Next year the political environment in Kent is set to see a lot of changes not only with the Brexit deadline looming but also elections for local government.

All 12 boroughs and districts and Medway council will open up polling stations on May 2.

The vast majority will have all their seats up for grabs with the exception of Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone councils, where a third of councillors will face re-election.

While the official notice of who’s running is not set to announced until March, predictions can be made based on whether councillors plan to run again.

Numerous elected members at Medway Council have announced their intentions to stand down claiming late-night meetings have become “so vicious” and “toxic”.

Cllrs Glyn Griffiths, Julie Shaw and Paul Godwin (all Lab) told the Local Democracy Reporting Service how they do not plan to run in the upcoming elections.

Conservative councillor in charge of children’s services, Cllr Andrew Mackness, shared his plans to step away from public life to focus on his family and business in a Facebook post last week.

However these retirements may not greatly affect the political makeup of the unitary authority as the tories currently control around 65% of the seats.

Most councils in Kent are led by the Local Conservatives with the exception of Maidstone Borough Council with a Liberal Democrat and Independent coalition and in Gravesham where 12 former Tories formed their own group.

Cllr Martin Cox could potentially lose his position as leader in Maidstone as six Liberal Democrats and two independents are up for re-election.

However the Conservatives will be fighting to keep 11 of their 25 spots at the council.

In Gravesham the council is led by Cllr David Turner, who left the Conservative party after he was deselected for the upcoming elections.

He continued as the figurehead of the local authority despite only having 12 members in his Gravesham Independent Conservatives group.

He was allowed to maintain power after the Labour group abstained from a vote of no confidence brought by his former Tory colleagues earlier this year.

Cllr Turner and his group has said they do not plan to run for election next year so this could shift the balance of the council.

The political balance in Thanet has changed since the last elections in 2015, when Thanet became the first district council to be led by Ukip.

However Conservative Cllr Bob Bayford took the mantle as council leader from Chris Wells, who resigned as leader of Ukip in February following a clash over the former Manston airport when 12 of his group’s councillors defected.

The Tories have the majority with 22 members, but at the next election this could all change.

The opposition in Dover changed earlier this year following allegations of bullying in the Labour party.

Former Labour leader Cllr Mike Eddy joined the Green party until he formed a Progressive group with ousted Cllr Paul Walker (Lab), who was suspended due to a race row.

While the Conservatives have a safe majority with 24 councillors, this could all change in May depending on how the Brexit deal sways opinions of those living at the gateway to Europe.

Residents in the Folkestone and Hythe district may double check their ballots as this will be the first elections since their name change from Shepway.

Conservatives in Tonbridge and Malling and Sevenoaks should be able to rest easy as both groups secured 48 seats in 2015.

Ashford and Swale councils and Canterbury City Council also have strong Conservative followings.

Conservative leader of Dartford Borough Council, Cllr Jeremy Kite, also holds a comfortable position and will continue as a county councillor regardless.

However all eyes will be on Cllr Tracy Moore, cabinet member for economic development at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, in May.

Due to controversy surrounding a decision to build a new civic centre in Calverley Grounds, her position at the local authority will be under close scrutiny.

Following the decision, Cllr Moore, who backed the development, claims she has been a victim of trolls but hopes her experience will not deter people from diverse backgrounds from running in the upcoming elections.

To find out if you have what it takes to stand, the Local Government Association has tips and advice on their website beacouncillor.co.uk