Maldon Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · East of England · 31 seats in 17 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

The Conservatives run Maldon Council as a minority administration. The council has 31 councillors in 17 wards. Seats by party: Other 12, Conservative 10, Lib Dem 6, Reform 2, Labour 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 (Minority)

31 seats - 16 for a majority

Reform 2Labour 1Conservative 10Lib Dem 6Other 12

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Reform +2 Other −2

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (31 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Other39.6%14

Conservative29.6%10

Lib Dem21.2%6

Labour7.9%1

Green1.7%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 31 seats up, then every four years

Largest group

Independents and others 12

4 short of the 16 needed for a majority

Closest result

Maldon East

Independent won by 23 votes over another Independent candidate, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Maldon West

Lib Dem gain from Local party, 29 May 2025 (2 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

63%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

ConservativeLib DemReformIndependentOther

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
Althorne Mark Bassenger, Tony Fittock	4 May 2023 The Maldon District Independent Group 57.2% lead 24.1 pts
Burnham-on-Crouch North Wendy Stamp, Una Siddall-Norman	4 May 2023 Independent 50.1% lead 29.0 pts
Burnham-on-Crouch South Doug Bown, Vanessa Bell	4 May 2023 Independent 31.9% lead 10.4 pts
Great Totham Jade Hughes, Richard Siddall	4 May 2023 The Maldon District Independent Group 47.3% lead 17.1 pts
Heybridge East Nick Spenceley, Nikki Swindle	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 45.0% lead 16.8 pts
Heybridge West Simon Burwood, Paula Spenceley	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 59.4% lead 37.9 pts
Maldon East Andrew Lay	4 May 2023 Independent 37.9% lead 5.7 pts
Maldon North James Burrell-Cook, Kevin Jennings	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 41.8% lead 19.0 pts
Maldon South Kevin Lagan, Jeanette Stilts	4 May 2023 Independent 34.9% lead 6.9 pts
Maldon West John Driver, Sarah Dodsley	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 34.7% lead 0.2 pts
Mayland Wendy Laybourn, Linda Haywood	4 May 2023 Independent 50.1% lead 18.4 pts
Purleigh Sue White, Lisa Wiffen	4 May 2023 Conservative 47.5% lead 31.8 pts
Southminster Ron Pratt, Adrian Fluker	4 May 2023 Independent 45.0% lead 16.4 pts
Tillingham Matthew Neall	4 May 2023 Uncontested
Tollesbury Emma Stephens	4 May 2023 The Maldon District Independent Group 75.1% lead 56.5 pts
Tolleshunt D'arcy Maddie Thompson, Clive Morley	4 May 2023 Conservative 59.8% lead 19.6 pts
Wickham Bishops and Woodham Mark Durham, Simon Morgan	4 May 2023 Conservative 56.0% lead 33.4 pts

Althorne

Mark Bassenger The Maldon District Independent GroupTony Fittock The Maldon District Independent Group

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

The Maldon District Independent Group57.2%

Conservative33.1%

Lib Dem9.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Tony Fittock Elected	The Maldon District Independent Group	675
Mark Geoffrey Bassenger Elected	The Maldon District Independent Group	512
Clint James Bardwell	Conservative	390
Peter Wynn	Lib Dem	115

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Burnham-on-Crouch North

Una Siddall-Norman LabourWendy Stamp Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent50.1%

Labour21.1%

Conservative19.6%

Lib Dem9.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Wendy Stamp Elected	Independent	927
Una Geraldine Courtenay Siddall-Norman Elected	Labour	391
Anne Louise Hull	Conservative	362
Blake Matthews	Lib Dem	170

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Burnham-on-Crouch South

Doug Bown ConservativeVanessa Bell Party of Women

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent31.9%

Conservative21.5%

Independent17.8%

Labour10.1%

The Maldon District Independent Group6.3%

Green5.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Vanessa Jane Bell Elected	Independent	531
Doug Bown Elected	Conservative	358
Jennie Donnelly	Independent	296
Jackie Brown	Labour	168
Stephen Charles Stratton	The Maldon District Independent Group	105
Claire Louise White	Green	97
James Piers Taylor	Green	83
Eileen Rowlands	Lib Dem	67
Joscelyn McInnes	Independent	42

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Great Totham

Jade Hughes The Maldon District Independent GroupRichard Siddall Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

The Maldon District Independent Group47.3%

Conservative30.2%

Green17.2%

Lib Dem5.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Richard Henry Siddall Elected	The Maldon District Independent Group	670
Jade Claire Hughes Elected	The Maldon District Independent Group	591
John Vernon Keyes	Conservative	427
Nicholas John Snelling	Conservative	345
Isobel Doubleday	Green	243
Deirdre Haslam	Lib Dem	75

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Heybridge East

Nick Spenceley Lib DemNikki Swindle Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem45.0%

Conservative28.2%

The Maldon District Independent Group26.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Nick Spenceley Elected	Lib Dem	504
Nikki Swindle Elected	Lib Dem	441
Anne Marie Beale	Conservative	316
Colin Mark Hunter Edmond	The Maldon District Independent Group	299
Bruce Buchanan Heubner	Conservative	259

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Heybridge West

Paula Spenceley Lib DemSimon Burwood Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem59.4%

Conservative21.5%

The Maldon District Independent Group19.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Paula Lorraine Spenceley Elected	Lib Dem	539
Simon Burwood Elected	Lib Dem	475
Hayley Jane Board	Conservative	195
Michael Ross Edwards	The Maldon District Independent Group	174

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Maldon East

Andrew Lay Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent37.9%

Independent32.2%

Conservative30.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Andrew Mark Lay Elected	Independent	153	37.9%
Christopher Swain	Independent	130	32.2%
Robert James Roe	Conservative	121	30.0%

Maldon North

James Burrell-Cook ConservativeKevin Jennings The Maldon District Independent Group

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem41.8%

Conservative22.8%

The Maldon District Independent Group21.3%

Labour14.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Kevin Jennings Elected	Lib Dem	736
Nigel Ronald Miller Elected	Conservative	401
Carlie Mayes	The Maldon District Independent Group	375
Robert Michael Shrimpton	Labour	248

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 27 March 2025

Conservative41.1%

Lib Dem36.4%

Reform16.7%

Green5.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
James Burrell-Cook Elected	Conservative	462	41.1%
Robert Jones	Lib Dem	409	36.4%
Joe Ross	Reform	187	16.7%
Isobel Doubleday	Green	65	5.8%

Maldon South

Jeanette Stilts IndependentKevin Lagan Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent34.9%

The Maldon District Independent Group28.0%

Conservative23.8%

Lib Dem13.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Kevin Lagan Elected	Independent	528
Jeanette Catherine Stilts Elected	The Maldon District Independent Group	424
Martin Ronald Harvey	Conservative	361
Paul Robert Hole	Conservative	264
John Charles Main	Lib Dem	202

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Maldon West

John Driver Lib DemSarah Dodsley Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem34.7%

The Maldon District Independent Group34.5%

Conservative17.4%

Labour7.8%

Independent5.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
John Driver Elected	Lib Dem	552
Flo Shaughnessy Elected	The Maldon District Independent Group	550
Robert Jones	Lib Dem	432
Jhual Hafiz	Conservative	277
Lisa Eileen Cullumbine	The Maldon District Independent Group	271
John Joyce	Labour	124
Tom Kelly	Independent	89

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 29 May 2025

Lib Dem41.5%

Reform35.3%

Conservative14.8%

The Maldon District Independent Group6.0%

Green2.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Sarah Dodsley Elected	Lib Dem	573	41.5%
Gary Robert Power	Reform	488	35.3%
Jhual Hafiz	Conservative	204	14.8%
Carlie Mayes	The Maldon District Independent Group	83	6.0%
Janet Band	Green	33	2.4%

Mayland

Linda Haywood IndependentWendy Laybourn Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent50.1%

Conservative31.7%

Lib Dem18.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Linda Joan Haywood Elected	Independent	617
Wendy Jean Laybourn Elected	Conservative	390
Linda Janette Pailing	Conservative	278
James Eley	Lib Dem	225

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Purleigh

Lisa Wiffen ConservativeSue White Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative47.5%

Labour15.7%

Lib Dem15.3%

The Maldon District Independent Group10.6%

Independent7.3%

Independent3.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Sue White Elected	Conservative	558
Lisa Louisa Wiffen Elected	Conservative	481
Pamela Calabro	Labour	185
Lynne Harrington	Lib Dem	180
Ashley Jones	The Maldon District Independent Group	125
Neil Page	Independent	86
Bridget Frances Eyre	Independent	41

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Southminster

Adrian Fluker ReformRon Pratt Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent45.0%

Conservative28.6%

Labour15.4%

Lib Dem11.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Adrian Stow Fluker Elected	Independent	533
Ron Pratt Elected	Conservative	339
Timothy David Aves	Labour	182
Ben Bhattacharya	Lib Dem	130

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Tillingham

Matthew Neall Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Uncontested. Elected: Matthew Glen Neall (Independent).

Tollesbury

Emma Stephens The Maldon District Independent Group

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

The Maldon District Independent Group75.1%

Conservative18.6%

Lib Dem6.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Emma Louise Stephens Elected	The Maldon District Independent Group	468	75.1%
Debbie Keating	Conservative	116	18.6%
Ross Woolfenden	Lib Dem	39	6.3%

Tolleshunt D'arcy

Clive Morley ConservativeMaddie Thompson Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative59.8%

Lib Dem40.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Maddie Thompson Elected	Conservative	607
Clive Peter Morley Elected	Conservative	581
John Beal	Lib Dem	408

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Wickham Bishops and Woodham

Mark Durham ConservativeSimon Morgan Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative56.0%

Labour22.6%

Lib Dem21.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Mark Frederick Lewis Durham Elected	Conservative	644
Simon John Neville Morgan Elected	Conservative	635
Jane Ann Williams	Labour	260
Anne Church	Lib Dem	245
David Ian Baker	Labour	226

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Councillors

Changed party since the election

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

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Maldon North	Kevin Jennings	Lib Dem 2023	The Maldon District Independent Group
Southminster	Adrian Fluker	Independent 2023	Reform
Tillingham	Matthew Neall	Independent 2023	Reform

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

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

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
29 May 2025	Maldon West	Lib Dem gain from Local party	42.0%
27 March 2025	Maldon North	Conservative hold	41.1%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Maldon	80%	Conservative	Conservative 43%
Witham	20%	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 Maldon

66,215 residents in 27,891 households

Voted Leave in 2016

63% 11 above GB

Degree or higher

25% 9 below GB

No qualifications

19% 1 above GB

Own their home

76% 15 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

11% 6 below GB

Rent privately

12% 8 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

24% 7 below GB

Aged 65 and over

30% 8 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

Staffordshire MoorlandsLabour (Minority)South StaffordshireConservative (Majority)Forest of DeanGreen (Minority)RochfordReform UK (Minority)Hinckley and BosworthLiberal Democrats (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.