A Tory councillor found to have behaved “inappropriately” to two women during committee meetings may stand down at the next election.

Cllr Alan Marsh, who has represented Herne and Sturry since 2005, was temporarily suspended by his party last year following a standards hearing.

He is one of a number of members on Kent County Council (KCC) who LDRS understands have decided they may leave County Hall. He says his health “is not so good”.

The ruling Conservative group has 61 seats out of 81 but many backbenchers feel they are likely to lose about half of those in May 2025, which may not be enough to form another administration.

KCC received two complaints that Cllr Marsh, who polled 60% of the vote in 2021, made them feel uncomfortable during interactions at committee meetings.

As a result of the findings, he attended training and the whip was restored in the latter half of 2023.

Cllr Marsh’s profile was listed as an independent for many months after the 2022 allegations.

He told LDRS: “The fact is I haven’t decided. It depends. The fact is that my health is not so good at the moment – so it will depend on that. Lots of people have asked me to stand again.”

Cllr Marsh was once chairman of the influential planning committee but is now rarely seen at County Hall, except when the full council meets.

The authority’s cross-party standards committee considered allegations made against Cllr Marsh when they met in January last year.

One female complainant alleged the councillor asked for her private phone number – and also commented on her age and appearance at a meeting in 2022.

Another woman claimed Cllr Marsh had commented on her clothes and appearance, asked about her age and stood very close to her.

She also alleged that after a committee meeting in January 2022, he moved her wedding bands around her finger while holding her hand.

But Cllr Marsh claimed he interacted with both women “in order to be friendly but remained professional throughout”.

The committee's report stated: “The panel determined there was no sexual motivation in this behaviour but noted that there was an inherent power imbalance between Mr Marsh and the complainant and this contributed to the behaviour being inappropriate.”

The findings concluded in May 2023 published Cllr Marsh had breached the code of conduct in both allegations made by the two women.

He was suspended from the Conservative group at County Hall for 21 days but later had the whip reinstated.

A number of councillors have indicated they are unlikely to fight the next election.

Among them is thought to be Cllr Susan Carey in the Tory stronghold of Elham Valley, which is likely to be a target for the Green Party. Education cabinet member Rory Love, who has a 21 vote majority in nearby Folkestone, could be interested in the vacancy left behind. Cllr Carey was approached for comment.

Cllr Paul Cooper, who has represented Maidstone South since 2017, is leaving because he already has a busy career and a portfolio at Maidstone Borough Council to manage.

Maidstone rural west’s representative, Cllr Simon Webb, will be a popular seat for Tory candidates, as he secured a 60% vote share in 2021.

Cranbrook’s Cllr Sean Holden and Bryan Sweetland (Gravesham Rural), who will take over as KCC chairman in May, have told colleagues they are not standing again.

LDRS understands there are many more who have not yet declared their intentions.

One senior Tory backbencher said: "We reckon we're on course for a bit of a drubbing next time and people are leaving for that reason and a load of other reasons, too.

“If we get thumped, there may be a way for the Lib Dems, Labour and the Greens to stitch together some sort of a coalition..”

"We're over a year out and you don't want to start hares running in the marginal divisions. There is a feeling that we could lose half our seats.

"There are divisions where well-known faces are standing aside and the new person standing in their place doesn't necessarily get the personal vote share.

"If we get thumped, there may be a way for the Lib Dems, Labour and the Greens to stitch together some sort of a coalition if no one emerges as the dominant party."