South Hams Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · South West · 31 seats in 20 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

Liberal Democrats have a majority on South Hams Council. The council has 31 councillors in 20 wards. Seats by party: Lib Dem 19, Conservative 7, Green 3, Other 1, Labour 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

Liberal Democrats (Majority)

31 seats - 16 for a majority

Labour 1Conservative 7Lib Dem 19Green 3Other 1

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election No change since the election.

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

ShareSeats won

Lib Dem42.6%19

Conservative29.2%7

Green11.2%3

Labour9.2%1

Other7.9%1

Next election

6 May 2027

all 31 seats up, then every four years

Largest party

Lib Dem 19

majority of 7; 16 needed

Closest result

Charterlands

Conservative won by 14 votes over Lib Dem, 4 May 2023

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

47%

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 20 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
Allington & Strete Laurel Lawford	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 55.7% lead 19.2 pts
Bickleigh & Cornwood Chris Oram	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 54.9% lead 9.8 pts
Blackawton & Stoke Fleming Simon Rake	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 56.7% lead 13.4 pts
Charterlands Bernard Taylor	4 May 2023 Conservative 50.7% lead 1.4 pts
Dartington & Staverton Jacqi Hodgson	4 May 2023 Green 72.3% lead 57.2 pts
Dartmouth & East Dart Ben Cooper, Ged Yardy, Jonathan Hawkins	4 May 2023 Labour 32.6% lead 2.7 pts
Ermington & Ugborough Alison Dewynter	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 57.0% lead 25.2 pts
Ivybridge East Matt Steele, Victor Abbott	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 48.2% lead 21.9 pts
Ivybridge West Pablo Munoz, Nadine Dommett	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 53.4% lead 26.9 pts
Kingsbridge Denise O'Callaghan, Susan Jackson	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 63.4% lead 26.8 pts
Loddiswell & Aveton Gifford Lee Bonham	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 58.2% lead 27.1 pts
Marldon & Littlehempston Sam Penfold	4 May 2023 Conservative 44.7% lead 11.7 pts
Newton & Yealmpton Dan Thomas, Tom Edie	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 63.1% lead 37.6 pts
Salcombe & Thurlestone Samantha Dennis, Mark Long	4 May 2023 Independent 42.8% lead 20.0 pts
South Brent David Hancock, Guy Pannell	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 52.5% lead 21.7 pts
Stokenham Julian Brazil	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 73.9% lead 53.9 pts
Totnes John Birch, Anna Presswell, Georgina Allen	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 35.6% lead 1.3 pts
Wembury & Brixton Julie Carson, Alison Nix	4 May 2023 Conservative 40.9% lead 4.2 pts
West Dart John McKay	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 65.9% lead 31.8 pts
Woolwell Nicky Hopwood	4 May 2023 Conservative 70.3% lead 40.6 pts

Allington & Strete

Laurel Lawford Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem55.7%

Conservative36.5%

Green7.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Laurel Lawford Elected	Lib Dem	628	55.7%
Richard Foss	Conservative	412	36.5%
Joseph William Waters	Green	88	7.8%

Bickleigh & Cornwood

Chris Oram Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem54.9%

Conservative45.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Christopher Michael Oram Elected	Lib Dem	435	54.9%
Barrie Michael Spencer	Conservative	357	45.1%

Blackawton & Stoke Fleming

Simon Rake Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem56.7%

Conservative43.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Simon John Rake Elected	Lib Dem	527	56.7%
Helen Reeve	Conservative	402	43.3%

Charterlands

Bernard Taylor Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative50.7%

Lib Dem49.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Bernard Taylor Elected	Conservative	523	50.7%
Alan John Kirk	Lib Dem	509	49.3%

Dartington & Staverton

Jacqi Hodgson Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green72.3%

Conservative15.1%

Lib Dem12.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jacqi Hodgson Elected	Green	740	72.3%
Jeremy Philip Luck	Conservative	154	15.1%
Catherine Madeleine Pannell	Lib Dem	129	12.6%

Dartmouth & East Dart

Ben Cooper LabourGed Yardy Lib DemJonathan Hawkins Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour32.6%

Conservative29.9%

Lib Dem29.6%

Independent7.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Ben Cooper Elected	Labour	1,235
Jonathan Denis Hawkins Elected	Conservative	1,135
Ged Yardy Elected	Lib Dem	1,121
Hilary Bastone	Conservative	930
Rose Rowe	Conservative	836
Kim Sturgess	Independent	299

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Ermington & Ugborough

Alison Dewynter Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem57.0%

Conservative31.8%

Green11.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Alison Dewynter Elected	Lib Dem	534	57.0%
Richard Hosking	Conservative	298	31.8%
Meirion Jones	Green	105	11.2%

Ivybridge East

Matt Steele Lib DemVictor Abbott Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem48.2%

Conservative26.3%

Labour13.9%

Green11.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Victor James Abbott Elected	Lib Dem	755
Matt Steele Elected	Lib Dem	596
Karen Ann Pringle	Conservative	412
Helen Margaret Louise Millman	Conservative	342
Dave Trigger	Labour	218
Alice Hilary Jones	Green	183
Richard Michael Hoyland	Green	100

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Ivybridge West

Nadine Dommett Lib DemPablo Munoz Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem53.4%

Conservative26.5%

Green11.1%

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition9.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Nadine Dommett Elected	Lib Dem	882
Pablo Munoz Elected	Lib Dem	810
Lance Peter Austen	Conservative	438
Stanley Murphy	Conservative	304
Nick Hart-Williams	Green	184
Alastair William Henderson	Green	164
Tony Rea	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	149

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Kingsbridge

Denise O'Callaghan Lib DemSusan Jackson Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem63.4%

Conservative36.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Denise O'Callaghan Elected	Lib Dem	1,011
Susie Jackson Elected	Lib Dem	907
Helen Ruth Baker	Conservative	584
Thomas Greaves	Conservative	331

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Loddiswell & Aveton Gifford

Lee Bonham Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem58.2%

Conservative31.1%

Labour10.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Lee Bonham Elected	Lib Dem	487	58.2%
Paul William Holmes	Conservative	260	31.1%
Paul Furlong	Labour	90	10.8%

Marldon & Littlehempston

Sam Penfold Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative44.7%

Lib Dem33.0%

Green22.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Samantha Penfold Elected	Conservative	355	44.7%
Keith Smith	Lib Dem	262	33.0%
David John Bradbury	Green	178	22.4%

Newton & Yealmpton

Dan Thomas Lib DemTom Edie Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem63.1%

Conservative25.5%

Labour11.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Dan Thomas Elected	Lib Dem	1,433
Tom Edie Elected	Lib Dem	1,225
Tony Carson	Conservative	580
Peter Gold	Labour	259

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Salcombe & Thurlestone

Mark Long IndependentSamantha Dennis Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent42.8%

Conservative22.8%

Independent16.5%

Green9.5%

Lib Dem8.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Mark Leonard Christopher Long Elected	Independent	1,160
Samantha Dennis Elected	Conservative	618
Jim Heaven	Conservative	513
Nikki Turton	Independent	446
Lewis John Worrall	Green	257
Alan Christopher Kerr	Lib Dem	229

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

South Brent

David Hancock Lib DemGuy Pannell Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem52.5%

Conservative30.8%

Green16.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Guy Pannell Elected	Lib Dem	1,168
David Christopher Hancock Elected	Lib Dem	1,013
Peter Smerdon	Conservative	685
Lister Bass	Conservative	533
Steve Nayar	Green	370

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Stokenham

Julian Brazil Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem73.9%

Conservative20.0%

Green6.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Julian Brazil Elected	Lib Dem	712	73.9%
Josh Gardner	Conservative	193	20.0%
Lucy Caroline Fleming	Green	58	6.0%

Totnes

Anna Presswell GreenGeorgina Allen GreenJohn Birch Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Lib Dem35.6%

Green34.3%

Labour11.5%

Independent9.4%

Conservative7.4%

Heritage Party1.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
John Birch Elected	Lib Dem	1,490
Georgina Mary Allen Elected	Green	1,433
Anna Presswell Elected	Green	971
John Malcolm Anderson	Lib Dem	948
John Stewart Cummings	Green	902
John Anthony Lloyd	Lib Dem	799
Jill Hannam	Labour	482
Jo Sweett	Independent	393
Richard O'Connell	Conservative	310
Helena Penfold	Conservative	264
Jamie Rogers	Conservative	251
Jason Liosatos	Heritage Party	72
Becca Collings	Heritage Party	56

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Wembury & Brixton

Alison Nix ConservativeJulie Carson Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative40.9%

Labour36.7%

Lib Dem22.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Julie Carson Elected	Conservative	733
Alison Nix Elected	Conservative	718
Steve Oliver	Labour	657
Denis Parsons	Labour	580
Brian Blake	Lib Dem	400

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

West Dart

John McKay Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem65.9%

Conservative34.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
John McKay Elected	Lib Dem	699	65.9%
Stuart Greaves	Conservative	362	34.1%

Woolwell

Nicky Hopwood Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative70.3%

Lib Dem29.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Nicky Hopwood Elected	Conservative	526	70.3%
Claire Susanne Hutson	Lib Dem	222	29.7%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
South Devon	61%	Lib Dem	Lib Dem 34%
South West Devon	39%	Conservative	Conservative 30%

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 South Hams

88,622 residents in 39,338 households

Voted Leave in 2016

47% 5 below GB

Degree or higher

40% 6 above GB

No qualifications

13% 5 below GB

Own their home

70% 9 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

12% 5 below GB

Rent privately

16% 4 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

21% 10 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 Malvern HillsIndependent / Green / Conservative / Liberal Democrats Coalition CotswoldLiberal Democrats (Majority)Stratford-on-AvonLiberal Democrats (Majority)LewesGreen / Labour 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.