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.https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council-democracy/councillors-committees/councillors/executive-members
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.https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/council-working-save-bus-routes-following-more-cuts 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.https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/council-working-save-bus-routes-following-more-cutshttps://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/first-look-new-demand-buses-their-way-north-somersets-communities
Overall results
Following the 2023 election the council remained under no overall control, with the Conservatives the largest group. 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). 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.
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 (*).
Backwell
Banwell & Winscombe
Blagdon & Churchill
Clevedon East
Clevedon South
Clevedon Walton
Clevedon West
Clevedon Yeo
Congresbury & Puxton
Change is from 2019 election, seat gained by the Green Party at a by-election in 2021
Gordano Valley
Hutton & Locking
Long Ashton
Nailsea Golden Valley
Nailsea West End
Nailsea Yeo
Nailsea Youngwood
Pill
Huw James represented Portishead South from 2019 to 2023
Portishead East
Portishead North
Portishead South
Portishead West
Weston-super-Mare Central
Weston-super-Mare Hillside
Weston-super-Mare Kewstoke
Weston-super-Mare Mid Worle
Weston-super-Mare Milton
Weston-super-Mare North Worle
Weston-super-Mare South
Weston-super-Mare South Worle
Weston-super-Mare Uphill
Weston-super-Mare Winterstoke
Wick St Lawrence & St Georges
Winford
Wrington
Yatton
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.
Wrington by-election
Long Ashton by-election
Clevedon South by-election
This by-election was triggered by the resignation of Councillor Hannah Young (Labour). She stepped down in late 2025.
Hutton & Locking by-election
Notes
References