Maidstone council could revert to full council elections every four years, if a motion before the full council tomorrow (Wednesday) is agreed.

At present one third of the council’s 55 seats is contested each year for three years. On the fourth year, the Kent County Council elections are held.

New council leader Annabelle Blackmore (Con) said she was “strongly in favour” of the change saying she believed it would help voters to engage with local politics.

She said: “Getting people to take an interest in local politics is very difficult and people grow tired of elections every year.”

The council also has its eye on the potential cash savings of holding one election instead of three, which might amount to as much as £200,000 over the four-year life of a council.

In September, 2010, a survey of residents suggested that 71% of the 22,900 people who responded supported four-yearly elections. But at a subsequent council meeting, in December 2010, the change was rejected because it did not get the two-thirds majority necessary to alter the council’s constitution, although it was supported by a simple majority of councillors with 27 in favour and 24 against.

Swale Borough Council on the other hand did vote in 2010 to switch from yearly elections to full council elections, starting from 2011.

If a motion for the change is accepted by Maidstone this time, it is likely there would be a new election for all the council in 2016.

It is suggested that 2015, when there will be a General Election, was not possible.