Braintree Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · East of England · 49 seats in 26 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

The Conservatives have a majority on Braintree Council. The council has 49 councillors in 26 wards. Seats by party: Conservative 30, Labour 9, Other 6, Green 3, Reform 1. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

The government withdrew its plan to reorganise councils in Greater Essex on 7 September 2026. Elections due in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. Source

Control

Seats by party

Conservative (Majority)

49 seats - 25 for a majority

Reform 1Labour 9Conservative 30Green 3Other 6

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Conservative +4 Reform +1 Green −1 Other −4

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (49 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Conservative34.3%26

Labour22.3%9

Other20.3%10

Green18.9%4

Lib Dem3.4%0

Reform0.8%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 49 seats up, then every four years

Largest party

Conservative 30

majority of 11; 25 needed

Closest result

Bocking South

Labour won the last seat by 6 votes over Conservative, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Coggeshall

Reform gain from Independent, 5 March 2026 (3 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

61%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeGreenIndependentOther

Coloured by the party holding most of the ward's seats today; where seats are split evenly, by the party with the higher share at the last election.

All 26 wards

Councillors and last results

Select a ward for its full results, candidates and last by-election.

Ward and councillors	Last election
Bocking Blackwater Lynette Bowers-Flint, Justin Wrench, Lyn Walters	4 May 2023 Conservative 35.1% lead 10.0 pts
Bocking North Lynn Jefferis, John Baugh	4 May 2023 Labour 43.0% lead 3.2 pts
Bocking South Jack Edwards, Moia Thorogood	4 May 2023 Conservative 43.4% lead 2.2 pts
Braintree Central & Beckers Green Shirley Mason, Thomas Diamond, Jonathan Ayten	4 May 2023 Labour 34.9% lead 10.5 pts
Braintree South Martin Green, Kevin Bowers	4 May 2023 Labour 37.3% lead 0.9 pts
Braintree West Mary Cunningham, George Prime	4 May 2023 Conservative 47.7% lead 17.7 pts
Bumpstead Diana Garrod	4 May 2023 Conservative 60.2% lead 30.6 pts
Coggeshall Dennis Abram, Nathan Robins	4 May 2023 Independent 35.9% lead 2.0 pts
Gosfield & Greenstead Green Peter Schwier	4 May 2023 Conservative 52.6% lead 23.5 pts
Great Notley & Black Notley Graham Butland, Frankie Ricci, Tom Cunningham	4 May 2023 Conservative 44.1% lead 23.1 pts
Halstead St Andrew's James Bond, Andy Munday	4 May 2023 Halstead Residents' Association 50.8% lead 28.7 pts
Halstead Trinity Malcolm Fincken, Jackie Pell	4 May 2023 Halstead Residents' Association 47.2% lead 8.0 pts
Hatfield Peverel & Terling Charley Dervish, James Coleridge	4 May 2023 Conservative 54.9% lead 29.3 pts
Hedingham Wendy Taylor, Joanne Beavis	4 May 2023 Independent 43.5% lead 8.2 pts
Kelvedon & Feering Paul Thorogood, Camilla Finch	4 May 2023 Green 54.5% lead 21.3 pts
Rayne Ann Hooks	4 May 2023 Independent 64.0% lead 37.6 pts
Silver End & Cressing James Abbott, Bob Wright	4 May 2023 Green 68.6% lead 51.4 pts
Stour Valley North Iona Parker	4 May 2023 Conservative 55.6% lead 36.7 pts
Stour Valley South David Holland	4 May 2023 Conservative 59.3% lead 35.4 pts
The Colnes George Courtauld, Gabrielle Spray	4 May 2023 Conservative 44.7% lead 10.8 pts
Three Fields Michael Staines, Mark Ault	4 May 2023 Independent 34.0% lead 4.9 pts
Witham Central Toby Williams, Sindhu Rajeev	4 May 2023 Conservative 32.0% lead 9.3 pts
Witham North Billy Taylor, Ethan Williams	4 May 2023 Conservative 37.5% lead 6.0 pts
Witham South Jackie Martin, Paul Heath	4 May 2023 Labour 39.8% lead 4.2 pts
Witham West Jon Hayes, Ron Ramage	4 May 2023 Conservative 36.5% lead 4.5 pts
Yeldham Richard Van Dulken	4 May 2023 Conservative 44.2% lead 4.3 pts

Bocking Blackwater

Justin Wrench ConservativeLyn Walters ConservativeLynette Bowers-Flint Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative35.1%

Green25.1%

Labour24.8%

Lib Dem15.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Lyn Shirley Walters Elected	Conservative	815
Justin Wrench Elected	Conservative	804
Lynette Barbara Flint Elected	Conservative	773
David Andrews	Green	582
Jasmine Lara Curitz	Labour	576
David Wayne Chidgey	Labour	540
Richard Gordon Parsons	Labour	421
James Card	Lib Dem	347

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Bocking North

John Baugh ConservativeLynn Jefferis Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour43.0%

Conservative39.8%

Green17.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Lynn Rosemary Jefferis Elected	Labour	565
John Baugh Elected	Conservative	522
Keiran Peter Martin	Labour	506
Felicia Odunayo Ayo-Ajala	Conservative	372
Andrea Phillips	Green	226

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Bocking South

Jack Edwards ConservativeMoia Thorogood Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative43.4%

Labour41.2%

Green15.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jack Peter Richard Edwards Elected	Conservative	511
Moia Thorogood Elected	Labour	485
Trevor Robert McArdle	Conservative	479
Robert Paul Heath	Labour	459
Karl Anthony Handy	Green	181

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Braintree Central & Beckers Green

Jonathan Ayten LabourShirley Mason LabourThomas Diamond Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour34.9%

Conservative24.4%

Green21.1%

Independent19.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Shirley Mason Elected	Labour	699
Tom Diamond Elected	Labour	694
Jonathan Ayten Elected	Labour	687
Karen Brown	Conservative	488
Sandra Ann Canning	Conservative	475
Andrew Crawford Hensman	Conservative	425
Simon Anthony Attwood	Green	422
Colin Albert Riches	Independent	393

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Braintree South

Kevin Bowers ConservativeMartin Green Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour37.3%

Conservative36.4%

Green14.8%

Lib Dem11.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Martin John Green Elected	Labour	468
Kevin James Bowers Elected	Conservative	457
Jacqui Thurgood	Labour	444
Saif Rehman	Conservative	399
Stuart Wick	Green	185
Tom Hughes	Lib Dem	144

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Braintree West

George Prime ConservativeMary Cunningham Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative47.7%

Labour30.0%

Green22.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Mary Clark Cunningham Elected	Conservative	727
George Prime Elected	Conservative	692
Alexander James Frederick Wilsdon	Labour	457
Peter John Wyatt	Labour	426
Nicholas David Scales	Green	341

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Bumpstead

Diana Garrod Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative60.2%

Labour29.6%

Reform10.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Diana Garrod Elected	Conservative	479	60.2%
Gary James William Knights	Labour	236	29.6%
Norma Vivien Saggers	Reform	81	10.2%

Coggeshall

Dennis Abram ConservativeNathan Robins Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent35.9%

Independent33.9%

Conservative19.7%

Labour10.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Tom Walsh Elected	Independent	981
Dennis John Abram Elected	Independent	928
Sue Wilson	Conservative	540
Chris William Siddall	Conservative	478
Bob Powers	Labour	287
Usha Agarwal-Hollands	Labour	260

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 5 March 2026

Reform30.8%

Independent28.6%

Labour20.3%

Conservative17.3%

Lib Dem3.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Nathan William James Robins Elected	Reform	554	30.8%
Colin Albert Riches	Independent	515	28.6%
Sarah Neal	Labour	366	20.3%
India Jane Jayatillake	Conservative	311	17.3%
Barry John Fleet	Lib Dem	55	3.1%

Gosfield & Greenstead Green

Peter Schwier Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative52.6%

Green29.1%

Labour18.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Peter Gordon Schwier Elected	Conservative	396	52.6%
Jenny Bishop	Green	219	29.1%
Deborah Rose Warren	Labour	138	18.3%

Great Notley & Black Notley

Frankie Ricci ConservativeGraham Butland ConservativeTom Cunningham Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative44.1%

Green21.0%

Labour18.3%

Lib Dem16.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Graham Butland Elected	Conservative	1,028
Francesco Patrizio Ricci Elected	Conservative	979
Tom Glencairn Cunningham Elected	Conservative	969
Poppy Eloise Gerrard-Abbott	Green	490
Andrew David Beatty	Labour	428
Brian George Smith	Lib Dem	387
Antony Christopher Jones	Labour	384
Bronislaw Alexander Jagniaszek	Labour	354
David Paul Toombs	Lib Dem	347
Graham John Sheppard	Lib Dem	284

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Halstead St Andrew's

Andy Munday Halstead Residents' AssociationJames Bond Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Halstead Residents' Association50.8%

Conservative22.1%

Labour21.9%

UKIP5.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jim Bond Elected	Halstead Residents' Association	664
Andy Munday Elected	Halstead Residents' Association	632
David Malcolm Finch	Conservative	289
Steven Richard Knight	Labour	286
Kathie Tearle	Labour	255
Olatunbosun Senbanjo	Conservative	150
Judy Wood	UKIP	68

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Halstead Trinity

Jackie Pell Halstead Residents' AssociationMalcolm Fincken Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Halstead Residents' Association47.2%

Labour39.2%

Conservative13.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jackie Pell Elected	Halstead Residents' Association	625
Malcolm Fincken Elected	Labour	520
Garry John Warren	Labour	437
Linda Janet Hilton	Halstead Residents' Association	409
Barry George Britten	Conservative	180
Libby Poole	Conservative	143

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Hatfield Peverel & Terling

Charley Dervish ConservativeJames Coleridge Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative54.9%

Green25.6%

Labour19.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Charley Dervish Elected	Conservative	877
James William Coleridge Elected	Conservative	855
Jonathan David Barker	Green	409
Linda Jane Bennison	Labour	312
Tony Bennett	Labour	299

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Hedingham

Joanne Beavis ConservativeWendy Taylor Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent43.5%

Independent35.3%

Conservative14.0%

Labour7.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jo Clare Beavis Elected	Independent	941
Wendy Taylor Elected	Independent	764
Jason Simon Ferrando	Conservative	304
Philip William Rawlinson	Conservative	236
Christine Calver	Labour	156
Matt Creamer	Labour	148

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Kelvedon & Feering

Camilla Finch GreenPaul Thorogood Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Green54.5%

Conservative33.2%

Labour12.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Paul Richard Thorogood Elected	Green	1,096
Camilla Jane Finch Elected	Green	940
Robert Godfrey Scudamore Mitchell	Conservative	668
India Jane Jayatillake	Conservative	644
Eileen Kirkpatrick Davidson	Labour	246
Pamela Carlaw	Labour	226

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Rayne

Ann Hooks Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent64.0%

Conservative26.4%

Labour9.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Ann Louise Hooks Elected	Independent	528	64.0%
Glenn James Young	Conservative	218	26.4%
Nigel Peter Gibson	Labour	79	9.6%

Silver End & Cressing

Bob Wright GreenJames Abbott Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Green68.6%

Conservative17.2%

Labour7.7%

Independent3.7%

Heritage Party2.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
James Edward Abbott Elected	Green	1,198
Bob Wright Elected	Green	1,017
Jack Bayford	Conservative	300
Darrin Robert Hammond	Conservative	297
Steven John Bennison	Labour	134
Ann Griffin	Labour	126
Annetta Elaine Hawkins	Independent	64
Andrew Francis Page	Heritage Party	51

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Stour Valley North

Iona Parker Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative55.6%

Labour18.9%

Green18.3%

Reform7.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Iona Claire Fitzgerald Parker Elected	Conservative	507	55.6%
Peter John Long	Labour	172	18.9%
Mark Posen	Green	167	18.3%
Raymond Richards	Reform	66	7.2%

Stour Valley South

David Holland Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative59.3%

Green23.9%

Labour16.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
David Peter Holland Elected	Conservative	549	59.3%
Paul James Robinson	Green	221	23.9%
Fredrick Charles Hearn	Labour	156	16.8%

The Colnes

Gabrielle Spray ConservativeGeorge Courtauld Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative44.7%

Green33.9%

Labour21.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
George Courtauld Elected	Conservative	724
Gabrielle Ann Spray Elected	Conservative	707
James Astley	Green	549
Sandra Diane Hindley	Labour	346
Felix Preston	Labour	247

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Three Fields

Mark Ault IndependentMichael Staines Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent34.0%

Independent29.1%

Conservative27.9%

Labour9.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Mark Ian Ault Elected	Independent	995
Michael Robert John Staines Elected	Independent	851
John Philip Warner	Conservative	818
Stephen Canning	Conservative	593
William Paul Edwards	Labour	265
Stephen Jeffrey Newton	Labour	228

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Witham Central

Sindhu Rajeev ConservativeToby Williams Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative32.0%

Labour22.7%

Green22.4%

Lib Dem16.2%

Reform6.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Sindhu Rajeev Elected	Conservative	510
Toby Williams Elected	Conservative	486
Lucy Merri Barlow	Labour	362
Edwyn James John Gerrard-Abbott	Green	358
Joan Margaret Coleman	Labour	288
Barry John Fleet	Lib Dem	259
Helen Julia Waring	Lib Dem	198
Richard Thomson	Reform	107

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Witham North

Billy Taylor ConservativeEthan Williams Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative37.5%

Labour31.5%

Green26.5%

Reform4.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Billy Taylor Elected	Conservative	568
Ethan Williams Elected	Conservative	543
Phil Barlow	Labour	477
Leanora Agene Headley	Labour	418
Stephen Eric Hicks	Green	401
Philip John Hughes	Green	396
Tim Blaxill	Reform	67

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Witham South

Jackie Martin LabourPaul Heath Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour39.8%

Conservative35.6%

Green13.8%

Lib Dem10.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Paul Alan Thomas Heath Elected	Labour	501
Jacqueline Suzanne Marie Martin Elected	Labour	473
William Korsinah	Conservative	448
Joe Trigg	Conservative	424
Stephanie Bills	Green	174
Paul Michael Simon Hewitt	Lib Dem	137
Charlie Ryland	Lib Dem	97

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Witham West

Jon Hayes ConservativeRon Ramage Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative36.5%

Labour32.0%

Green24.7%

Lib Dem6.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jon Hayes Elected	Conservative	533
Ronald Philip Ramage Elected	Conservative	520
Jack Coleman	Labour	467
Jack Robertson	Labour	427
Susan Ager	Green	361
Steven Crane	Green	254
Andrew Simon Holt	Lib Dem	98

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Yeldham

Richard Van Dulken Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative44.2%

Independent39.9%

Labour15.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Richard Michael van Dulken Elected	Conservative	312	44.2%
Julia Suzanne Allen	Independent	282	39.9%
Denis Christopher Franklin	Labour	112	15.9%

Councillors

Changed party since the election

4 councillors now sit for a different party from the one they were elected for.

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Coggeshall	Dennis Abram	Independent 2023	Conservative
Hedingham	Wendy Taylor	Independent 2023	Conservative
Kelvedon & Feering	Paul Thorogood	Green 2023	Independent
Rayne	Ann Hooks	Independent 2023	Conservative

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

3 by-elections since July 2021, 2 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
5 March 2026	Coggeshall	Reform gain from Independent	30.7%
10 November 2022	Braintree South	Labour gain from Independent
10 November 2022	Coggeshall	Independent hold

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Braintree	61%	Conservative	Conservative 37%
Witham	39%	Conservative	Conservative 36%

Share of the council: the proportion of its census neighbourhoods (2021 LSOAs) in each seat. The projection is PollCheck's demographic model at current polling, not a forecast.

People

Who lives in Braintree

155,262 residents in 64,987 households

Voted Leave in 2016

61% 9 above GB

Degree or higher

26% 8 below GB

No qualifications

18% same as GB

Own their home

68% 7 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

16% 1 below GB

Rent privately

15% 5 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

27% 4 below GB

Aged 65 and over

25% 3 above GB

GB figure. 2021 Census (Scotland: 2022): age as a share of residents aged 15 and over, qualifications of residents aged 16 and over, housing as a share of households. Leave: 2016 EU referendum, Electoral Commission results by counting area.

Similar

Councils most like this one

Stockton-on-TeesLabour (Minority)Newcastle-under-LymeReform UK (Majority)RossendaleLabour (Majority)Newark and SherwoodLabour (Minority)ErewashLabour (Majority)

Closest on the measures above: the 2016 Leave vote, age, qualifications and housing. Maps show which party holds each ward.

Sources

Sources and method

Seat totals and control: PollCheck council control tracker. Councillors: Open Council Data (CC BY-SA 4.0). Election results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), with some vote counts from DCLEAPIL, Leman (2025) (CC BY-SA 4.0), and corrections checked against councils' official declarations. Ward boundaries: Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Census: Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland.

Councillor lists and DCLEAPIL-derived vote counts on this page are available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

In wards electing more than one councillor, a party's share counts only its leading candidate (the Rallings and Thrasher method). Independents count individually. The lead is the gap between the top two parties' shares.