Council by-election · Thursday, 8 October 2026

Amber Valley Borough: Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley ward

5 candidates. Same page for each, in ballot-paper order.

5candidates for one seat

2sourced positions

2with something published

2named sources

1. Andrew Michael Bayton
Labour Party

2. Paul Moss
Conservative and Unionist Party

3. Edward Hudson Oakenfull
Restore Britain

4. Bess Saunders
Green Party

5. Juliette Nicola Stevens
Reform UK

At the election of Thursday, 4 May 2023, this seat was won by 93 votes (1.2% of votes cast); turnout was 40%. Past results describe the past; each election is a new contest.

See the 5 candidates In a hurry? Two-minute guide →

In this ward 5 candidates from 5 parties or independent slots are standing. Parties do not stand everywhere; here is how to find out whether yours stands nearby.

This is a council seat. A councillor's win changes what the council decides: council tax, housing repairs and allocations, planning, social care, schools admissions, parking, bins, libraries. It does not change national tax, benefits or NHS policy, so this page shows only positions published for this council election, and no national party pledges are implied.

Sourced positions found for 2 of 5 candidates

Compare candidates side by side

You're voting for

Your local councillor

Councillors sit on the council that runs services where you live. They set the council's budget and council tax, and decide local planning applications. Here, for Amber Valley Borough: Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley ward.

What this office decides

Planning. Whether new homes, extensions and developments get permission.
Waste and streets. Bins, recycling, street cleaning, fly-tipping.
Council tax. The level you pay, within limits set nationally.
Social care. In county and unitary councils, care for older and disabled people.
Parks and libraries. Opening, funding, closing.
Council housing. Repairs, allocations and, in many areas, homelessness.

What it does not

NHS policy and waiting times. Parliament and the NHS.
Income tax and benefits. Parliament.
Immigration. Parliament.
Policing policy. The Home Office and your Police and Crime Commissioner or mayor.
Schools' curriculum. Government and, for academies, their trusts.

Candidates often campaign on things their office cannot change. That is not dishonest in itself — an MP can press a council, a councillor can lobby government — but it is worth knowing which is which. Summarised from the Local Government Association and UK Parliament descriptions of each role.

How this vote is counted: first past the post. One cross; the candidate with the most votes wins.Worked example

Every ballot with one cross is counted for that candidate. The one with the most votes wins, even without a majority. Example: A 4,000, B 3,900, C 2,100. A wins with 40% of the vote; the 60% cast for others elect nobody. There are no second preferences; a vote for a candidate who does not win has no further effect.

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TopicSearch every position on this ballot

Showing 5 of 5 candidates. Everyone on the ballot, in ballot-paper order.

Numbered as on the ballot paper. Open a candidate to see their positions on the nine topics, with sources. Until a household is described, only positions that apply to everyone are counted.

1Andrew Michael Bayton

Labour Party

ShowHide

Money —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.

Open Andrew's page →

Where this information comes from

Positions are quoted from the candidate's or party's own published material and official records, each with its source. Candidates and their agents can also submit sourced statements, published as written once we confirm they appear at the cited address. Not yet invited to submit a statement: we have no contact address. If you are this candidate, use the link below. Submit a statement.

Published positions on the nine topics

Nothing published that we could source, yet. A councillor sits on the council that sets council tax and decides planning, housing repairs and allocations, social care, bins, parking, libraries and, in most areas, school admissions. It cannot change national tax, benefits or NHS policy.

Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

1Andrew Michael Bayton

Labour Party

2Paul Moss

The Conservative Party Candidate

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Money —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

No statement to voters supplied to Democracy Club.

Stood before

Derbyshire council, Ripley West Crich ward, May 2025 (Conservative and Unionist Party) — not elected
Amber Valley council, Ripley ward, May 2023 (Conservative and Unionist Party) — not elected
Derbyshire council, Ripley West And Heage ward, May 2021 (Conservative and Unionist Party) — elected
Amber Valley council, Ripley ward, May 2019 (Conservative and Unionist Party) — elected

Previous candidacies from Democracy Club. A record of standing, not a judgement.

Open Paul's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

2Paul Moss

Conservative and Unionist Party

3Edward Hudson Oakenfull

Restore Britain

ShowHide

Money —Housing —Health —Education —Environment —Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —0 in total

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

Born in Derby. I am aged 56 years of age and have lived most of my life in Belper and Duffield where attended Ecclesbourne school for my A levels, now living on a farm in Denby.

My early career was as an estate agent working in the local area. The past 15 years I have been self employed as a property developer and investor.

I am passionate about sports and keeping fit, my main sport is tennis where I reached 47 in the seniors over 45's world rankings and captained England in the Seniors Four Nations competition. Until recently I was a council member for tennis main governing body, STGB. I love walking the amazing trails and footpaths we have in the beautiful Derbyshire Dales.

I have been despairing at how our country has been run for decades and for the love of my community and country decided that I needed to make a stand and will be trying all I can to be elected to represent and improve the lives of all the people in my constituency.

Statement to voters supplied by the candidate to Democracy Club, retrieved 2026-09-19. Reproduced unedited.

Stood before

Derbyshire council, Ripley West Crich ward, May 2025 (Independent) — not elected
UK Parliament, Derbyshire Dales, July 2024 (Reform UK) — not elected
Amber Valley council, Crich South Wingfield ward, May 2023 (Reform UK) — not elected

Previous candidacies from Democracy Club. A record of standing, not a judgement.

Open Edward's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

Are you this candidate, or their agent? Send us a sourced statement; it is published as written.
Look yourself: the council's election notices · the party's site · leaflets archived for this area (electionleaflets.org, a Democracy Club project).

3Edward Hudson Oakenfull

Restore Britain

4Bess Saunders

Green Party

ShowHide

Money —Housing —Health —Education —Environment 1Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —1 in total

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

After decades working in the NHS, Bess has seen first-hand the pressure on our public services. Now she’s ready to stand up for our local communities and make sure residents’ voices are heard.

Bess has been knocking on doors and talking to residents across Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook and Horsley to find out what matters most to residents.

One message has come through loud and clear: people are deeply concerned about development on our countryside — particularly the impact of solar farms, new electricity pylons and housing developments.

🌱 Bess will make sure local people have a strong voice on these issues. This by-election is your chance to choose a councillor who will listen, speak up and stand up for our communities.

💚 Vote Green on October 8th

Statement to voters supplied by the candidate to Democracy Club, retrieved 2026-09-19. Reproduced unedited.

Stood before

Amber Valley council, Codnor Langley Mill Aldercar ward (by-election), January 2026 (Green Party) — not elected

Previous candidacies from Democracy Club. A record of standing, not a judgement.

Open Bess's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

Candidate statements and leaflets are published as written; we check they are real, not that they are true. Switch between summaries and exact quotations with the control above the list.

Money and cost of living

Nothing published on this yet.

Housing and property

Nothing published on this yet.

Healthcare and social care

Nothing published on this yet.

Education and universities

Nothing published on this yet.

Environment, climate and energy

What this candidate says

Candidate's own words · Bess Saunders (candidate), via Democracy Club · Statement to voters: Bess Saunders

Their position

people are deeply concerned about development on our countryside — particularly the impact of solar farms, new electricity pylons and housing developments.

What that means

Says residents are concerned about development on the countryside, in particular solar farms, new electricity pylons and housing, and she will give local people a strong voice on these.

Retrieved 2026-09-19.

Immigration and borders

Nothing published on this yet.

Crime, policing and justice

Nothing published on this yet.

Defence, foreign affairs and the EU

Nothing published on this yet.

Equality and rights

Nothing published on this yet.

4Bess Saunders

Green Party

5Juliette Nicola Stevens

Reform UK

ShowHide

Money —Housing —Health —Education —Environment 1Immigration —Crime —Defence & EU —Equality —1 in total

Democracy Club profile Party site

In their own words

I am honoured and proud to have been selected by Reform UK to stand in the Amber Valley Borough Council by‑election for the Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook and Horsley ward on 8 October 2026, following the resignation of the previous Conservative Party councillor.

I am Interim Chair of Reform UK Amber Valley Branch, and a serving councillor at Denby Parish Council. With many years of experience fighting for people as a Town, Borough and County Councillor, I really hope that people will support me. I am a farmer and am very active in the community fighting to stop the loss of our agricultural land due to solar farms and housing on the green belt.

I've been campaigning and running drop in sessions to help people to fight against the enormous pylons which threaten our beautiful Amber Valley, and am campaigning for the National Grid to put the supply off shore or underground instead, or along the M1 motorway.

Please support me so I can help protect and improve Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook and Horsley by being a voice for you at Amber Valley Borough Council.

Statement to voters supplied by the candidate to Democracy Club, retrieved 2026-09-19. Reproduced unedited.

Stood before

Derbyshire council, Horsley ward (by-election), January 2026 (Reform UK) — not elected
Derbyshire council, Matlock ward, May 2025 (Reform UK) — not elected

Previous candidacies from Democracy Club. A record of standing, not a judgement.

Campaign leaflets archived

None archived yet for this campaign.

3 from this candidate's earlier campaigns

Earlier campaign · 2025-04-15

From electionleaflets.org (Democracy Club). Leaflets are the party's own material, published as delivered; we check they are real, not that they are true. Earlier leaflets are from previous contests and may not reflect current positions.

Open Juliette's page →

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

Candidate statements and leaflets are published as written; we check they are real, not that they are true. Switch between summaries and exact quotations with the control above the list.

Money and cost of living

Nothing published on this yet.

Housing and property

Nothing published on this yet.

Healthcare and social care

Nothing published on this yet.

Education and universities

Nothing published on this yet.

Environment, climate and energy

What this candidate says

Candidate's own words · Juliette Nicola Stevens (candidate), via Democracy Club · Statement to voters: Juliette Nicola Stevens

Their position

I am a farmer and am very active in the community fighting to stop the loss of our agricultural land due to solar farms and housing on the green belt.

What that means

Says she is campaigning to stop the loss of agricultural land to solar farms and green-belt housing, and for the National Grid to put new supply offshore or underground rather than on pylons.

Explain this (1 term)

Green Belt: Land around some cities where building is tightly restricted, to stop urban sprawl.

Plain-English definitions of what the term means, not whether the policy is a good idea.

Retrieved 2026-09-19.

Immigration and borders

Nothing published on this yet.

Crime, policing and justice

Nothing published on this yet.

Defence, foreign affairs and the EU

5Juliette Nicola Stevens

Reform UK

Photos: shown where one exists on Democracy Club (5 of 5 here); initials otherwise. A missing photo says nothing about the candidate. · How much sourced material we found per party · Why isn't my party standing here?

Last time in this seat: election of Thursday, 4 May 2023

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Linsey Farnsworth (elected)	Labour and Co-operative Party	1,158	15%
Trevor Ainsworth (elected)	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,065	13.8%
Julie Whitmore (elected)	Conservative and Unionist Party	981	12.7%
Matt Murray	Conservative and Unionist Party	930	12.1%
Michael Missett	Labour and Co-operative Party	885	11.5%
Dean Watson	Labour and Co-operative Party	856	11.1%
Matt McGuinness	Green Party	376	4.9%
Kathy Gorman	Green Party	373	4.8%
Matt Waterfall	Reform UK	331	4.3%
Ade Nathan	Reform UK	250	3.2%
Gareth Joseph Alwyne Cresswell	Liberal Democrats	189	2.4%
Sarah Denise Gent	Liberal Democrats	171	2.2%
Chris Gent	Liberal Democrats	150	1.9%

7,715 valid votes, turnout 40%. Result data from Democracy Club (source). Past results describe the past; each election is a new contest.

Amber Valley Borough: Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley ward in numbers

Official open data about the area. It describes the place, not you, and it favours no candidate.

House prices in Amber Valley

Average price £233,295, up 4.8% on a year earlier (July 2026).

Flats and maisonettes: £135,123
Detached houses: £338,239

Source: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index for the local authority (Open Government Licence). A local-authority average; prices within it vary widely.

Recorded crime nearby, July 2026

43 street-level crimes recorded within about a mile of the area's centre.

violent crime: 23
anti social behaviour: 6
criminal damage arson: 4
other theft: 4
public order: 4
drugs: 2

Source: data.police.uk (Open Government Licence). Centroid of the ONS 2024 boundary. Statistics near this point describe the area, not any household. Recorded crime reflects reporting and policing as well as offending; see the ONS guidance in further reading.

Amber Valley Borough: Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley ward in numbers

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Go deeper: independent sources

None of these is affiliated with a party. Where a source campaigns for a position, the label says so. Links open the original site.

Cross-cutting: polling, fact-checking, parliamentary research

Commons Library: constituency data dashboards — House of Commons Library. Parliamentary research service, impartial by statute.
electionleaflets.org: archive of election leaflets, searchable by area — Democracy Club. Civic-technology archive; leaflets are the parties' own material.
Electoral Commission: political finance register (donations, loans, spending) — Electoral Commission. Official register.
Full Fact — Full Fact. Independent fact-checking charity.
House of Commons Library research briefings — House of Commons Library. Parliamentary research service, impartial by statute.
Institute for Government — Institute for Government. Independent think tank on how government works.
Ipsos Issues Index: what the public says matters most — Ipsos. Polling company (monthly, unprompted survey).
LG Inform: council performance and finance data — Local Government Association. Sector body for councils.
Local Elections Archive Project: every council result since 2002 — Andrew Teale. Independent archive from Returning Officers' data, CC BY-SA.
mySociety Local Intelligence Hub: data by constituency — mySociety. Civic-technology charity; non-partisan.
UK Parliament: Commons votes (every division, how each MP voted) — UK Parliament. Official record, Open Parliament Licence.
UK Parliament: petitions, with signatures by constituency — UK Parliament. Official record.

Sources used on this page

Statement to voters: Bess Saunders — Bess Saunders (candidate), via Democracy Club, undated. Retrieved 2026-09-19. 1 quotation.
Statement to voters: Juliette Nicola Stevens — Juliette Nicola Stevens (candidate), via Democracy Club, undated. Retrieved 2026-09-19. 1 quotation.

Candidate lists and nominations: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0). Tax and benefit figures: PolicyEngine UK, open source.

Amber Valley Borough: Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley ward

Your local councillor

What this office decides

What it does not

The ballot paper

1Andrew Michael Bayton

In their own words

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

1Andrew Michael Bayton

2Paul Moss

In their own words

Stood before

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

2Paul Moss

3Edward Hudson Oakenfull

In their own words

Stood before

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

3Edward Hudson Oakenfull

4Bess Saunders

In their own words

Stood before

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

Money and cost of living

Housing and property

Healthcare and social care

Education and universities

Environment, climate and energy

Immigration and borders

Crime, policing and justice

Defence, foreign affairs and the EU

Equality and rights

4Bess Saunders

5Juliette Nicola Stevens

In their own words

Stood before

Campaign leaflets archived

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

Money and cost of living

Housing and property

Healthcare and social care

Education and universities

Environment, climate and energy

Immigration and borders

Crime, policing and justice

Defence, foreign affairs and the EU

5Juliette Nicola Stevens

Amber Valley Borough: Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley ward in numbers

House prices in Amber Valley

Recorded crime nearby, July 2026

Amber Valley Borough: Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & Horsley ward in numbers

Go deeper: independent sources

Sources used on this page

1Andrew Michael Bayton

In their own words

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

2Paul Moss

In their own words

Stood before

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

3Edward Hudson Oakenfull

In their own words

Stood before

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

4Bess Saunders

In their own words

Stood before

Where this information comes from

Published positions on the nine topics

Money and cost of living

Housing and property

Healthcare and social care