Now is the time for people to put their name forward for the elections in May.

There will be 16 seats contested on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council as one third of the 48 seats go to the polls.

They are: Benenden and Cranbrook, Culverden, Frittenden and Sissinghurst, Goudhurst and Lamberhurst, Hawkhurst and Sandhurst.

Also in Paddock Wood East, Paddock Wood West, Pantiles and St Mark's, Park, Pembury, and Rusthall.

And in Sherwood, Southborough and High Brooms, Southborough North, Speldhurst and Bidborough, and St John's

At present, they are held by four Conservative, four Independents, three Liberal Democrats, three Tunbridge Wells Alliance and two Labour.

Most of the political parties will have already selected their candidates, but there is no bar to anyone putting their name forward as an independent.

Nor is there any fee. Unlike the Parliamentary elections, where candidates have to pay a deposit of £500 which is lost if they do not receive 5% of the vote, there is no such requirement for local elections.

In fact, the process is easier than ever this year, because in a change to the regulations, you only need the support of two people, a proposer and seconder, to put your name forward – previously it was 10 electors.

You do not have to nominate an agent – you can do that yourself. The only cost will be any leaflets that you chose to print and deliver.

If you think you have something to offer, the paperwork and necessary guidance can be found on a Government website here.

Tunbridge Wells council's electoral services department is also always ready and willing to give advice. They can be contacted on 01892 526121.

Voting will be on May 4, but all nomination papers have to be submitted at least a month before, by hand, to the council by 4pm on April 4.

So don't leave it too long before making up your mind.

In a further change to the regulations, all voters this year will have to show voter ID or an authorised Voter Authority Certificate.

No-one quite knows at the stage how that will affect turn-out and voting, perhaps giving some surprise results.

All councillors currently get paid a basic allowance of £5,500 a year.

There are also elections in nine parish and town councils in the borough on the same day, a total of 107 seats.

All the positions on the following councils are due to be contested: Bidborough, Cranbrook and Sissinghurst, Frittenden, Goudhurst, Paddock Wood Town, Pembury, Rusthall, Southborough Town, and Speldhurst.

Some parish councils pay their members a small attendance allowance, others do not.

Many parishes do not attract sufficient candidates to fill all their vacancies.

In those communities where the number of candidates is fewer than or only just equal to the number of seats, each candidate is automatically declared "elected" without anyone having to vote.

The nomination process for parishes is similar to that of the borough elections, and the forms can be found here.

Again, make sure your nomination is submitted before April 4.