Dover Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · South East · 32 seats in 17 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

Labour run Dover Council as a minority administration. The council has 32 councillors in 17 wards. Seats by party: Conservative 13, Labour 12, Other 6, Green 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)

32 seats - 17 for a majority

Labour 12Conservative 13Green 1Other 6

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Other +5 Green +1 Conservative −1 Labour −5

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (32 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Labour35.3%17

Conservative33.2%14

Green12.3%0

Lib Dem9.5%0

Other9.1%1

Reform0.6%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 32 seats up, then every four years

Largest party

Conservative 13

4 short of the 17 needed for a majority

Closest result

Eastry Rural

Conservative won the last seat by 53 votes over Green, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Guston, Kingsdown & St Margaret's-at-Cliffe

Green gain from Conservative, 27 August 2026 (1 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

62%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeIndependent

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 17 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
Alkham & Capel-le-Ferne Martin Hibbert	4 May 2023 Conservative 49.7% lead 17.9 pts
Aylesham, Eythorne & Shepherdswell Shehrazade Mamjan, Jamie Pout, Charles Woodgate	4 May 2023 Labour 44.6% lead 24.9 pts
Buckland Kevin Mills, Charlotte Zosseder	4 May 2023 Labour 65.0% lead 30.0 pts
Dover Downs & River David Beaney, Mark Rose	4 May 2023 Conservative 32.8% lead 6.4 pts
Eastry Rural Stephen Manion, Nicholas Kenton	4 May 2023 Conservative 40.8% lead 6.9 pts
Guston, Kingsdown & St Margaret's-at-Cliffe Ingrid Dodd, Oliver Richardson	4 May 2023 Conservative 33.1% lead 7.0 pts
Little Stour & Ashstone Trevor Bartlett, Martin Porter	4 May 2023 Conservative 48.3% lead 29.6 pts
Maxton & Elms Vale Michael Nee	4 May 2023 Labour 40.7% lead 11.3 pts
Middle Deal Stacey Blair, David Cronk	4 May 2023 Labour 54.0% lead 20.0 pts
Mill Hill Jeff Loffman, Helen Williams	4 May 2023 Labour 51.4% lead 26.6 pts
North Deal Susan Beer, Daniel Parks	4 May 2023 Labour 60.3% lead 20.6 pts
Sandwich Mark Moorhouse, Dan Friend	4 May 2023 Independent 37.1% lead 4.8 pts
St Radigunds Lynne Wright, Gordon Cowan	4 May 2023 Labour 44.7% lead 12.0 pts
Tower Hamlets Pamela Brivio	4 May 2023 Labour 75.1% lead 50.2 pts
Town & Castle Susan Hill, Edward Biggs	4 May 2023 Labour 35.9% lead 11.2 pts
Walmer Chris Vinson, Derek Murphy	4 May 2023 Conservative 36.0% lead 10.4 pts
Whitfield James Back, Roger Knight	4 May 2023 Conservative 43.1% lead 16.5 pts

Alkham & Capel-le-Ferne

Martin Hibbert Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative49.7%

Labour31.8%

Lib Dem18.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Martin Hibbert Elected	Conservative	428	49.7%
Bettine Walters	Labour	274	31.8%
Howard Arthur Evans	Lib Dem	160	18.6%

Aylesham, Eythorne & Shepherdswell

Charles Woodgate ConservativeJamie Pout IndependentShehrazade Mamjan Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour44.6%

Conservative19.7%

Independent16.6%

Lib Dem10.0%

Independent9.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Charles Woodgate Elected	Labour	1,423
Jamie Luke Pout Elected	Labour	1,410
Maria Shaz Mamjan Elected	Labour	1,260
MaryAnn Richardson	Conservative	630
Roger William Livesey	Conservative	599
Arun Matthew	Conservative	593
Derek Michael Garrity	Independent	531
Barbara Mary Sim	Lib Dem	319
Graham Armstrong	Independent	288

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Buckland

Charlotte Zosseder IndependentKevin Mills Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour65.0%

Conservative35.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Kevin Mills Elected	Labour	692
Charlotte Zosseder Elected	Labour	615
Jane Carrole	Conservative	373
Paul James Reynolds	Conservative	350

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Dover Downs & River

David Beaney ConservativeMark Rose Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative32.8%

Labour26.4%

Green20.4%

Lib Dem20.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
David Garry Beaney Elected	Conservative	845
Mark Rose Elected	Conservative	761
Ben Cosin	Labour	680
Ashley Tanton	Green	526
Penelope Laetitia James	Lib Dem	525
Adrian Anthony Walker-Smith	Lib Dem	383

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Eastry Rural

Nicholas Kenton ConservativeStephen Manion Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative40.8%

Green33.9%

Labour20.0%

Lib Dem5.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Nick Kenton Elected	Conservative	776
Steve Manion Elected	Conservative	698
Sarah Waite-Gleave	Green	645
Pete Findley	Green	615
David Pestell	Labour	380
Geoff Hack	Labour	369
Cheri Beth Pennington	Lib Dem	103

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Guston, Kingsdown & St Margaret's-at-Cliffe

Ingrid Dodd GreenOliver Richardson Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative33.1%

Green26.1%

Labour23.8%

Lib Dem9.0%

Heritage Party7.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Martin Bates Elected	Conservative	960
Oliver Richardson Elected	Conservative	941
John Lonsdale	Green	758
Maggie Cosin	Labour	690
Brynley Hawkins	Labour	604
John Francis Gosling	Lib Dem	262
Sylvia Jean Laidlow-Petersen	Heritage Party	230

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 27 August 2026

Green28.8%

Reform27.5%

Conservative17.1%

Labour14.6%

Restore Britain10.7%

Independent1.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Ingrid Dodd Elected	Green	767	28.8%
James Robert Defriend	Reform	733	27.5%
David Arthur Hawkes	Conservative	456	17.1%
Steve Wisbey	Labour	389	14.6%
Jez Hermer	Restore Britain	284	10.7%
Graham Richard Wanstall	Independent	35	1.3%

Little Stour & Ashstone

Martin Porter ConservativeTrevor Bartlett Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative48.3%

Labour18.7%

Lib Dem17.5%

Green15.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Trevor Bartlett Elected	Conservative	1,103
Martin Philip Porter Elected	Conservative	864
John Charles Featherstone	Labour	428
Russ Timpson	Lib Dem	401
Gillian Anne Weaver	Labour	360
Jenny Mathlin	Green	353
June May Sarah Sharpe	Green	289

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Maxton & Elms Vale

Michael Nee Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Labour40.7%

Independent29.4%

Conservative19.7%

Green10.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Michael Joseph Nee Elected	Labour	398	40.7%
Graham Richard Wanstall	Independent	288	29.4%
Callum Warriner	Conservative	193	19.7%
Nick Shread	Green	100	10.2%

Middle Deal

David Cronk LabourStacey Blair Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour54.0%

Conservative34.0%

Lib Dem12.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Stacey Blair Elected	Labour	1,128
David Graham Cronk Elected	Labour	1,035
Trevor Antony Bond	Conservative	710
Susan Jennifer Davenport	Conservative	563
Christine Linda Headley	Lib Dem	252

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Mill Hill

Helen Williams LabourJeff Loffman Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour51.4%

Conservative24.8%

Green23.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Helen Marianne Williams Elected	Labour	1,074
Jeffrey Loffman Elected	Labour	1,018
David Arthur Hawkes	Conservative	519
Christine Lilian Oliver	Green	496
Chris Burwash	Conservative	472

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

North Deal

Daniel Parks LabourSusan Beer Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour60.3%

Conservative39.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Dan Parks Elected	Labour	1,359
Sue Beer Elected	Labour	1,357
Peter David Jull	Conservative	896
John Morgan	Conservative	729

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Sandwich

Dan Friend ConservativeMark Moorhouse Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent37.1%

Conservative32.3%

Lib Dem17.4%

Labour13.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Mark Winston Moorhouse Elected	Independent	945
Dan Friend Elected	Conservative	823
Harry William Sampson	Conservative	701
Martyn Harry Pennington	Lib Dem	442
Paul Julien Louis	Labour	336
Martin Huw Garside	Labour	333

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

St Radigunds

Gordon Cowan LabourLynne Wright Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour44.7%

Independent32.7%

Conservative22.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Lynne Marie Wright Elected	Labour	464
Gordan Cowan Elected	Labour	433
James Robert Defriend	Independent	339
Andy John Calder	Conservative	234
Brenda Collins	Conservative	233

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Tower Hamlets

Pamela Brivio Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Labour75.1%

Conservative24.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Pam Brivio Elected	Labour	465	75.1%
Ann Corke Jenner	Conservative	154	24.9%

Town & Castle

Edward Biggs LabourSusan Hill Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour35.9%

Conservative24.7%

Green13.9%

Independent12.1%

Independent7.1%

Lib Dem4.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Susan Hill Elected	Labour	616
Edward Biggs Elected	Labour	600
Richard Robert Kenneth Jeacock	Conservative	423
Samantha Jane Reynolds	Conservative	390
Beccy Sawbridge	Green	238
Kay Marsh	Independent	207
Ashley James Payne	Independent	122
Lynne O'Donoghue	Lib Dem	83
Brian Philp	Independent	26

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Walmer

Chris Vinson ConservativeDerek Murphy Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative36.0%

Green25.6%

Labour24.1%

Lib Dem14.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Chris Vinson Elected	Conservative	1,023
Derek Murphy Elected	Conservative	999
Mike Eddy	Green	726
Amanda Jane Holloway	Labour	685
Ben Bano	Labour	656
Rick Blackwell	Lib Dem	406

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Whitfield

James Back ConservativeRoger Knight Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative43.1%

Labour26.6%

Reform11.8%

Green10.5%

Lib Dem7.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Roger Malcolm Knight Elected	Conservative	748
Jim Back Elected	Conservative	718
Claire Jane Bethany Hill	Labour	462
Ruth Dilys Milverton Harris-Small	Labour	407
Max McGillivray	Reform	205
Steph O'Connor	Green	183
Bob Hope	Lib Dem	138

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Councillors

Changed party since the election

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

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Aylesham, Eythorne & Shepherdswell	Charles Woodgate	Labour 2023	Conservative
Aylesham, Eythorne & Shepherdswell	Jamie Pout	Labour 2023	Independent
Buckland	Charlotte Zosseder	Labour 2023	Independent
Middle Deal	Stacey Blair	Labour 2023	Independent
Walmer	Derek Murphy	Conservative 2023	Independent

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

1 by-election since July 2021, 1 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
27 August 2026	Guston, Kingsdown & St Margaret's-at-Cliffe	Green gain from Conservative	28.8%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Dover and Deal	90%	Labour	Labour 35%
Herne Bay and Sandwich	10%	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 Dover

116,412 residents in 50,544 households

Voted Leave in 2016

62% 10 above GB

Degree or higher

27% 7 below GB

No qualifications

20% 2 above GB

Own their home

66% 5 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

14% 3 below GB

Rent privately

19% 1 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

25% 6 below GB

Aged 65 and over

29% 7 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

Newark and SherwoodLabour (Minority)Folkestone and HytheGreen / Liberal Democrats Coalition Wyre ForestConservative (Majority)South KestevenIndependent / Green / Liberal Democrats Coalition BrecklandConservative (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.