The Conservatives have been left in control of just one Hertfordshire district council after the local elections 2023.

Before the vote on Thursday, May 4, the party was in control of five lower-tier authorities in the county – Broxbourne, Dacorum, East Hertfordshire, Hertsmere and Welwyn Hatfield.

But with votes from 10 Herts authorities tallied up, the party has only been able to keep hold of Broxbourne Borough Council in the south-east of the county.

The Liberal Democrats gained control of Dacorum Borough Council in the west, where national party leader Sir Ed Davey launched his local election campaign earlier this year.

The Greens became the largest party on East Herts Council, but no party met the 25-out-of-50 seat threshold to take a majority, so the party has fallen into a scenario known as No Overall Control.

Hertsmere and Welwyn Hatfield have also fallen into No Overall Control, which means the leading party could rule as a minority, or two or more parties could agree to a coalition.

Elsewhere in the county, the Liberal Democrats held onto their majorities in St Albans, Three Rivers and Watford.

Labour's majority at Stevenage Borough Council remains unchanged, and North Herts Council – where Labour and the Liberal Democrats ruled as a coalition – will stay under No Overall Control.

Conservative leader says no vote is 'taken for granted'

Lewis Cocking, who represents Wormley and Turnford ward, is the Conservative leader of Broxbourne Borough Council.

"We never take a vote for granted," he said.

"We run a good council with low council tax.

"We are over the moon here.

"We work hard every year – not just on the election campaign but on our town centres and making sure people can live and work in Broxbourne.

"Our administration is making major investments into the borough, and it's a really exciting time to live here – with spades in the ground for regeneration in Hoddesdon Town Centre, Cheshunt Old Pond and Hollywood's Sunset Studios in Waltham Cross, and lots of new housing in a place which needs it.

"My colleagues work incredibly hard for their constituents."

Hemel Hempstead Adeyfield East councillor Andrew Williams has led a Conservative majority at Dacorum Borough Council since 1999.

After 24 years, he is set to hand power to the Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Williams said: "It's a disappointment, really.

"We've run excellent services, we have a vision for Dacorum, and you like to think you are doing your best, but that did not come through this time.

"The simple message is that 'it's time for change' without knowing what change is has resonated.

"The Liberal Democrats did not publish anything in their manifesto about what they are going to do locally.

"They spoke about cost of living and GP services, but they are not local issues and are affected by the national picture."

'We've still got a Tory government' say Lib Dems

Adeyfield East councillor Ron Tindall is the Liberal Democrat Group leader at Dacorum Borough Council.

"Despite being a Liberal Democrat council, we are still going to have a Tory government, so until we see some movement at that end, it is still going to be a difficult period," he said.

"Obviously, I am delighted.

"The efforts and hard work of tens of activists, campaigners and volunteers have achieved this result.

"A lot of local people have said clearly 'we need change', and change we have.

"We have got to make sure our residents are being heard, and that our administration can help them when they need it."

Cllr Tindall said agreeing a new set of planning rules will be at the top of his agenda.

"This time 'round, we have got to get the balance of housing right," he said.

"We want to listen to the residents and make sure residents have the opportunity to shape planning rules in their areas."

In East Herts, the Lib Dems picked up 10 seats – up from six at the previous election.

Helen Campbell, who will be the Lib Dems' candidate in Hertford and Stortford at the next general election, said: "The Liberal Democrats have made fantastic gains in Bishop's Stortford and are a powerful force on East Herts Council.

"Across the Hertford and Stortford constituency, residents have been telling me how fed up they are of the Conservatives for taking them for granted.

"The Liberal Democrats look forward to turning large parts of Hertfordshire yellow in the next general election."

Labour hails 'fantastic' result before general election

The Labour Party made gains throughout Hertfordshire at the local elections 2023.

The party has a presence in Dacorum Borough Council for the first time since they were wiped out in 2019.

Labour also made gains in East Herts, Hertsmere and Welwyn Hatfield.

Andrew Lewin will be Labour's candidate in Welwyn Hatfield at the next general election, and said the local election result sets a "positive tone" ahead of a general election – due before 2025.

He said: "It's a fantastic result for the Labour Party here.

"Hertfordshire has been thought of as safe Conservative territory, but really, it's marginal."

Mr Lewin added: "We had housing at the top of our manifesto.

"We have got to build the right sort of housing – and the Labour Party is advocating for a lot more social housing in particular.

"We have got to find a way of supporting people who are in a situation where they are looking for a home, but can't afford to rent or buy, and we need to support people in need of housing.

"Town centres is also in focus, and we really want to make good on our pledge to make parking free on Small Business Saturdays – that is a priority for us."

Mr Lewin said it is "too early" to say what a No Overall Control scenario for Welwyn Hatfield looks like, and whether a coalition had been agreed.

Greens welcome 'mixed, democratic combination of parties'

The Greens made gains from the Lib Dems in Three Rivers' Dickinsons ward, and St Albans' Clarence.

In East Herts, the party now has 19 out of 50 seats and is the largest political group on the authority.

Ben Crystall, who has represented Hertford Bengeo since 2019, said: "I'm just stunned.

"It was in our game plan to aim for about 20 or 21 seats, but we never thought we would realistically hit 10 or 11.

"We're really, really delighted.

"It's a historic day for residents in Hertford and East Herts who are getting a switch from complete Tory domination to a fairly mixed, democratic combination of parties.

"It should be good for everyone.

"There's been a change in the last decade where, when one party dominates at all three levels – town, district and county – they don't actually have to listen so much.

"That's probably changed tonight.

"We will hear from residents and what they want.

"It's clear they have had enough of towns that are struggling and rivers full of pollution.

"They want clean air and they want their green spaces protected.

"They are the kind of things which will be taken much more seriously than they have been up until now."