2023 North Somerset Council election


The 2023 North Somerset Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect all 50 councillors to the North Somerset Council in England. It was conducted on the same day as the other local elections across England.
Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being run by a 'rainbow coalition' of Liberal Democrats, Labour, Greens and independent councillors, led by independent councillor Steve Bridger. Following the election the council remained under no overall control and a similar coalition emerged, but led by Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Bell.

Background

North Somerset Council is elected every 4 years, with all council seats being up for election. Following the 2019 election a rainbow coalition consisting of the North Somerset Independent Group, the Liberal Democrats, the Labour Party, the Portishead Independents and the Green Party had formed, initially led by Independent Group leader, Don Davies. Davies resigned as leader in May 2022 and was succeeded by his independent colleague Steve Bridger. Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Bell served as deputy leader in the administration prior to 2023.
Throughout the previous council's term from 2019 to 2023, bus and transport services became a considerable issue in the local area. With services such as the X5 Weston-Super-Mare to Cribbs Causeway being cut or reduced and other services such as the X2 Yatton to Bristol and 126 Weston to Wells being axed entirely. In the later part of the council's term a new 'demand bus service' was being created and the council successfully saved some services from being entirely removed.

Ward results

The ward results listed below are based on the changes from the 2019 elections, not taking into account any party defections or by-elections. Incumbent councillors are marked with an asterisk.

Clevedon Yeo

Congresbury & Puxton

  • Change is from 2019 election, seat gained by the Green Party at a by-election in 2021

Pill

  • Huw James represented Portishead South from 2019 to 2023

Weston-super-Mare Mid Worle

Winford

Changes 2023–2027

Ashley Cartman, elected as a Liberal Democrat, left the party to sit as an independent in January 2025.
Stuart Davies, who had been elected as an independent, joined Reform UK in February 2025.