New faces take their seats after election shake-up at Dover District Council

Dover District Council

With a third of Dover District Councillors taking their seats in the council chamber for the first time, and the first Labour-led administration since 2003, a new look Dover District Council met for its annual meeting on 17 May 2023.

Labour control

Labour took control of Dover District Council at the local elections on 4 May 2023 winning 17 of the 32 seats and marking the first Labour-led administration in the district for twenty years.

Key leadership roles for women

Ten councillors were elected to Dover District Council for the first time with women now accounting for a quarter of the seats. Women also assume key leadership roles at the Council with half of the seats on the new-look Cabinet.

New Leader of the Council, Cllr Kevin Mills said: “This is a new Council in every respect with new members and more women on both Council and in Cabinet roles. This reflects a clear vote for change in the district. It’s a Council that is more representative of local people and we’re excited to get to work and to deliver on local priorities.”

The new Council elected Cllr Gordon Cowan as Chairman of the Council to officiate at full Council meetings and to represent the district as the civic head of the Council.

New cabinet and shadow cabinet posts were also confirmed at the meeting.