Abbey (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| *Michael Francis Coker | Conservative | 416 |
| *John Anthony Cooke | Conservative | 413 |
| Patrick Joseph Ryan | Lib-Dems | 379 |
| Andy Tulloch | Lib-Dems | 327 |
| James Nicholas Harrison | Green | 219 |
| George Martin | Green | 199 |
| Josh Payne | Labour | 89 |
| Peter Joseph Shiels | Labour | 81 |
Electorate 2400 (turnout 47%)
Ballot Papers Issued 1124 (25 spoilt)
St. John’s (4 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| *Richard Guy Dickson | Lib-Dems | 1172 |
| Andrew William Milton | Lib-Dems | 983 |
| Samanha Anne Cooke | Lib-Dems | 946 |
| Jack Edward Pritchard Worrall | Lib-Dems | 889 |
| *Marilyn Joyce Bates | Conservative | 698 |
| *Patrica May Cain | Conservative | 655 |
| Gordon Harry Cain | Conservative | 614 |
| *Richard Ivor Graham Davies | Conservative | 611 |
| Nick Hoten | Labour | 269 |
Electorate 4312 (turnout 44%)
Ballot Papers Issued 1911 (23 spoilt)
Park Hill (4 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| John Alfred Dearing | Green | 1069 |
| Alix Margaret Dearing | Green | 982 |
| Philippa Celcily Austin | Green | 940 |
| Robert Jonathan Barry | Green | 702 |
| *Felicity Gena Bunker | Conservative | 631 |
| *Richard John Hales | Conservative | 594 |
| *Andrew James Mobbs | Conservative | 546 |
| *Michael Charles Hitchins | Conservative | 520 |
| Rob Easton | Lib-Dems | 254 |
| Audrey Elizabeth Mullender | Labour | 174 |
| Andrew Keith Roadnight | Labour | 167 |
Electorate 4036 (turnout 43%)
Ballot Papers Issued 1735 (17 spoilt)
Dalehouse (4 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Alison Firth | Green | 884 |
| Peter James Jones | Green | 855 |
| Tracey Jane Drew | Green | 838 |
| Alistar James Kennedy | Green | 832 |
| *Dave John Shilton | Conservative | 550 |
| *George Reginald Illingworth | Conservative | 499 |
| *Rowena Ann Hill | Conservative | 393 |
| Bryan Anthony Poole | Conservative | 369 |
| Andy Brierley | Lib-Dems | 274 |
| Stephen Snart | Labour | 154 |
Electorate 3828 (turnout 40%)
Ballot Papers Issued 1546 (19 spoilt)
Borrowell (3 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| *Katherine Sara Dickson | Lib-Dems | 1124 |
| Alan Gordon Chalmers | Lib-Dems | 947 |
| Grahame Derek Hyde | Lib-Dems | 932 |
| Joanna Mary Illingworth | Conservative | 405 |
| Jan Kenyon | Conservative | 400 |
| *Clive John Nelson | Conservative | 349 |
| Martin John McMahon | Labour | 241 |
Electorate 3436 (turnout 46%)
Ballot Papers Issued 1581 (19 spoilt)
*denotes retiring councillor
ARRIVAL OF THE GREENS – TORIES ROUTED
The ward system was restructed in Kenilworth for this election. Ever since 1983, three large wards had existed; Abbey, Park Hill and St John’s. But two additional wards were introduced: Dalehouse, plus the re-introduction of the historical ward of Borrowell, which was originally introduced during the KUDC days in 1934.
But with the increased number of wards, it produced a strange pattern of voting. All five wards are of one political persuasion or another, no mixtures. Abbey is Conservative (2 seats), Borrowell and St. John’s belong to the Liberal Democrats (7 seats), while Park Hill and Dalehouse, are all Green (8 seats). This election saw the first ever Green party members elected to the council. The first time any Green candidates stood was back in 2003, and more recently at by-elections in 2017 and 2021. One of the 2003 candidates was Philippa Austin, who was elected in Park Hill at this years poll.
Incredibly, the Conservatives lost a total of 13 seats, which many people believed could never happen in Kenilworth, but it did. Kenilworth is ‘swinging’ to the left.
Long-serving councillor, George Illingworth (pictured) was one of the 13 Tory casualties. He was un-successful in new Dalehouse ward, finishing sixth of ten candidates.
He was first elected in Abbey ward in 2003, and became Mayor in 2012-13.
‘Paper Candidate’ Mayor
Many new members contested the election as ‘paper candidates’, one of which was Peter Jones (pictured) who put his name down in Dalehouse ward due to a ‘spare space’ being available, and he was duly elected in second place, well clear of his Conservative rivals. He also became Mayor in 2021-22, not bad for a paper candidate!
Kenilworth Town Councillors
8 Greens (Jones, Firth, Drew, Kennedy, A. Dearing, J. Dearing, Austin, Barry)
7 Lib-Dems (K. Dickson, R. Dickson, Hyde, Cooke, Chalmers, Worrall, Milton)
2 Conservatives (Cooke, Coker)
Mayors
2019-20 Alison Firth
2020-21 Richard Dickson
2021-22 Peter Jones
2022-23 Samantha Louden-Cooke (pictured)
Town Clerk – Maggie Field
(photo courtesy of the Kenilworth History & Archaeology Society)