Cllr Fran Wilson is stepping down as leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Maidstone council, but the decision is not directly related to the party's slightly lacklustre performance at last week's council elections.

It has emerged that it was decided at meeting of party members last February that Cllr Wilson would give way at the end of this civic year in favour of Cllr Martin Cox.

Cllr Wilson, who is 75, has led the party for 12 years and has represented High Street Ward for the Lib Dems since topping the polls in a by-election in 1995.

She has also been leader on the council twice: for one year in 2006 and then again for the past three years.

Known as a hard-working ward councillor and leader, she has frequently put in 60-hour weeks at her council office and attending meetings.

She has been known for her inclusive, non-confrontational leadership style, attempting to bring all parties together during what has been a sequence of hung councils.

One of the biggest changes she pushed for was a return to the committee system of governance, rather than the cabinet member mode. She saw this as more democratic, giving all councillors a role in decision-making, instead of just half-a-dozen privileged cabinet members.

Cllr Wilson said: "It was time to hand the baton on to somebody younger.

"I've put my heart and soul into being leader of the council. I'm now 75, and my husband is 82. It's time I spent a little more time with my family."

She will continue to represent High Street for the next year, the remainder of her term of office, but may then not seek re-election in 2019.

Martin Cox, who represents East Ward, has been a councillor since 2011.

Meanwhile the Conservative group are having their own meeting this weekend to determine whether they want their current leader, Cllr John Perry, to continue in that role.

Following the elections, Maidstone is once again a hung council. The leader of either the Lib Dem or the Tories could emerge as the new leader of the council, depending on which of them the smaller parties decide to support.