Malvern Hills Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · West Midlands · 31 seats in 18 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

Malvern Hills Council is run by an Independent / Green / Conservative / Liberal Democrats coalition. The council has 31 councillors in 18 wards. Seats by party: Other 13, Green 6, Conservative 6, Lib Dem 5, Reform 1. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

A government plan to replace the councils in this area with two 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

Independent / Green / Conservative / Liberal Democrats Coalition

31 seats - 16 for a majority

Reform 1Conservative 6Lib Dem 5Green 6Other 13

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Lib Dem +2 Reform +1 Conservative −1 Green −1 Other −1

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

ShareSeats won

Other39.8%14

Conservative25.3%7

Green16.4%7

Lib Dem14.7%3

Labour3.2%0

Reform0.7%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 31 seats up, then every four years

Largest group

Independents and others 13

3 short of the 16 needed for a majority

Closest result

Link

Green won the last seat by 36 votes over Lib Dem, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick

Lib Dem gain from Local party, 21 May 2026 (2 since 2021)

Constituencies

1 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

52%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

ConservativeLib DemGreenIndependentOther

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 18 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick Sarah Rouse, Chris McSweeny	4 May 2023 Malvern Hills Independents 65.6% lead 46.5 pts
Baldwin Pam Cumming, Paul Cumming	4 May 2023 Conservative 52.5% lead 27.2 pts
Barnards Green David Mead, Malcolm Victory, Mark Driscoll	4 May 2023 Green 25.8% lead 1.0 pts
Broadheath Daniel Walton	4 May 2023 Independent 76.8% lead 57.1 pts
Castlemorton, Welland & Wells John Gallagher, Christine Wild	4 May 2023 Independent 31.7% lead 5.1 pts
Great Malvern Beverley Nielsen, Cynthia Palmer	4 May 2023 Independent 32.3% lead 2.9 pts
Hallow & Holt Dean Clarke	4 May 2023 Independent 59.4% lead 27.7 pts
Kempsey David Harrison, John Michael	4 May 2023 Independent 39.1% lead 10.8 pts
Lindridge Douglas Godwin	4 May 2023 Conservative 64.9% lead 43.4 pts
Link Fran Victory, Kwai Hung Chan, Neville Mills	4 May 2023 Independent 17.4% lead 0.7 pts
Longdon Jennie Watkins	4 May 2023 Conservative 60.3% lead 39.3 pts
Martley Barbara Jones-Williams	4 May 2023 Conservative 58.7% lead 35.8 pts
Pickersleigh Paul Bennett	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 45.5% lead 23.2 pts
Powick & the Hanleys Tom Wells, Kathy Wells	4 May 2023 Independent 44.7% lead 5.4 pts
Tenbury Duane Hubbard, Lesley Bruton	4 May 2023 Malvern Hills Independents 42.2% lead 4.9 pts
Upper Howsell Julie Wood	4 May 2023 Green 54.8% lead 30.9 pts
Upton & Ripple Jeremy Owenson, Martin Allen	4 May 2023 Green 59.1% lead 28.5 pts
West Natalie McVey, John Raine	4 May 2023 Green 68.8% lead 50.2 pts

Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick

Chris McSweeny Lib DemSarah Rouse Malvern Hills Independents

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Malvern Hills Independents65.6%

Conservative19.1%

Lib Dem15.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Sarah Jane Rouse Elected	Malvern Hills Independents	1,030
Peter Michael Whatley Elected	Malvern Hills Independents	992
Paul Edward Selway-Swift	Conservative	300
Linda Dorothy Hardwick	Lib Dem	239

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 21 May 2026

Lib Dem25.8%

Conservative22.3%

Reform19.4%

Independent16.9%

Green10.8%

Independent4.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Chris McSweeny Elected	Lib Dem	452	25.8%
Seb Barbour	Conservative	391	22.3%
Max Windsor-Peplow	Reform	340	19.4%
Tom Clarke	Independent	296	16.9%
Charlie Anderton	Green	190	10.8%
Matt Oliver	Independent	83	4.7%

Baldwin

Pam Cumming ConservativePaul Cumming Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative52.5%

Lib Dem25.3%

Green22.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Pam Cumming Elected	Conservative	905
Paul Jonathan Cumming Elected	Conservative	902
Jamie Cramp	Lib Dem	436
Seyi Latunde-Dada	Green	382

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Barnards Green

David Mead Lib DemMalcolm Victory GreenMark Driscoll Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Green25.8%

Lib Dem24.8%

Conservative15.2%

Independent12.3%

Labour12.1%

Independent9.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Mark John Driscoll Elected	Green	786
Malcolm Gordon Victory Elected	Green	772
David Edward Mead Elected	Lib Dem	755
Clive Graham Fletcher	Lib Dem	596
Pete Benkwitz	Lib Dem	521
Ian George Hopwood	Conservative	463
Julie Caroline MacLusky	Conservative	423
Adrian Vines	Independent	376
Lou Lowton	Labour	369
Iain Brunyee Dawson	Labour	307
Nick Houghton	Independent	296

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Broadheath

Daniel Walton Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent76.8%

Conservative19.7%

Lib Dem3.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Daniel Walton Elected	Independent	511	76.8%
Carl Fordington	Conservative	131	19.7%
Chris Sandys	Lib Dem	23	3.5%

Castlemorton, Welland & Wells

Christine Wild IndependentJohn Gallagher Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent31.7%

Independent26.6%

Conservative21.5%

Lib Dem20.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
John Gerard Gallagher Elected	Independent	864
Christine Anne Wild Elected	Independent	727
Jill Campbell	Conservative	587
Eva Fielding	Lib Dem	550
Marc Bayliss	Conservative	489

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Great Malvern

Beverley Nielsen IndependentCynthia Palmer Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent32.3%

Independent29.4%

Conservative19.9%

Lib Dem18.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Beverley Nielsen Elected	Independent	798
Cynthia Majorie Palmer Elected	Independent	726
Hannah Campbell	Conservative	491
Jed Marson	Lib Dem	458
James Nicholas Thomas Jarvis	Conservative	425

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Hallow & Holt

Dean Clarke Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent59.4%

Conservative31.7%

Lib Dem8.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Dean Robert Clarke Elected	Independent	495	59.4%
Mel Fordington	Conservative	264	31.7%
Elaine Margaret Drage	Lib Dem	74	8.9%

Kempsey

David Harrison IndependentJohn Michael Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent39.1%

Independent28.3%

Conservative23.3%

Lib Dem9.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
David Thomas Harrison Elected	Independent	917
John Michael Elected	Independent	665
Ian Daly	Conservative	548
John Drage	Lib Dem	218

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Lindridge

Douglas Godwin Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative64.9%

Green21.5%

Lib Dem13.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Douglas Richard Dare Godwin Elected	Conservative	479	64.9%
Mary-Louise Thompson	Green	159	21.5%
John William O'Loghlen	Lib Dem	100	13.6%

Link

Fran Victory GreenKwai Hung Chan IndependentNeville Mills Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent17.4%

Lib Dem16.7%

Green16.6%

Conservative14.9%

Labour12.9%

Independent9.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Kwai Hung Chan Elected	Independent	589
Neville Mills Elected	Lib Dem	568
Fran Victory Elected	Green	563
Danielle Bennett	Lib Dem	527
David Edgar Lawrence Watkins	Conservative	504
Clifford Hobbs	Lib Dem	467
Karen Michelle Hanks	Conservative	442
Susan Dorothy Alma Dalley	Labour	437
Christopher Roland Burrows	Labour	429
Clive Maurice Hooper	Independent	305
Anne Monica Madelaine Cherry	Independent	285
Richard Case	Reform	141

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Longdon

Jennie Watkins Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative60.3%

Green21.0%

Lib Dem18.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jennie Watkins Elected	Conservative	461	60.3%
Tim Kershaw	Green	161	21.0%
Liz Smith	Lib Dem	143	18.7%

Martley

Barbara Jones-Williams Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative58.7%

Lib Dem22.9%

Independent12.2%

Malvern Hills Independents6.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Barbara Joyce Jones-Williams Elected	Conservative	504	58.7%
John Arthur William Bateman	Lib Dem	197	22.9%
George A. Wilesmith	Independent	105	12.2%
Matt Oliver	Malvern Hills Independents	53	6.2%

Pickersleigh

Paul Bennett Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem45.5%

Conservative22.3%

Labour18.0%

Independent14.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Paul Bennett Elected	Lib Dem	212	45.5%
David Ian Reginald Chambers	Conservative	104	22.3%
Owen Dave Walters	Labour	84	18.0%
Caroline Bovey	Independent	66	14.2%

Powick & the Hanleys

Kathy Wells IndependentTom Wells Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent44.7%

Independent39.3%

Conservative11.2%

Lib Dem4.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Tom Wells Elected	Independent	1,461
Kathy Wells Elected	Independent	1,283
Seb Barbour	Conservative	365
Oliver Harrington William Watkins	Conservative	250
Rachel Aksar	Lib Dem	158

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Tenbury

Duane Hubbard ReformLesley Bruton Malvern Hills Independents

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Malvern Hills Independents42.2%

Conservative37.3%

Green20.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Lesley Bruton Elected	Malvern Hills Independents	684
John Andrew Willmott Elected	Conservative	605
Paul David Owen	Conservative	367
Peter Henry Jones	Green	331

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 30 April 2026

Reform45.1%

Conservative30.3%

Lib Dem12.7%

Green12.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Duane Anthony Hubbard Elected	Reform	687	45.1%
Carl Fordington	Conservative	461	30.3%
Jed Marson	Lib Dem	193	12.7%
Sam Lewis	Green	182	12.0%

Upper Howsell

Julie Wood Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green54.8%

Conservative23.9%

Labour14.9%

Lib Dem6.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jules Wood Elected	Green	335	54.8%
Surbjit Brierley	Conservative	146	23.9%
Jan Tomasz Kazimierz Blazak	Labour	91	14.9%
Will Chaundy	Lib Dem	39	6.4%

Upton & Ripple

Jeremy Owenson ConservativeMartin Allen Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Green59.1%

Conservative30.6%

Lib Dem7.2%

Reform3.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Martin Allen Elected	Green	1,172
Jeremy Donald Owenson Elected	Conservative	608
Andrew Michael Waddell	Conservative	463
Rebecca Rollinson	Green	459
Liz Mills	Lib Dem	143
Doug Guest	Reform	61

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

West

John Raine GreenNatalie McVey Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Green68.8%

Conservative18.6%

Lib Dem12.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Natalie Maria McVey Elected	Green	1,152
John Raine Elected	Green	1,122
Jennie Kelly	Conservative	312
Richard Nicholson Whitehead	Lib Dem	211

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

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
Upton & Ripple	Martin Allen	Green 2023	Lib Dem

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

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

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
21 May 2026	Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick	Lib Dem gain from Local party	25.8%
30 April 2026	Tenbury	Reform gain from Conservative	45.1%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
West Worcestershire	100%	Conservative	Conservative 35%

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 Malvern Hills

79,483 residents in 34,898 households

Voted Leave in 2016

52% same as GB

Degree or higher

39% 5 above GB

No qualifications

15% 3 below GB

Own their home

71% 10 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

14% 3 below GB

Rent privately

13% 7 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

22% 9 below GB

Aged 65 and over

33% 11 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

Derbyshire DalesLiberal Democrats / Labour / Green Coalition MonmouthshireLabour (Minority)Stratford-on-AvonLiberal Democrats (Majority)South HamsLiberal Democrats (Majority)CotswoldLiberal 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.