Torbay Council - Wards and Councillors

Unitary authority · South West · 36 seats in 16 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

The Conservatives run Torbay Council as a minority administration. The council has 36 councillors in 16 wards. Seats by party: Conservative 17, Lib Dem 15, Other 4. 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 (Minority)

36 seats - 19 for a majority

Conservative 17Lib Dem 15Other 4

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

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (36 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Conservative36.6%19

Lib Dem29.6%15

Other16.9%2

Green13.1%0

Labour3.8%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 36 seats up, then every four years

Largest party

Conservative 17

2 short of the 19 needed for a majority

Closest result

Shiphay

Conservative won the last seat by 8 votes over another Conservative candidate, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Wellswood

Conservative gain from Independent, 6 June 2024 (1 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

63%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

ConservativeLib DemIndependent

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 16 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
Barton with Watcombe Swithin Long, Steve Darling, Mike Fox	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 47.9% lead 21.6 pts
Churston with Galmpton Adam Billings, Alan Tyerman	4 May 2023 Conservative 41.4% lead 13.2 pts
Clifton with Maidenway Margaret Douglas-Dunbar, Cat Johns	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 50.4% lead 13.8 pts
Cockington with Chelston Nicole Amil, Mark Spacagna	4 May 2023 Independent 27.3% lead 1.6 pts
Collaton St Mary Martin Brook	4 May 2023 Conservative 45.2% lead 13.9 pts
Ellacombe Jermaine Atiya-Alla, Yannis Nicolaou	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 48.1% lead 18.6 pts
Furzeham with Summercombe Andrew Strang, Hannah Stevens, Jason Hutchings	4 May 2023 Conservative 28.0% lead 6.5 pts
Goodrington with Roselands John Fellows, Hayley Tranter	4 May 2023 Conservative 43.7% lead 10.8 pts
King's Ash Yvonne Twelves, Jacqueline Thomas	4 May 2023 Conservative 39.9% lead 11.3 pts
Preston Barbara Lewis, David Thomas, Chris Lewis	4 May 2023 Conservative 51.1% lead 22.6 pts
Roundham with Hyde Nigel Penny, Christine Carter	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 44.3% lead 6.4 pts
Shiphay Katya Maddison, Darren Cowell	4 May 2023 Independent 26.1% lead 3.3 pts
St Marychurch Ras Virdee, George Darling, Kelly Harvey	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 46.5% lead 7.9 pts
St Peter's with St Mary's Steve Bryant, Anna Tolchard	4 May 2023 Conservative 47.5% lead 14.6 pts
Tormohun Cordelia Law, Mandy Darling, Nick Pentney	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 38.0% lead 13.8 pts
Wellswood Nick Bye, Hazel Foster	4 May 2023 Conservative 63.4% lead 38.5 pts

Barton with Watcombe

Mike Fox Lib DemSteve Darling Lib DemSwithin Long Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Lib Dem47.9%

Conservative26.3%

Labour11.0%

Green10.0%

Independent4.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Steve Darling Elected	Lib Dem	1,247
Mike Fox Elected	Lib Dem	1,121
Swithin Long Elected	Lib Dem	1,070
Kim Tracey Brook	Conservative	684
Damian Barton	Conservative	647
David John Watkins	Conservative	563
Gary Christopher Hunt	Labour	286
Mick Tait	Green	259
Bjorn Gunter Lauer	Independent	126

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Churston with Galmpton

Adam Billings ConservativeAlan Tyerman Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative41.4%

Independent28.2%

Lib Dem16.1%

Green14.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Adam Simon Billings Elected	Conservative	1,155
Alan John Tyerman Elected	Conservative	1,039
Karen Kennedy	Independent	787
Dennis Ronald Shearman	Lib Dem	449
Richard Spreckley	Green	397
Dan Reed	Lib Dem	362
Alan Wyatt	Green	189

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Clifton with Maidenway

Cat Johns Lib DemMargaret Douglas-Dunbar Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem50.4%

Conservative36.6%

Green13.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Maggi Douglas-Dunbar Elected	Lib Dem	1,004
Cat Johns Elected	Lib Dem	982
Peter Bernhard Henry Middleton	Conservative	730
Iain Leonard Palmer	Conservative	616
Sue Kenning	Green	260

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Cockington with Chelston

Mark Spacagna ConservativeNicole Amil Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent27.3%

Conservative25.7%

Independent18.3%

Lib Dem12.5%

Labour8.8%

Green7.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Nicole Amil Elected	Independent	789
Mark Anthony Thomas Spacagna Elected	Conservative	744
Andrew Barrand	Conservative	682
Julie Brandon	Independent	528
Hans Windheuser	Lib Dem	360
Alistair Kevin Brierley	Lib Dem	324
Daniel William Clemence	Labour	255
Jimi Neary	Green	214

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Collaton St Mary

Martin Brook Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative45.2%

Lib Dem31.3%

Green23.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Martin Brook Elected	Conservative	325	45.2%
Katherine Oliverio	Lib Dem	225	31.3%
Kate Prendergast	Green	169	23.5%

Ellacombe

Jermaine Atiya-Alla Lib DemYannis Nicolaou Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem48.1%

Conservative29.5%

Green12.9%

Workers Party of Britain9.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jermaine Atiya-Alla Elected	Lib Dem	752
Yannis Matthew Nicolaou Elected	Lib Dem	712
Anne Brooks	Conservative	462
Melodie Anne Ripley	Conservative	404
Hazel Robertson	Green	201
Paul Andrew Moor	Workers Party of Britain	149

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Furzeham with Summercombe

Andrew Strang ConservativeHannah Stevens ConservativeJason Hutchings Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative28.0%

Independent21.5%

Independent12.8%

Green11.5%

Independent11.2%

Lib Dem7.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Andrew Paul Strang Elected	Conservative	1,148
Hannah Emily Stevens Elected	Conservative	960
Jason Richard Hutchings Elected	Conservative	898
Jackie Stockman	Independent	882
Bob Hyde	Independent	525
John Fallon	Green	473
Paul David Greenwood	Independent	461
Robert Bagnall	Green	329
Ben Davis	Lib Dem	317
Paul Corcoran	Lib Dem	293
Michael Leon Roseveare	Independent	292
Andy Ford	Lib Dem	262

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Goodrington with Roselands

Hayley Tranter ConservativeJohn Fellows Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative43.7%

Lib Dem32.9%

Labour12.0%

Green11.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
John Fellows Elected	Conservative	942
Hayley Jeanette Tranter Elected	Conservative	843
Tom Pentney	Lib Dem	709
Matt Pope	Lib Dem	593
Steve Radford	Labour	258
Sara Palmer	Green	247

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

King's Ash

Jacqueline Thomas ConservativeYvonne Twelves Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative39.9%

Lib Dem28.6%

Labour14.1%

Green12.6%

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition4.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jackie Thomas Elected	Conservative	621
Yvonne Marie Twelves Elected	Conservative	555
Davina Jit Kaur Luther	Lib Dem	445
Beth Dring	Lib Dem	426
Eddie Harris	Labour	219
Neil Rolfe	Green	196
Neil Cussons	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	74

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Preston

Barbara Lewis ConservativeChris Lewis ConservativeDavid Thomas Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative51.1%

Lib Dem28.5%

Green20.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Chris Lewis Elected	Conservative	1,586
Barbara Lewis Elected	Conservative	1,567
David Thomas Elected	Conservative	1,442
Bob Cross	Lib Dem	883
Dave Law	Lib Dem	863
Dean Barry Rollings	Lib Dem	705
Sophie Downs	Green	633

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Roundham with Hyde

Christine Carter Lib DemNigel Penny Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem44.3%

Conservative37.9%

Green17.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Chris Carter Elected	Lib Dem	747
Nigel John Penny Elected	Lib Dem	668
Alan Craig Whytock	Conservative	639
Daniel Lawrence Boatwright	Conservative	620
Jane Hughes	Green	302

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Shiphay

Darren Cowell IndependentKatya Maddison Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent26.1%

Conservative22.8%

Independent21.7%

Lib Dem12.5%

Green8.3%

Independent3.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Darren John Cowell Elected	Independent	667
Katya Maddison Elected	Conservative	583
Josh Barrand	Conservative	575
Rob Loxton	Independent	553
Ann Ashworth	Lib Dem	319
Jenny Stoneman	Green	212
Fiona Jane Hess	Lib Dem	190
Mark Dent	Independent	92
Kurt Lewis Napper	Independent	64
Stuart Gale	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	62

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

St Marychurch

George Darling Lib DemKelly Harvey Lib DemRas Virdee Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Lib Dem46.5%

Conservative38.6%

Green14.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
George Andrew Darling Elected	Lib Dem	1,568
Kelly Louise Stephanie Harvey Elected	Lib Dem	1,537
Ras Virdee Elected	Lib Dem	1,374
Hazel Margaret Foster	Conservative	1,301
Paul Evan Jones	Conservative	1,186
Roger Heath	Conservative	1,080
Jenny Giel	Green	502

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

St Peter's with St Mary's

Anna Tolchard ConservativeSteve Bryant Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative47.5%

Lib Dem32.9%

Green19.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Anna Joan Tolchard Elected	Conservative	746
Steve Bryant Elected	Conservative	744
David John Giles	Lib Dem	517
Dave Fordham	Lib Dem	472
Poppy Hopkins	Green	307
Stephen Linley-Shaw	Green	259

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Tormohun

Cordelia Law Lib DemMandy Darling Lib DemNick Pentney Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Lib Dem38.0%

Conservative24.2%

Labour14.1%

Green11.5%

Independent6.9%

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition5.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Mandy Darling Elected	Lib Dem	1,087
Nick Pentney Elected	Lib Dem	953
Cordelia Louise Law Elected	Lib Dem	943
Denise Ann Sinclair	Conservative	692
Brian Raymond Lownds-Pateman	Conservative	678
Robert Stanley Summers	Conservative	649
Olivia Catherine Bath	Labour	404
Miriam Clare Boyles	Green	330
Robert Excell	Independent	196
Michelle Goodman	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	151

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Wellswood

Hazel Foster ConservativeNick Bye Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative63.4%

Lib Dem24.9%

Green11.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Nick Bye Elected	Conservative	1,482
Patrick Antony Joyce Elected	Conservative	1,303
Pamela Jane Bagnall	Lib Dem	582
Dennis Raymond Brewer	Lib Dem	554
Richard Boyles	Green	272

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 6 June 2024

Conservative42.3%

Lib Dem41.9%

Reform8.5%

Labour5.3%

Green1.5%

Independent0.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Hazel Margaret Foster Elected	Conservative	938	42.3%
Peter Fenton	Lib Dem	929	41.9%
Mike Lister	Reform	188	8.5%
Jonathan Chant-Stevens	Labour	117	5.3%
Jenny Giel	Green	34	1.5%
Paul Andrew Moor	Independent	11	0.5%

Councillors

Changed party since the election

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

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Furzeham with Summercombe	Jason Hutchings	Conservative 2023	Independent
Shiphay	Katya Maddison	Conservative 2023	Independent

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

1 by-election since July 2021, 1 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
6 June 2024	Wellswood	Conservative gain from Independent	42.3%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Torbay	74%	Lib Dem	Lib Dem 29%
South Devon	26%	Lib Dem	Lib Dem 34%

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 Torbay

139,332 residents in 63,022 households

Voted Leave in 2016

63% 11 above GB

Degree or higher

25% 9 below GB

No qualifications

20% 2 above GB

Own their home

64% 3 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

8% 9 below GB

Rent privately

27% 7 above GB

Aged 15 to 34

23% 8 below GB

Aged 65 and over

31% 9 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

Folkestone and HytheGreen / Liberal Democrats Coalition ThanetLabour (Majority)Isle of WightReform UK (Minority)TorridgeIndependent EastbourneLiberal 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.