South Kesteven Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · East Midlands · 56 seats in 30 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

South Kesteven Council is run by an Independent / Green / Liberal Democrats coalition. The council has 56 councillors in 30 wards. Seats by party: Other 25, Conservative 19, Reform 5, Lib Dem 3, Labour 2, Green 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

Independent / Green / Liberal Democrats Coalition

56 seats - 29 for a majority

Reform 5Labour 2Conservative 19Lib Dem 3Green 2Other 25

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Reform +5 Other +3 Lib Dem −1 Green −2 Conservative −5

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (56 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Other51.3%22

Conservative23.4%24

Labour10.2%2

Green7.9%4

Lib Dem6.4%4

Reform0.8%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 56 seats up, then every four years

Largest group

Independents and others 25

4 short of the 29 needed for a majority

Closest result

Bourne East

Conservative won the last seat by 2 votes over another Conservative candidate, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Grantham St Wulfram's

Conservative gain from Independent, 22 October 2026 (7 since 2021)

Constituencies

3 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

60%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeLib DemReformGreenIndependent

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 30 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
Aveland Kyle Abel	4 May 2023 Conservative 58.6% lead 31.7 pts
Belmont Elvis Stooke, Richard Litchfield	4 May 2023 Independent 34.4% lead 4.6 pts
Belvoir Pam Bosworth, Robert Leadenham	4 May 2023 Conservative 64.1% lead 28.2 pts
Bourne Austerby Paul Fellows, Emma Baker, Rhys Baker	4 May 2023 Independent 37.8% lead 4.4 pts
Bourne East Philip Knowles, Zoe Lane	4 May 2023 Independent 31.2% lead 4.7 pts
Bourne West Helen Crawford, Anna Kelly	4 May 2023 Conservative 31.4% lead 1.4 pts
Casewick Rosemary Trollope-Bellew, Vanessa Smith	4 May 2023 Green 59.9% lead 19.8 pts
Castle Nick Robins	4 May 2023 Uncontested
Deeping St James Bridget Ley, Phil Dilks, James Denniston	4 May 2023 Independent 30.8% lead 5.2 pts
Dole Wood Barry Dobson	4 May 2023 Conservative 53.7% lead 7.4 pts
Glen Penny Robins	4 May 2023 Uncontested
Grantham Arnoldfield Paul Stokes, Paul Martin	4 May 2023 Independent 30.3% lead 4.6 pts
Grantham Barrowby Gate Gareth Knight, Mark Whittington	4 May 2023 Conservative 27.4% lead 2.2 pts
Grantham Earlesfield Lee Steptoe, Steven Cunnington	4 May 2023 Labour 37.2% lead 0.5 pts
Grantham Harrowby Ian Selby, Chris Noon	4 May 2023 Independent 36.5% lead 4.0 pts
Grantham Springfield Rob Shorrock, Nikki Manterfield	4 May 2023 Labour 31.6% lead 5.5 pts
Grantham St Vincent's Patsy Ellis, Graham Jeal, Charmaine Morgan	4 May 2023 Green 21.0% lead 0.2 pts
Grantham St Wulfram's Matthew Bailey, Ben Lavender	4 May 2023 Independent 30.9% lead 3.4 pts
Isaac Newton David Bellamy, Ben Green	4 May 2023 Conservative 50.8% lead 26.0 pts
Lincrest Sarah Trotter	4 May 2023 Uncontested
Loveden Heath Penny Milnes	4 May 2023 Independent 63.6% lead 27.2 pts
Market & West Deeping Virginia Moran, Pam Byrd, Ashley Baxter	4 May 2023 Independent 27.6% lead 7.1 pts
Morton Sue Woolley	4 May 2023 Uncontested
Peascliffe & Ridgeway Ian Stokes, Peter Stephens	4 May 2023 Conservative 35.7% lead 16.2 pts
Stamford All Saints Max Sawyer, Habib Rahman	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 39.5% lead 6.0 pts
Stamford St George's Gloria Johnson, Rhea Rayside	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 46.7% lead 10.6 pts
Stamford St John's Richard Cleaver, Susan Sandall	4 May 2023 Independent 73.5% lead 47.0 pts
Stamford St Mary's Jane Kingman, Harrish Bisnauthsing	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 36.8% lead 13.7 pts
Toller Murray Turner	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 36.5% lead 9.1 pts
Viking Jane Wood, Paul Wood	4 May 2023 Independent 40.9% lead 4.5 pts

Aveland

Kyle Abel Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative58.6%

Lib Dem26.9%

Reform14.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Richard Dixon-Warren Elected	Conservative	457	58.6%
James Brown	Lib Dem	210	26.9%
Mike Rudkin	Reform	113	14.5%

Last by-election, 11 December 2025

Reform41.0%

Conservative39.5%

Green16.2%

Labour3.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Kyle Mark Abel Elected	Reform	290	41.0%
Tony Vaughan	Conservative	280	39.5%
Brynley Heaven	Green	115	16.2%
David Aaron Burling	Labour	23	3.2%

Belmont

Elvis Stooke IndependentRichard Litchfield Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent34.4%

Independent29.8%

Conservative22.2%

Labour13.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Phil Gadd Elected	Independent	514
Elvis Ian Stooke Elected	Independent	446
Linda Wootten	Conservative	332
Dean Anthony William Ward	Conservative	275
Myles Sadler	Labour	203

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 11 December 2025

Reform33.4%

Conservative33.1%

Independent20.0%

Green8.5%

Labour4.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Richard Stephen Litchfield Elected	Reform	239	33.4%
Adam Neil Stokes	Conservative	237	33.1%
Declan Thomas Peter Gibbons	Independent	143	20.0%
Sean Duncan Hothersall	Green	61	8.5%
Susan Elizabeth Nash	Labour	35	4.9%

Belvoir

Pam Bosworth ConservativeRobert Leadenham Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative64.1%

Labour35.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Pam Bosworth Elected	Conservative	901
Robert Ian Leadenham Elected	Conservative	791
Julian Simpson	Labour	505

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Bourne Austerby

Emma Baker GreenPaul Fellows IndependentRhys Baker Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent37.8%

Green33.4%

Conservative28.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Paul David Fellows Elected	Independent	664
Emma Louise Baker Elected	Green	587
Rhys Rhobat Baker Elected	Green	530
Robert Reid	Conservative	504
Chris Neal	Conservative	454
Ian Paul Simmons	Green	394

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Bourne East

Philip Knowles IndependentZoe Lane Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent31.2%

Conservative26.5%

Independent26.3%

Labour16.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Philip James Knowles Elected	Independent	417
Zoe Emma Lane Elected	Conservative	355
Julia Reid	Conservative	353
Brenda Maureen Johnson	Independent	352
Barnabas Baricz Hughes	Labour	214

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Bourne West

Anna Kelly IndependentHelen Crawford Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative31.4%

Independent30.0%

Lib Dem28.9%

Labour9.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Helen Joyce Crawford Elected	Conservative	629
Anna Sylvia Kelly Elected	Independent	600
John Ireland	Lib Dem	579
John Stephen Francis Riley	Labour	194

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Casewick

Rosemary Trollope-Bellew IndependentVanessa Smith Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Green59.9%

Conservative40.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Vanessa Smith Elected	Green	1,057
Rosemary Trollope-Bellew Elected	Conservative	709
Kelham Harry Cooke	Conservative	688

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Castle

Nick Robins Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Uncontested. Elected: Nick Robins (Conservative).

Deeping St James

Bridget Ley IndependentJames Denniston IndependentPhil Dilks Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent30.8%

Independent25.6%

Independent20.4%

Independent15.4%

Labour7.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Philip Maurice Dilks Elected	Independent	1,470
Bridget Ann Ley Elected	Independent	1,224
James Alexander Denniston Elected	Independent	973
Judy Deanne Stevens	Independent	736
Mike Horder	Labour	371

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Dole Wood

Barry Dobson Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative53.7%

Independent46.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Barry Dobson Elected	Conservative	409	53.7%
Nigel Gareth Eveleigh	Independent	352	46.3%

Glen

Penny Robins Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Uncontested. Elected: Penny Robbins (Conservative).

Grantham Arnoldfield

Paul Martin ConservativePaul Stokes Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent30.3%

Conservative25.7%

Labour23.6%

Independent20.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Paul David Alec Stokes Elected	Independent	529
Paul Michael Martin Elected	Conservative	449
Kaffy Rice-Oxley	Conservative	420
Tom Greenwood	Labour	412
Mike Beckett	Independent	357

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Grantham Barrowby Gate

Gareth Knight ConservativeMark Whittington Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative27.4%

Labour25.2%

Independent20.1%

Green15.1%

Independent12.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Gareth Knight Elected	Conservative	467
Mark Anthony Whittington Elected	Conservative	445
Jonathan Michael Cook	Labour	430
Adrian Mark Smith	Independent	343
Ray Shrouder	Green	257
John Raymond Parkhill	Independent	206

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Grantham Earlesfield

Lee Steptoe LabourSteven Cunnington Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour37.2%

Independent36.7%

Independent26.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Lee Andrew Steptoe Elected	Labour	305
Steven Cunnington Elected	Independent	301
Carole Anne Thomson	Labour	218
Bruce Victor Wells	Independent	214

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Grantham Harrowby

Chris Noon IndependentIan Selby Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent36.5%

Independent32.5%

Labour18.0%

Conservative13.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Ian Edward Selby Elected	Independent	526
Chris Noon Elected	Independent	468
David Aaron Burling	Labour	259
Clio Perraton-Williams	Conservative	187

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Grantham Springfield

Nikki Manterfield ConservativeRob Shorrock Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour31.6%

Conservative26.1%

Independent24.0%

Green18.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Rob Shorrock Elected	Labour	364
Nikki Manterfield Elected	Conservative	301
Adam Neil Stokes	Conservative	295
Matthew William Ash	Independent	277
John Chadwick	Green	210

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Grantham St Vincent's

Charmaine Morgan IndependentGraham Jeal ReformPatsy Ellis Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Green21.0%

Independent20.8%

Conservative16.1%

Labour15.8%

Independent13.2%

Independent13.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Patsy Ellis Elected	Green	520
Charmaine Dawn Morgan Elected	Independent	517
Graham Jeal Elected	Conservative	400
Tracey Ann Forman	Labour	393
Anne Elizabeth Gayfer	Green	375
Alex James Ferguson	Green	372
Janeile Eardley	Labour	365
Brian Rodney Monro	Conservative	344
John George Morgan	Independent	328
Gary Wayne Rudd	Independent	324

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Grantham St Wulfram's

Ben Lavender ConservativeMatthew Bailey Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent30.9%

Conservative27.5%

Independent24.8%

Labour16.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Tim Harrison Elected	Independent	588
Ray Wootten Elected	Conservative	523
Susan Elizabeth Swinburn	Independent	471
Mary June Whittington	Conservative	390
Beverley Jones	Labour	321

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 22 October 2026

Conservative38.3%

Reform25.1%

Independent13.1%

Labour12.4%

Green6.5%

Independent4.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Ben Lavender Elected	Conservative	437	38.3%
Andy McKinlay	Reform	286	25.1%
Marie Reid	Independent	149	13.1%
Tim Galsworthy	Labour	141	12.4%
Ian Paul Simmons	Green	74	6.5%
Wayne Andrew Hasnip	Independent	54	4.7%

Isaac Newton

Ben Green ReformDavid Bellamy Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative50.8%

Labour24.8%

Green24.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
David Bellamy Elected	Conservative	576
Ben Green Elected	Conservative	512
Archie George Hine	Labour	281
Mike Turner	Green	277

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Lincrest

Sarah Trotter Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Uncontested. Elected: Sarah Joan Trotter (Conservative).

Loveden Heath

Penny Milnes Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent63.6%

Conservative36.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Penny Milnes Elected	Independent	539	63.6%
Judith Rebecca Sharman	Conservative	309	36.4%

Market & West Deeping

Ashley Baxter IndependentPam Byrd IndependentVirginia Moran Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent27.6%

Independent20.5%

Independent17.6%

Independent16.5%

Independent12.4%

Independent5.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Ashley John Baxter Elected	Independent	1,255
Virginia Elizabeth Moran Elected	Independent	934
Pam Byrd Elected	Independent	803
Bob Broughton	Independent	751
Martin Reilly	Independent	563
Xan Collins	Independent	244

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Morton

Sue Woolley Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Uncontested. Elected: Sue Woolley (Conservative).

Peascliffe & Ridgeway

Ian Stokes ConservativePeter Stephens Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative35.7%

Independent19.5%

Labour17.6%

Green16.2%

Independent11.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Ian Stokes Elected	Conservative	561
Peter Francis Howard Stephens Elected	Conservative	497
Nick Johnson	Independent	306
Keith Richard White	Labour	276
John Hadden Millar	Green	254
Vee Ridgley	Independent	175

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Stamford All Saints

Habib Rahman Lib DemMax Sawyer Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem39.5%

Independent33.5%

Conservative26.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Habib Rahman Elected	Lib Dem	550
Max Sawyer Elected	Independent	467
Breda-Rae Griffin	Conservative	375
Nicola Sandall	Conservative	335

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Stamford St George's

Gloria Johnson ConservativeRhea Rayside Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem46.7%

Conservative36.1%

Reform17.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Rhea Rayside Elected	Lib Dem	548
Gloria Johnson Elected	Conservative	424
Angela Carter-Begbie	Reform	202

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Stamford St John's

Richard Cleaver IndependentSusan Sandall Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent73.5%

Conservative26.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Richard James Cleaver Elected	Independent	1,041
Susan Jennifer Sandall Elected	Conservative	375
Robert Sandall	Conservative	353

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Stamford St Mary's

Harrish Bisnauthsing Lib DemJane Kingman Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem36.8%

Conservative23.1%

Independent21.7%

Green18.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Harrish Bisnauthsing Elected	Lib Dem	701
Jane Kingman Elected	Conservative	441
Julie Clarke	Independent	414
Judi Clarke	Green	350

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Toller

Murray Turner Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem36.5%

Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First27.4%

Conservative25.8%

Reform8.0%

Social Democratic Party2.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Murray Frank Turner Elected	Lib Dem	256	36.5%
Chris Clark	Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First	192	27.4%
Tony Vaughan	Conservative	181	25.8%
Amanda Gee	Reform	56	8.0%
Alexander Leslie Mitchell	Social Democratic Party	17	2.4%

Viking

Jane Wood IndependentPaul Wood Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent40.9%

Independent36.4%

Conservative22.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Paul Wood Elected	Independent	1,055
Jane Wood Elected	Independent	937
Claire Margaret Storer	Conservative	585

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Councillors

Changed party since the election

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

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Bourne Austerby	Rhys Baker	Green 2023	Independent
Casewick	Rosemary Trollope-Bellew	Conservative 2023	Independent
Grantham Barrowby Gate	Mark Whittington	Conservative 2023	Independent
Grantham St Vincent's	Graham Jeal	Conservative 2023	Reform
Grantham St Vincent's	Patsy Ellis	Green 2023	Independent
Isaac Newton	Ben Green	Conservative 2023	Reform
Isaac Newton	David Bellamy	Conservative 2023	Reform
Stamford St George's	Rhea Rayside	Lib Dem 2023	Independent

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

7 by-elections since July 2021, 4 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
22 October 2026	Grantham St Wulfram's	Conservative gain from Independent	38.3%
11 December 2025	Aveland	Reform gain from Conservative	41.0%
11 December 2025	Belmont	Reform gain from Independent	33.0%
17 November 2023	Grantham St Wulframs	Conservative hold
15 December 2022	Toller	Lib Dem gain from Independent
10 November 2022	Bourne East	Conservative hold
10 November 2022	Grantham St. Wulframs	Conservative hold

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Grantham and Bourne	63%	Conservative	Conservative 37%
Rutland and Stamford	26%	Conservative	Conservative 39%
South Holland and The Deepings	11%	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 South Kesteven

143,402 residents in 62,835 households

Voted Leave in 2016

60% 8 above GB

Degree or higher

30% 4 below GB

No qualifications

17% 1 below GB

Own their home

68% 7 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

12% 5 below GB

Rent privately

18% 2 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

24% 7 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 ShropshireLiberal Democrats (Majority)SomersetLiberal Democrats (Majority)CornwallLiberal Democrats / Independent Coalition West LindseyConservative / Liberal Democrats / Independent 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.