Last year’s election at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, where 16 of the 48 seats were due to be balloted, had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
The postponed election will now go ahead on May 6, as will the planned County Council election, in which all 81 seats at Kent County Council will be put before voters.
Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, who today (Friday, February 5) announced that his intended increase in Council Tax to pay for new police officers has been approved by Kent’s Police and Crime Panel, is also due to stand for re-election in May.
Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution, Chloe Smith, said: “We are publishing a detailed plan to deliver May’s elections in a safe and secure way.
“This is backed up by additional funding for councils, and practical changes to electoral laws to help both voters and candidates.
“Democracy should not be cancelled because of Covid. More than ever, local people need their say as we build back better, on issues ranging from local roads, to safer streets, to the level of council tax.
“As the Government rolls out the vaccine to the most vulnerable, we will be able to leave lockdown and open up our country safely again. We will work with political parties to ensure that these important elections are free and fair.”
