2023 Horsham District Council election

The 2023 Horsham District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Horsham District Council in West Sussex, England. It was held on the same day as other local elections in England.

The Liberal Democrats gained control of the council from the Conservatives with an 8 seat majority. It was the first time since the 1995 election that the Liberal Democrats had taken control of the council. It was also the worst performance in terms of seats for the Conservative Party in any previous election to the council. The Conservative leader of the council prior to the election, Claire Vickers, lost her seat. Liberal Democrat group leader Martin Boffey was formally appointed the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 24 May 2023.

Council Composition
Prior to the election, the composition of the council was:

After the election, the composition of the council was:

Billingshurst

 * Nigel Jupp is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Southwater & Nuthurst.

Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote

 * This was the only seat at the elections where the Green Party did not stand a full quota of candidates.

Colgate & Rusper

 * Liz Kitchen was Leader of the Council from 2001 to 2009.

Denne

 * John Milne represented Roffey North ward from 2019 to 2023. He is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Horsham Riverside. He is the Liberal Democrats Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

Holbrook East

 * Simon Torn represented Roffey South ward from 2011 to 2019.

Holbrook West

 * Christian Mitchell is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Broadbridge.

Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham

 * Robert Nye sat on Horsham District Council in various wards from 1999 to 2011. He was leader of the Council from 2009-2011.

Pulborough, Coldwaltham & Amberley

 * Paul Clarke was Leader of the Council for 207 days in 2021 before resigning.

Roffey North

 * Belinda Walters represented Denne ward from 2019 to 2023.
 * Jonathan Dancer represented Roffey North ward from 2015 to 2019.

Roffey South

 * Alan Britten represented Roffey South as a Liberal Democrat from 2019-2023. He previously sat as a Conservative from 2015-2019 before defecting to the Liberal Democrats ahead of the 2019 election. He rejoined the Conservatives in 2023.
 * Katie Nagel is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing St Leonard's Forest.

Southwater North

 * Claire Vickers was the Leader of the Council until losing her seat.
 * John Chidlow represented Southwater from 2011 to 2019.

Southwater South & Shipley

 * Ian Stannard was the Vice-Chair of the Council until losing his seat.

Storrington & Washington

 * Gary Markwell is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Arundel & Courtwick. He also, simultaneously stood for election in Arun District Council where he was also defeated by The Green Party.

Trafalgar

 * Martin Boffey was, heading into the election Leader of the Opposition.

West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington

 * Philip Circus was Deputy Leader of the Council.
 * Joy Dennis is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Hurstpierpoint & Bolney.