| Election Name: | 2023 Ashford Borough Council election |
| Country: | Kent |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Previous Election: | 2019 Ashford Borough Council election |
| Previous Year: | 2019 |
| Next Election: | 2027 Ashford Borough Council election |
| Next Year: | 2027 |
| Seats For Election: | All 47 seats to Ashford Borough Council |
| Majority Seats: | 24 |
| Leader1: | Gerry Clarkson |
| Party1: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Last Election1: | 26 seats, 39.2% |
| Seats Before1: | 23 |
| Seats1: | 19 |
| Seat Change1: | 7 |
| Popular Vote1: | 14,133 |
| Percentage1: | 35.7% |
| Swing1: | 3.5% |
| Leader2: | Brendan Chilton |
| Party2: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Last Election2: | 7 seats, 14.9% |
| Seats Before2: | 6 |
| Seats2: | 11 |
| Seat Change2: | 4 |
| Popular Vote2: | 9,951 |
| Percentage2: | 25.1% |
| Swing2: | 9.1% |
| Leader4: | Noel Ovenden |
| Party4: | Ashford Independents |
| Last Election4: | 11 seats, 19.1% |
| Seats Before4: | 10 |
| Seats4: | 9 |
| Seat Change4: | 2 |
| Popular Vote4: | 5,919 |
| Percentage4: | 14.9% |
| Swing4: | 4.2% |
| Leader5: | Steve Campkin & Liz Wright |
| Party5: | Green Party of England and Wales |
| Last Election5: | 2 seats, 13.2% |
| Seats Before5: | 4 |
| Seats5: | 8 |
| Seat Change5: | 6 |
| Popular Vote5: | 7,183 |
| Percentage5: | 18.1 |
| Swing5: | 4.9% |
| Leader | |
| Posttitle: | Leader after election |
| Before Election: | Gerry Clarkson Conservative |
| Before Party: | No overall control |
| After Election: | Noel Ovenden Ashford Independents |
| After Party: | No overall control |
The 2023 Ashford Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Ashford Borough Council in Kent, England.[1] This was on the same day as other local elections in England.
At the previous election in 2019, the Conservatives had held onto a majority winning 26 seats out of the 47 up for election. In the intervening years a number of by-elections and defections caused the council to go into no overall control, with the Conservatives continuing to govern as a minority administration, led by Gerry Clarkson. He chose not to stand for re-election in 2023.[2]
The council remained under no overall control following election.[3] The Conservatives remained the largest party, but a coalition of the Ashford Independents and the Greens formed a minority administration, with Ashford Independent councillor Noel Ovenden being appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 30 May 2023.[4]
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The gain and losses in the above summary results table depict the difference between the 2019 election and the 2023 election. It does not reflect changes since any by-elections in the intervening years.
The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Ashford Borough Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023.[5] The results in each ward were as follows:[6]
There had been a by-election held for one of the Beaver ward seats on 6 May 2021 which had resulted in the Conservatives gaining the seat from Labour.
There had been a by-election held for the Downs North ward seat on 19 August 2021 which resulted in the Green gaining the seat from the Conservatives.
There had been a by-election held for the Highfield ward seat on 16 December 2021 which resulted in the Greens gaining the seat from the Conservatives.
There had been a by-election held for the Park Farm North ward seat on 12 March 2020 which resulted in the Ashford Independents party gaining the seat from the Conservatives.