29 November 2012  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Crowborough West by-election | 22 January 2015  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Hellingly by-election | 29 October 2015  |  | Conservative |  | Liberal Democrats
Crowborough East by-election | 21 January 2016  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Chiddingly and East Hoathly by-election | 20 July 2017  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Hailsham North by-election | 6 May 2021  |  | Conservative |  | Liberal Democrats
Hailsham South by-election | 6 May 2021  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Heathfield North by-election | 6 May 2021  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Heathfield South by-election | 6 May 2021  |  | Conservative |  | Conservative
Hartfield by-election | 2 December 2021  |  | Conservative |  | Green
Hailsham South by-election | 10 February 2022  |  | Conservative |  | Liberal Democrats
Maresfield by-election | 22 September 2022  |  | Conservative |  | Green

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Includes totals for the predecessors of the Liberal Democrats, the Liberal Party and SDP (both of which participated in the Alliance).

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Council - Wealden District Council". www.wealden.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
2. ^ "England council elections". BBC News Online. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
3. ^ "Council minutes". Wealden District Council. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
4. ^ "Composition calculator". Colin Rallings & Michael Thrasher. The Elections Centre, Plymouth University. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
5. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The District of Wealden (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
6. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The District of Wealden (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
7. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Wealden (Parish Electoral Arrangements and Electoral Changes) Order 2007. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
8. ^ "The Wealden (Electoral Changes) Order 2016". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
9. ^ "Local Authority Byelection Results". Retrieved 22 December 2011.

## External links

[edit]

* Wealden Council

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Council elections in East Sussex

East Sussex County Council|

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Brighton and Hove City Council|

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Eastbourne Borough Council|

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Hastings Borough Council|

* 1973
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Lewes District Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
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* 1999
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Rother District Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Wealden District Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Brighton Borough Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* Abolished

Hove Borough Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* Abolished

* See also: Wards
* Boundary changes

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