The 2023 Amber Valley Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect all 42 councillors for Amber Valley Borough Council. This was on the same day as other local elections in England.
Following the boundary review by the Local Government Boundary Commission, this was the first election under the new boundaries. In addition to the new ward boundaries the council was no longer elected by thirds, with the whole council elected once every 4 years. Along with Derby City Council, who also changed to whole council elections in 2023, Amber Valley was the last authority in Derbyshire to switch to whole council elections. The last election where all members were elected was at the 2000 election.
Under the boundary review, the number of councillors elected was reduced from 45 to 42. Prior to the election the council was led by Conservative councillor Kevin Buttery, who had been leader since May 2021. He chose not to stand for re-election.
Labour won a majority at the election, winning several seats from the Conservatives. The Labour leader, Chris Emmas-Williams, was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 24 May 2023.
Summary
Election result
Council composition After the 2022 election, the composition of the council was: + ↓ 30 11 3 1 Conservative Labour Green Ind
Prior to the 2023 election, through a number of suspensions and defections, the composition of the council was: + ↓ 25 9 5 3 3 Conservative Labour Reform UK Green Ind
After the 2023 election, the composition of the council was: + ↓ 26 7 6 2 1 Labour Conservative Green Ind Lib Dem
Ward results Source:
Alfreton
Alport & South West Parishes Previously two single member wards of Alport and South West Parishes
Belper East
Belper North
Belper South
Codnor, Langley Mill & Aldercar
Crich & South Wingfield Previously two single member wards of Crich and Wingfield
Duffield & Quarndon
Heage & Ambergate
Heanor East
Heanor West & Loscoe
Ironville and Riddings
Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley
Ripley
Ripley & Marehay
Smalley, Shipley & Horsley Woodhouse
Somercotes
Swanwick
By-elections
Crich & South Wingfield
The Crich & South Wingfield by-election was triggered by the resignation of councillor Dawn Harper.
Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley
The Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Linsey Farnsworth, who was by then the Member of Parliament for Amber Valley.
Ironville & Riddings
The Ironville & Riddings by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Rebecca Grundy.
Somercotes
The Somercotes by-election was triggered by the death of councillor John McCabe, who had represented the ward since 1986.
Codnor, Langley Mill & Aldercar
The Codnor, Langley Mill & Aldercar by-election was triggered by the resignation of councillor David Moon.
Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley
The Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Julie Whitmore.
Changes of allegiance Amanda Paget, elected for the Green Party, moved to Conservative in March 2024, then moved again to Reform UK in April 2026. Steven Bower, elected for Labour, left the party to sit as an independent - announced May 2025. Trevor Holmes, elected for Labour, left the party to sit as an independent - announced December 2025. Labour lost its majority on the council at this point. Emma Monkman, elected for Labour, left the party to sit as an independent in May 2026.
References
Notes