| Election Name: | 2023 West Berkshire Council election |
| Country: | Berkshire |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Previous Election: | 2019 West Berkshire Council election |
| Previous Year: | 2019 |
| Next Election: | 2027 West Berkshire Council election |
| Next Year: | 2027 |
| Seats For Election: | All 43 seats to West Berkshire Council |
| Majority Seats: | 22 |
| Turnout: | 38% |
| Leader1: | Lee Dillon |
| Party1: | Liberal Democrats (UK) |
| Leaders Seat1: | Thatcham North East |
| Last Election1: | 16 seats, 31.9% |
| Seats1: | 29 |
| Seat Change1: | 13 |
| Popular Vote1: | 22,063 |
| Percentage1: | 42.8% |
| Swing1: | 10.9% |
| Leader2: | Lynne Doherty |
| Party2: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Leaders Seat2: | Newbury Speen (defeated) |
| Last Election2: | 24 seats, 37.4% |
| Seats2: | 11 |
| Seat Change2: | 13 |
| Popular Vote2: | 16,074 |
| Percentage2: | 31.2% |
| Swing2: | 6.2% |
| Leader4: | Carolyne Culver |
| Party4: | Green Party of England and Wales |
| Leaders Seat4: | Ridgeway |
| Last Election4: | 3 seats, 19.3% |
| Seats4: | 2 |
| Seat Change4: | 1 |
| Popular Vote4: | 8,692 |
| Percentage4: | 16.9% |
| Swing4: | 2.5% |
| Party5: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Last Election5: | 0 seats, 9.7% |
| Seats5: | 1 |
| Seat Change5: | 1 |
| Popular Vote5: | 3,639 |
| Percentage5: | 7.1% |
| Swing5: | 2.7% |
| Leader | |
| Posttitle: | Leader after election |
| Before Election: | Lynne Doherty |
| Before Party: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| After Election: | Lee Dillon |
| After Party: | Liberal Democrats (UK) |
The 2023 West Berkshire Council election took take place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of West Berkshire Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.[1] [2] [3]
Prior to the election the council was under Conservative control, with the party having held a majority of the seats since 2005. The Liberal Democrats took control at the election, winning 29 of the 43 seats. The Conservative leader of the council, Lynne Doherty, lost her seat.[4] At the subsequent annual council meeting on 25 May 2023, Liberal Democrat leader Lee Dillon was appointed leader of the council.[5] The Conservatives appointed Ross Mackinnon to be their new leader in opposition.[6]
| Councillor | Ward | First elected | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Beck | Newbury Clay Hill | 2000 | Conservative | |
| Jeff Cant | Newbury Clay Hill | 2019 | Conservative | |
| Hilary Cole | Chieveley and Cold Ash | 2007 | Conservative | |
| James Cole | Hungerford and Kintbury | 2015 | Conservative | |
| Nassar Hunt | Thatcham Central | 2019 | Liberal Democrats | |
| Gareth Hurley | Pangbourne | 2019 | Conservative | |
| Rick Jones | Tilehurst and Purley | 2015 | Conservative | |
| Alan Law | Basildon | 2007 | Conservative | |
| Royce Longton | Burghfield and Mortimer | 1993 | Liberal Democrats | |
| Graham Pask | Bucklebury | 1987 | Conservative | |
| Claire Rowles | Hungerford and Kintbury | 2019 | Conservative | |
| Garth Simpson | Chieveley and Cold Ash | 2011 | Conservative | |
| Andrew Williamson | Tilehurst and Purley | 2019 | Conservative | |
| Keith Woodhams | Thatcham West | 1997 | Liberal Democrats | |
The Liberal Democrats gained a majority on West Berkshire council for the first time since 2003, beating the Conservative Party.
This election saw the Labour Party win a seat on the council for the first time since its formation.
The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by West Berkshire Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023.[7]
Winning candidates are highlighted in bold.