On Thursday 4 May 2023, voters in Henley-on-Thames headed to the polls for the parish (town) elections that coincided with broader local elections across England. The results, announced Friday 5 May, reaffirmed the dominance of the Henley Residents’ Group (HRG), which secured an unprecedented victory.

Election Takeaways:

• Record-breaking win: HRG clinched 13 of the 16 Town Council seats—a new high following their 2019 success when they won 12 seats
• Conservative representation halved: Only two seats went to Conservative candidates—Laurence Plant and Gavin Jackson.
• Independent presence: One seat was won by independent Dave Eggleton.

Voices from the Campaign:

• Gill Dodds, HRG founder and returning councillor after a 12-year hiatus, called it “a landslide,” emphasising the campaign’s strong community ties and follow-through on promises
• Kellie Hinton, re-elected in South ward, shared: “It’s a fantastic result… a clear indication of what the people of Henley want… they very clearly voted for the Henley Residents’ Group”
• Stefan Gawrysiak, elected in North ward, praised the new candidates and grassroots democratic support: “We are Henley residents just doing right by Henley… we really thank the residents … for their trust in us.”

Ward-by-Ward Snapshot:

South Ward

• HRG winners: Kellie Hinton, Sarah Miller, Michelle Thomas, Ian Reissmann, Glen Lambert, Tony Hoskins, Rob Romans.
• Conservative: Laurence Plant.
• Vote details: Hinton topped the poll with 1,121 votes (11.76%)

North Ward

• HRG winners: Stefan Gawrysiak, Gill Dodds, Tom Buckley, Rory Hunt, Sara Kandiah, Simon Paine.
• Independent: Dave Eggleton.
• Conservative: Gavin Jackson.
• Example votes: Gawrysiak led with 1,107 votes (11.79%)

Looking Ahead

• Policy focus: Expect HRG-led initiatives around town planning, community events, sustainable initiatives, and maintaining Henley’s civic amenities.
• Council dynamics: With near-total control, HRG can steer major decisions—but must continue effective engagement to maintain public confidence.