The 2019 Horsham District Council election took place on 2 May 2019 to elect members of Horsham District Council in England. It was held on the same day as other local elections. Every seat was contested and the Conservatives retained control of the council with a majority of 8.
Council composition
Prior to the election, the composition of the council was: + ↓ 39 4 1 Con LDem Ind
After the election, the composition of the council was:
+ ↓ 32 13 2 1 Con LDem Grn Ind
Results summary
Ward results
Billingshurst
Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote
Broadbridge Heath
Colgate & Rusper
Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead
Denne
Forest
Henfield
Holbrook East
Holbrook West
Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham
Nuthurst & Lower Beeding
Pulborough, Coldwaltham & Amberley
Roffey North
Roffey South
Rudgwick
Southwater North
Southwater South & Shipley
Steyning & Ashurst
Storrington & Washington
Trafalgar
West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington
Changes 2019–2023
The council held six by-elections during this term (see By-elections below). In addition, several councillors changed party affiliation without a seat being contested: 22 January 2023: Alan Britten (Roffey South) left the Liberal Democrats to rejoin the Conservatives, having originally been elected as a Conservative for Roffey North in 2015 before defecting to the Liberal Democrats in March 2019 and being elected under that label for Roffey South two months later. 22 January 2023: Jonathan Chowen (Cowfold, Shermanbury and West Grinstead), the Conservative group leader, left the party to sit as an independent, amid a leadership dispute within the Conservative group. 24 March 2023: Billy Greening (Southwater North) left the Conservatives to sit as an independent.
Both Chowen and Greening stood again as Conservative candidates at the 2023 election.
By-elections
Storrington & Washington
The by-election was held after Conservative councillor Paul Marshall stood down from Horsham District Council on becoming leader of West Sussex County Council in October 2019; the by-election was held on the same day as the December 2019 general election.
Trafalgar
The by-election was called after long-serving Liberal Democrat councillor Leonard Crosbie announced his retirement due to ill health, after 25 years' service. Crosbie died shortly afterwards; his death was confirmed by the Horsham & Crawley Liberal Democrats on 11 September 2020.
Forest
The by-election was held after Liberal Democrat councillor Godfrey Newman, who had represented Forest since 1991 (with a four-year gap), stepped down due to ongoing health issues. He had also stood as the Liberal Democrats' parliamentary candidate for Horsham at the 2010 general election.
Roffey South
The by-election was held following the death of Conservative councillor Roy Cornell on 23 September 2021. Cornell had served continuously as ward member for Roffey South since first being elected on 3 May 2007.
Denne
The by-election was held following the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Frances Haigh, who had led the opposition Liberal Democrat group until August 2021. The seat was held for the Liberal Democrats by Clive Trott.
Storrington & Washington
The by-election was held following the resignation of veteran Conservative councillor Jim Sanson after his deselection; the seat, traditionally safe for the Conservatives, was won by the Green Party.
References