Canterbury Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · South East · 39 seats in 21 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

Labour run Canterbury Council as a minority administration. The council has 39 councillors in 21 wards. Seats by party: Labour 18, Lib Dem 8, Conservative 8, Green 4, Other 1. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

A government plan to replace the councils in this area with four unitary councils was paused for review on 7 September 2026. Elections due in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. Source

Control

Seats by party

Labour (Minority)

39 seats - 20 for a majority

Labour 18Conservative 8Lib Dem 8Green 4Other 1

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Other +1 Lib Dem −1

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (39 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Labour32.1%18

Conservative23.2%8

Lib Dem22.7%9

Green16.6%4

Other5.0%0

Reform0.4%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 39 seats up, then every four years

Largest party

Labour 18

2 short of the 20 needed for a majority

Closest result

Seasalter

Labour won the last seat by 1 vote over Independent, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Wincheap

Green gain from Lib Dem, 13 November 2025 (4 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

51%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeLib DemGreenIndependent

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 21 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
Barton Connie Nolan, Pat Edwards, Paul Prentice	4 May 2023 Labour 50.7% lead 26.0 pts
Beltinge Ian Stockley, Jeanette Stockley	4 May 2023 Conservative 46.8% lead 24.3 pts
Blean Forest Dan Smith, Steph Jupe, Alex Ricketts	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 50.9% lead 32.3 pts
Chartham & Stone Street Alister Brady, Mike Bland	4 May 2023 Labour 45.2% lead 22.3 pts
Chestfield James Flanagan, Peter Old	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 53.0% lead 28.1 pts
Gorrell Clare Turnbull, Stuart Heaver, Chris Cornell	4 May 2023 Green 49.6% lead 9.7 pts
Greenhill Dan Watkins	4 May 2023 Conservative 46.7% lead 7.9 pts
Herne & Broomfield Grace Paget, Robert Jones	4 May 2023 Conservative 39.7% lead 17.9 pts
Heron Liz Harvey, Tom Mellish, David Thomas	4 May 2023 Labour 32.0% lead 1.2 pts
Little Stour & Adisham Lee Castle	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 72.0% lead 52.8 pts
Nailbourne Mike Sole	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 84.0% lead 73.4 pts
Northgate Alan Baldock, Jean Butcher	4 May 2023 Labour 61.1% lead 45.3 pts
Reculver Rachel Carnac	4 May 2023 Conservative 49.1% lead 19.6 pts
Seasalter Naomi Smith, Charlotte Cornell	4 May 2023 Labour 27.8% lead 3.0 pts
St Stephens Beth Forrester, Mel Dawkins	4 May 2023 Labour 55.0% lead 37.7 pts
Sturry Harry McKenzie, Keji Moses	4 May 2023 Labour 33.5% lead 5.4 pts
Swalecliffe Keith Bothwell	4 May 2023 Green 55.3% lead 28.7 pts
Tankerton Simon Warley	4 May 2023 Labour 48.8% lead 10.4 pts
West Bay Andrew Harvey	4 May 2023 Green 56.0% lead 24.3 pts
Westgate Michael Dixey, Pip Hazelton	4 May 2023 Labour 40.2% lead 1.6 pts
Wincheap Peter Campbell, Dane Buckman	4 May 2023 Labour 38.4% lead 2.1 pts

Barton

Connie Nolan LabourPat Edwards LabourPaul Prentice Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour50.7%

Conservative24.7%

Lib Dem13.6%

Green11.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Connie Nolan Elected	Labour	1,476
Pat Edwards Elected	Labour	1,405
Paul Stephen Leonard Prentice Elected	Labour	1,257
Martin Antony Arch	Conservative	718
Scott Collins	Conservative	605
Mary Cawston Streater	Conservative	555
Graham Duplock	Lib Dem	397
George Fenwick Metcalfe	Lib Dem	374
Julia Dorothea Zoettl	Lib Dem	345
Delia Hazrati	Green	320
Mary Claire Smith	Green	297
Nathan James Geoffrey Tough	Green	227

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Beltinge

Ian Stockley ConservativeJeanette Stockley Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative46.8%

Labour22.5%

Green20.7%

Lib Dem9.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Ian Stockley Elected	Conservative	944
Jeanette Stockley Elected	Conservative	940
Teresa Pearce	Labour	454
Christine Elizabeth Wheeldon	Labour	425
Nicholas Gadsby	Green	417
Roger Everatt	Green	253
Ann Margaret Anderson	Lib Dem	200
Paul Kinghorn Smith	Lib Dem	156

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Blean Forest

Alex Ricketts Lib DemDan Smith Lib DemSteph Jupe Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Lib Dem50.9%

Labour18.6%

Green16.7%

Conservative13.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Alex Ricketts Elected	Lib Dem	1,214
Steph Jupe Elected	Lib Dem	1,035
Dan Smith Elected	Lib Dem	944
Nicola Amy May	Labour	444
Alexander Ian William Hilton	Green	398
Howard Michael Needham	Labour	383
Sam Newman	Labour	367
James Peter Somerville-Meikle	Conservative	329
Gary David Albert Ovenden	Conservative	299
Timothy Charles Streater	Conservative	281

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Chartham & Stone Street

Alister Brady LabourMike Bland Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour45.2%

Conservative22.9%

Lib Dem18.8%

Green13.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Alister John Brady Elected	Labour	1,169
Mike Bland Elected	Labour	1,153
Laura Jane Hobbs	Conservative	593
Elliot Stephen Curryer	Conservative	567
Yvonne Hawkins	Lib Dem	485
James Angus Galloway	Lib Dem	407
Greg Lawrence	Green	338

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Chestfield

James Flanagan Lib DemPeter Old Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem53.0%

Conservative24.9%

Labour13.4%

Reform4.7%

Independent4.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Peter John Old Elected	Lib Dem	1,381
James Flanagan Elected	Lib Dem	1,358
Steve Bailey	Conservative	649
Ben Fitter-Harding	Conservative	489
Philippa Anne Langton	Labour	349
Sammy Roberts	Labour	256
Adrian John Kibble	Reform	122
Joe Egerton	Independent	106
Leslie Lilley	Reform	101

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Gorrell

Chris Cornell LabourClare Turnbull GreenStuart Heaver Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Green49.6%

Labour39.9%

Conservative10.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Clare Margaret Turnbull Elected	Green	2,045
Chris Cornell Elected	Labour	1,643
Steven Gordon Wheeler Elected	Green	1,492
Valerie Ann Kenny	Labour	1,392
Dan Allen	Labour	1,293
Tom Sharp	Green	1,215
Georgia Rose Bills	Conservative	434
Janet Newcombe	Conservative	426
Penelope Rose Elaine Wilson	Conservative	405

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 6 March 2025

Green49.5%

Labour23.3%

Reform17.3%

Conservative7.3%

Lib Dem2.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Stuart Heaver Elected	Green	1,210	49.5%
Valerie Ann Kenny	Labour	570	23.3%
Babychan Thomas	Reform	423	17.3%
Janet Newcombe	Conservative	179	7.3%
Nick Parry	Lib Dem	64	2.6%

Greenhill

Dan Watkins Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative46.7%

Labour38.8%

Lib Dem14.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Dan Watkins Elected	Conservative	421	46.7%
Andy Davidson	Labour	350	38.8%
Valerie Jane Ainscough	Lib Dem	130	14.4%

Herne & Broomfield

Grace Paget ConservativeRobert Jones Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative39.7%

Lib Dem21.8%

Labour20.6%

Independent9.6%

Green8.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Robert Stuart Jones Elected	Conservative	812
Joe Howes Elected	Conservative	722
Derek Stephen Maslin	Lib Dem	446
Chris Gibson	Labour	421
Karen Margaret Douglas	Labour	419
Brian Edward McHenry	Lib Dem	291
Anne Mary Decker	Independent	197
Alex Stevens	Green	169
Tom Alan Williams	Green	117

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 6 March 2025

Conservative40.5%

Reform34.7%

Labour14.4%

Lib Dem7.5%

Green3.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Grace Taylor Paget Elected	Conservative	553	40.5%
Mark Francis Mulvihill	Reform	473	34.7%
Lawrence James Murray Coomber	Labour	196	14.4%
Derek Stephen Maslin	Lib Dem	102	7.5%
Peter Campbell	Green	41	3.0%

Heron

David Thomas ConservativeLiz Harvey ConservativeTom Mellish Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour32.0%

Conservative30.8%

Green19.5%

Lib Dem17.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Tom Mellish Elected	Labour	1,079
Liz Harvey Elected	Conservative	1,037
David Thomas Elected	Conservative	1,030
Emma Elizabeth Wright	Labour	1,023
Fred Martin Pearce	Labour	1,019
Jane Thomas	Conservative	978
Michael John Vince	Green	656
Margaret Grace Flaherty	Lib Dem	600
Martin Ashton	Lib Dem	329
Latchmi Old	Lib Dem	229

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Little Stour & Adisham

Lee Castle Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem72.0%

Conservative19.2%

Labour8.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Lee Robert Castle Elected	Lib Dem	1,161	72.0%
Hilary Jane Scott	Conservative	310	19.2%
Paul O'Neill	Labour	142	8.8%

Nailbourne

Mike Sole Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem84.0%

Conservative10.6%

Labour5.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Michael John Sole Elected	Lib Dem	1,341	84.0%
Cerise Thea Olivia Harriss	Conservative	170	10.6%
Mike Holman	Labour	86	5.4%

Northgate

Alan Baldock LabourJean Butcher Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour61.1%

Green15.8%

Conservative14.4%

Lib Dem8.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Alan Baldock Elected	Labour	682
Jean Butcher Elected	Labour	682
Martin Baker	Green	177
Eamon David O'Reilly	Conservative	161
Louie Alex Ralph	Conservative	156
Mark Antony Leggatt	Lib Dem	97
Liz Pope	Lib Dem	93

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Reculver

Rachel Carnac Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative49.1%

Labour29.5%

Green12.4%

Lib Dem8.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Rachel Carnac Elected	Conservative	534	49.1%
Barbara Ann Ayling	Labour	321	29.5%
Stephen Peckham	Green	135	12.4%
John Keith Bowley	Lib Dem	97	8.9%

Seasalter

Charlotte Cornell LabourNaomi Smith Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour27.8%

Independent24.8%

Independent23.7%

Conservative20.3%

Lib Dem3.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Naomi Smith Elected	Labour	927
Charlotte Cornell Elected	Labour	826
Ashley Clark	Independent	825
Colin Gerald Spooner	Independent	789
Stephen Ivor Spencer	Conservative	675
Graham Paul Wells	Conservative	657
Margaret Mackechnie	Lib Dem	114
Michael Raymond Dowling	Lib Dem	113

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

St Stephens

Beth Forrester LabourMel Dawkins Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour55.0%

Lib Dem17.3%

Green14.8%

Conservative12.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Mel Dawkins Elected	Labour	1,167
Elizabeth Carr-Ellis Elected	Labour	1,057
Christopher Joslin Palmer	Lib Dem	366
Gillian Everatt	Green	314
Janet Mary Capper	Lib Dem	288
Louie Kevin McNamara	Conservative	273
Owen Laurence Sweetman	Conservative	266

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 6 March 2025

Labour47.0%

Reform18.3%

Lib Dem16.5%

Conservative9.6%

Green8.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Beth Joan Forrester Elected	Labour	628	47.0%
Colin Gerald Spooner	Reform	245	18.3%
Christopher Joslin Palmer	Lib Dem	220	16.5%
Arjan George Singh Taylor	Conservative	128	9.6%
Jessie Millner	Green	116	8.7%

Sturry

Harry McKenzie LabourKeji Moses Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour33.5%

Conservative28.1%

Green17.9%

Independent7.4%

Independent7.2%

Lib Dem5.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Harry McKenzie Elected	Labour	783
Keji Moses Elected	Labour	658
Louise Nicole Harvey-Quirke	Conservative	656
Georgina Glover	Conservative	623
Peter Campbell	Green	418
Nicole Marie David	Green	270
Ken Dekker	Independent	173
Heather Taylor	Independent	169
Eleo Berceanu	Lib Dem	136
Helen Ann Sole	Lib Dem	132

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Swalecliffe

Keith Bothwell Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green55.3%

Conservative26.6%

Labour12.8%

Reform5.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Keith Bothwell Elected	Green	769	55.3%
Mark Dance	Conservative	370	26.6%
Alex Wescomb	Labour	178	12.8%
Edna Wallace	Reform	73	5.3%

Tankerton

Simon Warley Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Labour48.8%

Conservative38.4%

Lib Dem12.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Simon Warley Elected	Labour	713	48.8%
Neil Stephen Baker	Conservative	560	38.4%
Nick Parry	Lib Dem	187	12.8%

West Bay

Andrew Harvey Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green56.0%

Conservative31.7%

Labour12.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Andrew John Harvey Elected	Green	599	56.0%
Grace Taylor Paget	Conservative	339	31.7%
Brendan Brian Little	Labour	131	12.3%

Westgate

Michael Dixey Lib DemPip Hazelton Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour40.2%

Lib Dem38.6%

Green13.2%

Conservative8.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Pip Hazelton Elected	Labour	975
Michael Paul Dixey Elected	Lib Dem	936
Rosanna Jackson	Labour	802
Richard Henry Parkinson	Lib Dem	636
Benjamin Grillet	Green	321
Rosemary Elaine Doyle	Conservative	196
John David Arthur Hippisley	Conservative	163

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Wincheap

Dane Buckman LabourPeter Campbell Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour38.4%

Lib Dem36.3%

Green15.1%

Conservative10.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Dane Buckman Elected	Labour	1,027
Roben Colin Franklin Elected	Lib Dem	971
Amina Inua	Lib Dem	946
Paul Owen Todd	Labour	891
Julie Ellis	Green	403
Phil Collins	Conservative	276
Ronald Nigel McWilliams	Conservative	248

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 13 November 2025

Green39.1%

Lib Dem24.1%

Reform16.3%

Labour12.8%

Conservative7.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Peter Campbell Elected	Green	842	39.1%
Guy Nicholas Hamilton Meurice	Lib Dem	518	24.1%
Colin Gerald Spooner	Reform	351	16.3%
Jasmin Dallos-Foreman	Labour	276	12.8%
Elliot Stephen Curryer	Conservative	166	7.7%

Councillors

Changed party since the election

1 councillor now sit for a different party from the one they were elected for.

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
West Bay	Andrew Harvey	Green 2023	Independent

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

4 by-elections since July 2021, 1 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
13 November 2025	Wincheap	Green gain from Lib Dem	39.0%
6 March 2025	St Stephen's	Labour hold	47.0%
6 March 2025	Gorrell	Green hold	49.5%
6 March 2025	Herne & Broomfield	Conservative hold	40.5%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Canterbury	68%	Labour	Labour 32%
Herne Bay and Sandwich	32%	Conservative	Conservative 39%

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 Canterbury

157,433 residents in 63,800 households

Voted Leave in 2016

51% 1 below GB

Degree or higher

33% 1 below GB

No qualifications

16% 2 below GB

Own their home

65% 4 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

12% 5 below GB

Rent privately

22% 2 above GB

Aged 15 to 34

34% 3 above GB

Aged 65 and over

26% 4 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

LancasterGreen / Liberal Democrats / Independent Coalition ColchesterConservative / Liberal Democrats Coalition CharnwoodLabour (Minority)Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleLiberal Democrats / Independent Coalition CherwellLiberal Democrats / Green / Independent Coalition

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.