Where are local elections happening in the South of England and why have so many been cancelled?
The local elections are almost upon us but in many parts of the South and South East they are not going ahead as planned.
The government has delayed polling day in a number of areas, so that groups of councils can join a fast-track programme to get more devolved powers from Westminster.
It means many county councils in our region will not have full elections this year, with elected councillors' terms of office extended into 2026.
However, Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Kent were not included in the government's devolution priority programme and so elections there are going ahead as planned on Thursday (1 May).
Ministers agreed to requests from the following county councils to delay their elections: Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex and Hampshire. Elections to the unitary council on the Isle of Wight were also postponed.
This was to hold public consultations on reorganising councils and introducing directly-elected mayors. The plans would eventually end two tiers of local council – county and district – in areas which still have them.
In the South East, county council elections have been called off in Essex and Sussex but are going ahead in Kent, as ITV News Meridian's Kit Bradshaw explains.
Polling stations open at 7am on Thursday (1 May) and close at 10pm. A valid form of photo identification is required in order to vote.
A number of councils across the country are also holding by-elections on 1 May. You can enter your postcode on the Electoral Commission website to see if elections are happening where you live.
Wiltshire and Buckinghamshire are unitary authorities, where one council runs all major local services. Whereas Oxfordshire and Kent have county councils, which run transport, social care and education. District and borough councils run other local services.
All the areas where elections are being held in our region are not counting the ballot papers overnight, with counting starting on Friday (2 May).
Kent County Council
The Conservatives have run England's largest county council since 1997. Last time, in 2021, the Tories won 62 of the 81 seats, ahead of Labour (7), Lib Dems (6), Greens (4) and Independents (2). Defections and by-elections since then have reduced the Tories standing to a still healthy 55 of 81 seats.
Reform UK are hopeful of winning seats on KCC this time, with the Greens, Lib Dems and independents also optimistic about increasing their representation. Challenges from more than one party could see the Conservatives lose overall control.
Medway is covered by a separate unitary council and not involved in KCC elections. The declaration of results is planned for 7pm on Friday.
Oxfordshire County Council
The Liberal Democrats are the largest party but do not have an overall majority, currently holding 20 of 63 seats. They have run the council since 2021 in a joint administration with other parties, with the Conservatives the main opposition.
Labour and the Greens were both initially part of a Lib Dem coalition. But Labour left the administration in 2023, with the Lib Dems and Greens running a minority administration since then.
Boundary changes since the last elections will see the number of county council seats increase from 63 to 69. The Lib Dems are hoping to take overall control, with results declared at 5pm on Friday.
Wiltshire Council
The Conservatives have enjoyed a majority on this unitary authority since the turn of the millennium and currently hold 57 of the 98 seats. The Tories' main challengers this year are the Liberal Democrats, who hope to build on their current tally of 29 seats.
Swindon is covered by a separate unitary council and not involved in elections to Wiltshire Council. The declaration of results is expected at 6pm on Friday.
Buckinghamshire Council
The Conservatives have enjoyed a majority on Buckinghamshire Council (and its predecessor county council) since 1974 and currently have 105 of the 147 seats.
Boundary changes at this election mean the council is being cut in size to 97 seats, so the Tories are guaranteed to see a drop in numbers, though they are likely to remain in control. The other parties are all hopeful of gaining representation here, with results declared at 3pm on Friday.
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