South Holland District Council local election results 2023
The Conservative Party held on to control of South Holland District Council by the barest of margins – losing their leader and some big names in the process.
The Tories took 19 of the 37 seats, with 18 now held by independents – and Gary Porter, leader since 2003, lost his seat and will leave the authority.
Cabinet members Peter Coupland, Rodney Grocock and Roger Gambba-Jones all lost their seats – meaning big change at the top for the council, which is responsible for issues ranging from waste collection to planning, parking, housing and fly tip enforcement.
The results are:
Long Sutton (3 seats)
*Andrew Tennant (Ind) 982
*David Thompson (Con) 624
*Jack Tyrrell (Con) 967
*David Wilkinson (Ind) 782
Andrew Tennant (Ind), Jack Tyrrell (Con) and David Wilkinson (Ind) all kept their seats.
Donington, Quadring and Gosberton (3 seats)
*Henry Bingham (Con) 737
*Margaret Geaney (Con) 631
*Colin Johnson (Con) 542
*Jane King (SH Ind) 856
*Matthew Swainson (Reform) 212
*Simon Walsh (SH Ind) 597
Henry Bingham (Con) and Jane King (SH Ind) kept their seats, but Simon Walsh (SH Ind) lost his seat to Margaret Geaney (Con)
Moulton, Weston and Cowbit (3 seats)
*Anthony Casson (Con) 1006
*Rodney Grocock (Con) 659
*Thomas Sneath (SH Ind) 976
*Andrew Woolf (Con) 958
Anthony Casson (Con) and Andrew Woolf (Con) keep their seats but Rodney Grocock (Con) loses his seat.
Crowland and Deeping St Nicholas (3 seats)
*Bryan Alcock (Ind) 757
*Jim Astill (Con) 770
*Amy Cook-Nykyforczuk (Green) 489
*Angie Harrison (Con) 577
The seats were held by Bryan Alcock (Ind), Jim Astill (Con) and Nigel Pepper (Con)
Sutton Bridge (2 seats)
*Michael Booth (SH Ind) 540
*Chris Brewis (SH Ind) 493
*Peter Coupland (Con) 381
*Laurence Marchant (Con) 348
Michael Booth (SH Ind) and Chris Brewis (SH Ind) keep their seats. The two have been councillors since 1979 and 1976 respectively. The council will need a new finance portfolio holder, with Peter Coupland no longer holding a seat on the authority.
Whaplode and Holbeach St John's (2 seats)
*Allan Beal (Con) 615
*Harry Griffen (SH Ind) 423
*Paul Redgate (Con) 555
Both Allan Beal (Con) and Paul Redgate (Con) hold onto their seats
Holbeach Town (3 seats)
*Francis Biggadike (Ind) 332
*Tracey Carter (Con) 959
*Malcolm Chandler (Con) 484
*Nanette Chapman (Con) 557
*Paul Foyster (SH Ind) 523
*Sophie Hutchinson (SH Ind) 734
*Graham Rudkin (Ind) 496
Before tonight, the councillors Francis Biggadike (currently sitting as a Conservative), Tracey Carter (Con), Graham Rudkin (Ind)
Holbeach Hurn (1 seat)
*Wendy Blackman (Green) 118
*Nick Worth (Con) 331
The seat remains in the hands of Nick Worth (Con)
Pinchbeck and Surfleet (3 seats)
*James Avery (Con) 886
*Simon Jenkins (Green) 431
*Terry Moore (Ind) 699
*Sally Slade (Con) 780
*Elizabeth Sneath (Con) 904
All three Conservative councillors keep their seats.
Spalding St Mary's (2 seats)
*Dave Ashby (SH Ind) 472
*William Hayes (Con) 432
*Mark Le Sage (SH Ind) 559
*Gary Porter (Con) 368
That bombshell result means Gary Porter loses his seat – after 20 years as leader of the authority.
Spalding St John's (2 seats)
*Manzur Hasan (SH Ind) 732
*James Le Sage (SH Ind) 611
*Ann Savage (Con) 224
*Edward Sneath (Con) 242
Councillors were Manzur Hasan (SH Ind) and Jack McLean (Ind)
Spalding Monks House (2 seats)
*Sam Chauhan (SH Ind) 604
*Val Gemmell (Con) 275
*Ingrid Sheard (SH Ind) 524
*Stephen Timewell (Con) 468
Councillors for the ward were Anthony Cronin (Ind) and Stephen Timewell (Con). The flower parade organiser only took his seat in a by-election in December after the death of Angela Newton.
Spalding Wygate (2 seats)
*Aidan Forman (Lab)`401
*Roger Gambba-Jones (Con) 411
*Aaron Spencer (SH Ind) 423
*Jan Whitbourn (Con) 473
Councillors for the ward were Roger Gambba-Jones (Con) and Christine Lawton (Con), meaning the South Holland Independents gain a seat.
Spalding St Paul's (2 seats)
*Bailey Boulding (SH Ind) 385
*Rob Gibson (SH Ind) 458
*Glynis Scalese (Con) 269
*Christopher Sutton (Con) 197
Rob Gibson (SH Ind) held his seat, but Bailey Boulding (SH Ind) will now take the place of Glynis Scalese (Con)
Fleet (1 seat)
*Paul Barnes (SH Ind) 373
*Edward McNally (Con) 196
The seat had been won by Peter Coupland for the Conservatives at the last election, but he was not chosen to stand again for the party in this ward.
The Saints (1 seat)
*Laura Eldridge (Con) 524
*Michael Seymour (Ind) 158
The seat was held by Michael Seymour, who was not selected to stand again for the party.
Gedney (1 seat)
*Jo Reynolds (Con) 289
*Matthew Stancer (SH Ind) 187
Turnout 26.35% (seat was uncontested last time)
Jo Reynolds was thrilled to hold the seat and stated that the turnout in this election had been 'very low'.
She said: "It is a central government thing. As I have been saying, this is on your doorstep not what is going on with central government.
"I am ecstatic, it's been very close fought.
"I am pleased to be carrying on and doing good work for Gedney and working with the parish council."
She said that she had plans for the ward but would rather not say what they are at this time.
Spalding Castle (1 seat)
*Martin Blake (Green) 183
*Gary Taylor (Con) 335
Turnout 28.47% (down from 32.71% last time)
Gary Taylor was delighted to have increased his majority 'at a difficult time for time for the party' and says he received almost 65% of the vote.
He also said that turn out was low in Spalding but said the Castle seat received one of the highest proportions of voters.
Speaking after the result announced Coun Taylor said: "It is pleasing. It is a campaign that we have taken seriously and worked hard.
"I would say it was a traditional community campaign with no gimmicks or dirty tricks - but positive, based on issues that are relative to the community.
"I would like to thank the residents who have put their trust in me."
He also said: "Hopefully voter ID was not an issue but if was it needs to be addressed."
The Conservative party had 23 of the 37 seats going into the election – with Conservatives Francis Biggadike and Mick Seymour leaving the party after not being selected to stand again this time.
