North Kesteven Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · East Midlands · 43 seats in 24 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

The Conservatives have a majority on North Kesteven Council. The council has 43 councillors in 24 wards. Seats by party: Conservative 26, Other 13, Reform 2, Labour 2. 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

Conservative (Majority)

43 seats - 22 for a majority

Reform 2Labour 2Conservative 26Other 13

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Reform +2 Conservative +1 Other −3

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (43 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Other40.8%16

Conservative37.8%25

Labour11.8%2

Lib Dem4.5%0

Green4.1%0

Reform0.9%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 43 seats up, then every four years

Largest party

Conservative 26

majority of 9; 22 needed

Closest result

Sleaford Westholme

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First won by 1 vote over Independent, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Sleaford Westholme

Reform gain from Conservative, 12 March 2026 (5 since 2021)

Constituencies

3 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

62%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeReformIndependentOtherSplit evenly

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 24 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
Ashby de la Launde, Digby & Scopwick Amelia Bailey	4 May 2023 Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First 50.6% lead 1.2 pts
Bassingham Rural Mary Green	4 May 2023 Conservative 63.5% lead 34.3 pts
Billinghay Rural Sarah Lawrence, Adrian Whittle	4 May 2023 Uncontested
Bracebridge Heath Lindsey Cawrey, David Nash	4 May 2023 Conservative 57.9% lead 15.8 pts
Branston Paul Turner, Peter Lundgren	4 May 2023 Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First 64.7% lead 29.4 pts
Cranwell, Leasingham & Wilsford Jim Clarke, Andrew Hagues	4 May 2023 Uncontested
Heckington Rural Christine Collard, Sally Tarry	4 May 2023 Conservative 60.6% lead 21.2 pts
Heighington & Washingborough Ian Carrington, Carola Goodwin, Reece Harrington	4 May 2023 Conservative 38.1% lead 2.9 pts
Helpringham & Osbournby Russell Jackson	4 May 2023 Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First 69.5% lead 44.7 pts
Hykeham Central Jonathan Pessol, Stephen Roe, Mike Clarke	4 May 2023 Conservative 43.8% lead 12.6 pts
Hykeham Fosse Matt Lofts, Ross Little	4 May 2023 Labour 33.1% lead 4.7 pts
Hykeham Memorial Nikki Dillon	4 May 2023 Independent 49.9% lead 18.0 pts
Kirkby la Thorpe & South Kyme Mervyn Head	4 May 2023 Independent 70.2% lead 40.4 pts
Metheringham Rural Dave Parry, Fran Pembery	4 May 2023 Conservative 51.3% lead 2.6 pts
Navenby & Brant Broughton Lucille Hagues, Marianne Overton	4 May 2023 Uncontested
Ruskington Richard Wright, Matt Waldeck	4 May 2023 Conservative 66.3% lead 32.6 pts
Skellingthorpe & Eagle Richard Johnston, Chris Goldson	4 May 2023 Independent 37.0% lead 11.6 pts
Sleaford Castle Linda Edwards-Shea	4 May 2023 Labour 38.1% lead 0.9 pts
Sleaford Holdingham Robert Oates	4 May 2023 Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First 62.6% lead 37.1 pts
Sleaford Navigation David Suiter	4 May 2023 Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First 64.4% lead 28.8 pts
Sleaford Quarrington & Mareham Bob Oldershaw, Mark Smith, Bozena Allan	4 May 2023 Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First 30.8% lead 2.2 pts
Sleaford Westholme Sandy Buchanan	4 May 2023 Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First 29.5% lead 0.2 pts
Waddington Rural Matthew Cooper, Lance Pennell, Leigh Sanders	4 May 2023 Conservative 35.9% lead 2.9 pts
Witham St Hughs & Swinderby Mitch Elliott, Peter Overton	4 May 2023 Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First 68.4% lead 36.8 pts

Ashby de la Launde, Digby & Scopwick

Amelia Bailey Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First50.6%

Conservative49.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Amelia Anne Bailey Elected	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	307	50.6%
John Frank Money	Conservative	300	49.4%

Bassingham Rural

Mary Green Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative63.5%

Green29.2%

Reform7.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Mary Louise Green Elected	Conservative	470	63.5%
Electra Vanessa Pearce Roccio	Green	216	29.2%
Nicola Jane Smith	Reform	54	7.3%

Billinghay Rural

Adrian Whittle ConservativeSarah Lawrence Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Uncontested. Elected: Gill Ogden (Conservative), Sarah Anne Lawrence (Conservative).

Last by-election, 14 December 2023

Lib Dem41.1%

Conservative29.5%

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First26.1%

Independent3.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Adrian Michael Whittle Elected	Lib Dem	354	41.1%
Andy Wilkes	Conservative	254	29.5%
Wendy Anne Liles	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	225	26.1%
Anthony Brand	Independent	29	3.4%

Bracebridge Heath

David Nash ConservativeLindsey Cawrey Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative57.9%

Labour42.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Peter Burley Elected	Conservative	649
Lindsey Cawrey Elected	Conservative	644
Clive Maurice Allen	Labour	471
Funmi Adeyemi	Labour	409

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 20 March 2025

Conservative33.3%

Reform30.9%

Independent16.5%

Labour10.7%

Green4.6%

Lib Dem3.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Dave Nash Elected	Conservative	308	33.3%
Mark Anthony Nind	Reform	286	30.9%
Chris Barr	Independent	153	16.5%
Funmi Adeyemi	Labour	99	10.7%
Christopher Paul Rattigan-Smith	Green	43	4.6%
Stephen John Chapman	Lib Dem	36	3.9%

Branston

Paul Turner Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire FirstPeter Lundgren Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First64.7%

Conservative35.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Peter Charles Lundgren Elected	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	942
Paul Turner Elected	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	655
Richard Edward Gilding	Conservative	513

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Cranwell, Leasingham & Wilsford

Andrew Hagues ConservativeJim Clarke Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Uncontested. Elected: Andrew Hagues (Conservative), Jim Clarke (Independent).

Heckington Rural

Christine Collard ConservativeSally Tarry Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative60.6%

Labour39.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Sally Tarry Elected	Conservative	702
Stewart Ogden Elected	Conservative	702
Jennifer Helen Saxby	Labour	456

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 21 March 2024

Conservative33.7%

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First29.2%

Lib Dem27.3%

Labour9.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Christine Collard Elected	Conservative	425	33.7%
Dave Darmon	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	369	29.2%
Susan Elizabeth Hislop	Lib Dem	345	27.3%
Jennie Peacock	Labour	123	9.7%

Heighington & Washingborough

Carola Goodwin ConservativeIan Carrington ConservativeReece Harrington Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative38.1%

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First35.2%

Green26.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Ian Carrington Elected	Conservative	872
Carola Goodwin Elected	Conservative	855
Reece Harrington Elected	Conservative	829
Gareth Raymond Bailey	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	806
Karen Courtney	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	794
Lee Melody Clarke	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	785
Terry Crawshaw	Green	610

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Helpringham & Osbournby

Russell Jackson Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First69.5%

Conservative24.8%

Reform5.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Russell Michael Jackson Elected	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	616	69.5%
Stephen John Shanahan-Kluth	Conservative	220	24.8%
Angie Jamison	Reform	50	5.6%

Hykeham Central

Jonathan Pessol ConservativeMike Clarke ConservativeStephen Roe Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative43.8%

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First31.2%

Lib Dem24.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Stephen Roe Elected	Conservative	1,116
Mike Clarke Elected	Conservative	871
Jonathan McKenzie Scott Pessol Elected	Conservative	801
Gary John Edwards	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	795
Nat Sweet	Lib Dem	635
George Michael Tipler	Lib Dem	600

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Hykeham Fosse

Matt Lofts LabourRoss Little Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour33.1%

Conservative28.4%

Lib Dem16.6%

Green16.6%

Reform5.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Matthew Harry Lofts Elected	Labour	452
Ross Little Elected	Conservative	387
Pam Whittaker	Conservative	342
Corinne Byron	Lib Dem	227
David Ventura	Green	227
Jill Marie Wilson	Lib Dem	140
Mark Anthony Nind	Reform	71

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Hykeham Memorial

Nikki Dillon Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent49.9%

Conservative31.9%

Lib Dem18.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Nikki Dillon Elected	Independent	252	49.9%
Nicola Francesca Clarke	Conservative	161	31.9%
Diana Elizabeth Catton	Lib Dem	92	18.2%

Kirkby la Thorpe & South Kyme

Mervyn Head Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent70.2%

Conservative29.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Mervyn Paul Head Elected	Independent	497	70.2%
Mark Guy Allan	Conservative	211	29.8%

Metheringham Rural

Dave Parry ConservativeFran Pembery Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative51.3%

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First48.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Fran Pembery Elected	Conservative	670
Dave Parry Elected	Conservative	643
Helen Iris Dodd	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	635
Gary Roy Blackman	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	512

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Navenby & Brant Broughton

Lucille Hagues ConservativeMarianne Overton Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Uncontested. Elected: Lucille Hagues (Conservative), Marianne Jane Overton (Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First).

Ruskington

Matt Waldeck ConservativeRichard Wright Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative66.3%

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First33.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Matthew Frederick Waldeck Elected	Conservative	820
Richard Andrew Wright Elected	Conservative	819
Ken Fernandes	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	417

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Skellingthorpe & Eagle

Chris Goldson IndependentRichard Johnston Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent37.0%

Independent25.4%

Conservative15.5%

Labour11.1%

Lib Dem8.1%

Reform2.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Christopher William Goldson Elected	Independent	851
Richard Johnston Elected	Independent	584
Elizabeth Jane Kendrick	Conservative	355
Anita Mary Pritchard	Labour	255
Tony Richardson	Lib Dem	187
Jamie-Lee McMillan	Reform	65
Nick Smith	Reform	56

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Sleaford Castle

Linda Edwards-Shea Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Labour38.1%

Conservative37.2%

Independent24.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Linda Edwards-Shea Elected	Labour	199	38.1%
Malcolm John Offer	Conservative	194	37.2%
Dave Darmon	Independent	129	24.7%

Sleaford Holdingham

Robert Oates Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First62.6%

Conservative25.5%

Independent11.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Robert Arthur Oates Elected	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	280	62.6%
Pat Cockcroft	Conservative	114	25.5%
Robert Charles Greetham	Independent	53	11.9%

Sleaford Navigation

David Suiter Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First64.4%

Conservative35.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
David Suiter Elected	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	354	64.4%
Nadim Aziz	Conservative	196	35.6%

Sleaford Quarrington & Mareham

Bob Oldershaw Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire FirstBozena Allan ConservativeMark Smith Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First30.8%

Conservative28.6%

Independent22.2%

Labour18.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Bob Oldershaw Elected	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	660
Mark Anthony Smith Elected	Conservative	612
Bozena Allan Elected	Conservative	574
Melody Susan Shanahan-Kluth	Conservative	572
Adrian Snookes	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	524
Steve Mason	Independent	475
Jo Thompson	Labour	395
Ian Dutton	Labour	390

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Sleaford Westholme

Sandy Buchanan Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First29.5%

Independent29.3%

Labour23.2%

Independent18.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Ann Mear Elected	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	151	29.5%
Anthony Brand	Independent	150	29.3%
Eileen Janet Randall	Labour	119	23.2%
Heather Katherine Lorimer	Independent	92	18.0%

Last by-election, 12 March 2026

Reform45.1%

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First16.1%

Conservative15.0%

Green10.2%

Independent9.1%

Independent2.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Sandy Buchanan Elected	Reform	243	45.1%
Dave Darmon	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	87	16.1%
Mark Webster	Conservative	81	15.0%
Ian Leach	Green	55	10.2%
Anthony Brand	Independent	49	9.1%
Alex Tugwell	Independent	12	2.2%
Susan Elizabeth Hislop	Lib Dem	12	2.2%

Waddington Rural

Lance Pennell ConservativeLeigh Sanders ConservativeMatthew Cooper Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative35.9%

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First33.0%

Labour31.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Matthew Russell Cooper Elected	Conservative	756
Lance Pennell Elected	Conservative	734
Leigh Sanders Elected	Conservative	704
James Barry Earnshaw	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	695
John Ewan Mitchell	Labour	655
Nirmal Nina Chapman	Labour	593

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Witham St Hughs & Swinderby

Mitch Elliott Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire FirstPeter Overton Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First68.4%

Conservative31.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Charles Peter Overton Elected	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	616
Mitch Elliott Elected	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	542
Sue Howe	Conservative	284
Stuart William Robinson	Conservative	256

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
Ashby de la Launde, Digby & Scopwick	Amelia Bailey	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First 2023	Reform
Billinghay Rural	Adrian Whittle	Lib Dem 2023	Conservative
Sleaford Holdingham	Robert Oates	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First 2023	Conservative

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

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

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
12 March 2026	Sleaford Westholme	Reform gain from Conservative	45.1%
20 March 2025	Bracebridge Heath	Conservative hold	33.3%
21 March 2024	Heckington Rural	Conservative hold	33.7%
14 December 2023	Billinghay Rural	Lib Dem gain from Conservative	41.1%
26 May 2022	Sleaford Quarrington and Mareham	Other gain from Conservative

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Sleaford and North Hykeham	83%	Conservative	Conservative 38%
Lincoln	11%	Labour	Labour 32%
Grantham and Bourne	6%	Conservative	Conservative 37%

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 North Kesteven

118,077 residents in 50,998 households

Voted Leave in 2016

62% 10 above GB

Degree or higher

30% 4 below GB

No qualifications

16% 2 below GB

Own their home

73% 12 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

10% 7 below GB

Rent privately

16% 4 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

25% 6 below GB

Aged 65 and over

28% 6 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

MeltonConservative / Independent Coalition Hinckley and BosworthLiberal Democrats (Majority)South KestevenIndependent / Green / Liberal Democrats Coalition West LindseyConservative / Liberal Democrats / Independent Coalition South RibbleLabour (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.