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.

Quick Facts All 50 seats to North Somerset Council 26 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

2023 North Somerset Council election

← 2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04) 2027 →
All 50 seats to North Somerset Council 26 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Nigel Ashton Catherine Gibbons Mike Bell Party Conservative Labour Liberal Democrats Last election 13 seats, 31.6% 6 seats, 19.7% 11 seats, 18.8% Seats before 13 6 10 Seats won 13 10 9 Seat change - 4 2 Popular vote 25,676 16,784 18,207 Percentage 32.6% 21.3% 23.1% Swing 1.0pp 1.6pp 4.3pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Steve Bridger Bridget Petty N/A Party Independent Green Portishead Ind. Last election 13 seats, 16.8% 3 seats, 3.9% 4 seats, 7.3% Seats before 13 4 4 Seats won 8 7 3 Seat change 5 3 1 Popular vote 7,164 7,393 3,462 Percentage 9.1% 9.4% 4.4% Swing 7.7pp 5.5pp 2.9pp
Map of the results of the 2019 North Somerset council election. Conservatives in blue, independent in grey, Liberal Democrats in yellow, Labour in red, Green Party in green and Portishead Independents in navy.
Leader before election Steve Bridger Independent No overall control Leader after election Mike Bell Liberal Democrat No overall control

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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.^[1][2]

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.^[3][4] Davies resigned as leader in May 2022 and was succeeded by his independent colleague Steve Bridger.^[5] Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Bell served as deputy leader in the administration prior to 2023.^[6]

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.^[7] 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.^[8][9]

Following the 2023 election the council remained under no overall control, with the Conservatives the largest group.^[10] On 12 May 2023, it was announced there would be a partnership between the Liberal Democrats (sitting as a group with three independents), Labour, the Green Party, the Portishead Independents and two other independents (sitting as their own group).^[11] Mike Bell, leader of the Liberal Democrat group was announced as the new leader of the council, with Labour councillor Catherine Gibbons being deputy leader, with these positions to be confirmed at the annual council meeting on 23 May 2023.^[2]

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 (*).