Somerset residents will go to the polls in just four weeks to decide who will govern them at a local level until 2027.

Somerset's five existing councils will officially cease to exist in April 2023, with the new unitary authority (dubbed Somerset Council) to take over all their current roles and responsibilities.

Residents will cast their votes across the county on May 5 to elect 110 representatives who will oversee the transition and then represent them for a further four years.

The existing county and district councillors will continue to sit until their respective authorities are dissolved near year.

Since the full list of candidates has now been published (with around 40 per cent being existing county or district councillors), here's your guide to this most unusual of local elections.

What is happening to Somerset's councils?

Somerset currently has three tiers of local government: Somerset County Council – which is responsible for education, transport, adult social care, children's services, looking after rights of way and other duties

Four district councils (Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton & South Somerset) – which are responsible for planning, licensing, environmental health and other duties

Town or parish councils – which are responsible for low-level local work such as park benches, dog poo bins and so on Following a decision by central government in July 2021, the county and district councils will be abolished, turning Somerset into a two-tier system. In their place will be Somerset Council – a new unitary authority combining all the existing powers of the county and district councils into one organisation.

Why are we voting for this council now?

Since then-communities secretary Robert Jenrick MP made his decision, the transition towards the new authority has begun, with a number of public meetings on the transitional process being held.

The county council was due to hold elections in May 2021, but these were postponed in light of the ongoing consultation on the government's proposals.

The new councillors elected to the unitary Somerset Council will take responsibility for all current county council services in their first year – as well as continuing to oversee the transition.

Once the new unitary is officially vested on April 1, 2023, they will serve a further four years before the next election in May 2027.

So, the people you vote for won't be standing around doing nothing – quite the opposite, in fact.

How many people are we voting for?

The election is being conducted on the county council's boundaries – with one small change. Currently, the county council comprises 55 councillors across 54 divisions – with Glastonbury and Street having two councillors between them. For this election, Glastonbury and Street will get their own division – meaning you will elect two councillors from each division to represent you until 2027. You can either vote in person, in the post or by a proxy, just as you can in a general election.

Who is standing in my area?

The list of candidates standing in each division was published late on Wednesday afternoon (April 6).

There are a total of 337 candidates standing in the election, with the Conservatives fielding the most candidates at 109 across all 55 divisions.

The Liberal Democrats – who last controlled the county council in 2009 – have fielded 108 candidates, with several divisions being a straight fight between the two parties.

They are followed by the Green Party (50 candidates) and Labour (45), with 23 standing either as independents or with no affiliation or description.

These independent candidates including members of the Independents for Frome group, but not the Somerset Independents group, which is boycotting the election.

There is also one UKIP candidate, one candidate for the For Britain Party and one candidate for the Freedom Alliance.

Of the 337 candidates, around four in ten (41 per cent) are currently serving as either county or district councillors (with some serving on both) – and eight have previously stood in one of the last three general elections.

Here's a breakdown of all the candidates standing in each division:

Bishop's Hull & Taunton West

Alan Debenham (Green)

Caroline Ellis (Liberal Democrat)

John Hunt (Independent)

Peter Prior-Sankey (Conservative)

Matthew Ravenhill (Labour)

Rosemary Sabel (Liberal Democrat)

Blackdown & Neroche

Sue Buller (Independent)

Michael Dennis (Conservative)

Ross Henley (Liberal Democrat)

Janet Lloyd (Independent)

John Thorne (Conservative)

Sarah Wakefield (Liberal Democrat)

Blackmoor Vale

Hayward Burt (Conservative)

Nicola Clark (Liberal Democrat)

Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat)

William Wallace (Conservative)

Brent

Andrew Broadhurst (Liberal Democrat)

Bob Filmer (Conservative)

Tony Grimes (Conservative)

Jamie Scanlon (Liberal Democrat)

Bridgwater East & Bawdrip

Sarah Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Andy Dingwall (Conservative)

Tony Heywood (Labour)

James Jeffrey (Green)

Lorna King (Liberal Democrat)

Dave Loveridge (Labour)

Diogo Rodriguez (Conservative)

Bridgwater North & Central

Pele Barnes (Conservative)

Hilary Bruce (Labour)

Adrian Nickolls (Liberal Democrat)

Antony Nickolls (Liberal Democrat)

Leigh Redman (Labour)

Ellen Rogers (Conservative)

Bridgwater South

Paul Fermor (Conservative)

Klaus Galietzke (Conservative)

Theo Jupp (Liberal Democrat)

Kathy Pearce (Labour)

Brian Smedley (Labour)

Phil Stone (Liberal Democrat)

Bridgwater West

Lance Duddridge (Conservative)

Taz Haysham (Liberal Democrat)

Mick Lerry (Labour)

Tim Mander (Labour)

Gill Slocombe (Conservative)

Dean Waghorn (Liberal Democrat)

Brympton

Anthony Power (Conservative)

Peter Seib (Liberal Democrat)

Jeny Snell (Liberal Democrat)

Theresa Thomas (Conservative)

Burnham-on-Sea North

Peter Clayton (Conservative)

Kathy Jones (Conservative)

Mike Murphy (Liberal Democrat)

Tony Sutcliffe (Liberal Democrat)

Cannington

Brian Bolt (Conservative)

Mike Caswell (Conservative)

John Critchley (Green)

Steve Darch (Liberal Democrat)

Phil King (Labour)

Jane Sutton (Liberal Democrat)

Siobhan Wilson (Labour)

Castle Cary

Howard Butterfield (Conservative)

Peter Ebsworth (Green)

Henry Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat)

Mike Lewis (Conservative)

Stephen Page (Liberal Democrat)

Chard North

Martin Carnell (Liberal Democrat)

Jason Hawkes (Green)

Jenny Kenton (Liberal Democrat)

John Schofield (Labour)

Martin Wale (Conservative)

Serena Wootton (Green)

Kate Wylie Carrick (Conservative)

Chard South

Jason Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Claire Brown (Liberal Democrat)

Stuart Bull (Conservative)

Tim Eggins (Green)

Adam Loveridge (Green)

Connor Payne (Conservative)

Nigel Pearson (For Britain)

Cheddar

Liz Barrett (Green)

Stewart Conning (Green)

Ben Ferguson (Liberal Democrat)

Graham Godwin-Pearson (Conservative)

Pauline Ham (Liberal Democrat)

Joe Maggs (Labour)

Jeff Savage (Conservative)

Coker

Jane Carter-Uren (Labour)

Mike Hewitson (Liberal Democrat)

Robert Janes (Conservative)

Huw Lawford (Conservative)

Oliver Patrick (Liberal Democrat)

Comeytrowe & Trull

Aimee Cheshire (Conservative)

Habib Farbahi (Liberal Democrat)

Jon Gray (Labour)

Ruth Harmon (Conservative)

Dawn Johnson (Liberal Democrat)

Julian Mellor (Green)

Crewkerne

Steve Ashton (Conservative)

Mike Best (Liberal Democrat)

Kate Limmer (Green)

Noor Limmer (Green)

Paul Maxwell (Liberal Democrat)

Pippa Reynolds (Conservative)

John Shirley (Labour)

Curry Rivel & Langport

Sean Dromgoole (Labour)

Matthew Geen (Green)

Jonathan Munday (Conservative)

Clare Paul (Conservative)

Mike Stanton (Liberal Democrat)

Stephen Tate (Green)

Richard Wilkins (Liberal Democrat)

Dulverton & Exmoor

Scilla Barney (Liberal Democrat)

Robert Jones (Liberal Democrat)

Graham Kennedy (Labour)

Julie Mitchell (Green)

Frances Nicholson (Conservative)

Steve Pugsley (Conservative)

Dunster

Stephen Griffiths (Liberal Democrat)

Katri Hastings (Green)

Marcus Kravis (Liberal Democrat)

Christine Lawrence (Conservative)

David Mansfield (Conservative)

Shanti Roos (Labour)

Frome East

Eve Berry (Conservative)

Shane Collins (Green)

Helen Kay (Green)

Alex Lawrence-Berkeley (Liberal Democrat)

Janine Nash (Liberal Democrat)

Scott Ward (Independents for Frome)

Dan Wood (Conservative)

Frome North

Adam Boyden (Liberal Democrat)

John Clarke (Green)

Christine Cockroft (Liberal Democrat)

Dawn Denton (Conservative)

Lollie Melton (Green)

Dale Spree (Conservative)

Steve Tanner (Independents for Frome)

Frome West

Martin Dimery (Green)

Michael Dunk (Green)

Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrat)

Richard Pinnock (Liberal Democrat)

Mike Ridout (Conservative)

Byron Taylor (Labour)

Hilary Thomas (Conservative)

Glastonbury

Susannah Clemence (Independent)

Nick Cottle (Liberal Democrat)

Jon Cousins (Green)

Susannah Hart (Conservative)

Lillith Osborn (Conservative)

Adam Sen (Liberal Democrat)

Mike Smyth (Green)

Highbridge & Burnham South

Lizzy Ayres (Liberal Democrat)

Ross Baker (Liberal Democrat)

John Cook-Woodman (Conservative)

Alistair Hendry (Conservative)

Roger Keen (Independent)

Neculai Lupu (Independent)

Ben Metcalfe (Labour)

Huntspill

Suria Aujla (Conservative)

Christina Baron (Liberal Democrat)

Martin Dunton (Liberal Democrat)

Alex Glassford (Labour)

Mark Healey (Conservative)

Liz Leavy (Labour)

Ilminster

Roger Bradley (Green)

Ray Buckler (Liberal Democrat)

Karin Cumming (Green)

Val Keitch (Liberal Democrat)

Sue Osborne (Conservative)

Paul Sellers (Labour)

Jo Woodcock (Conservative)

King Alfred

Graham Charles (Green)

David Huxtable (Conservative)

Matt Martin (Liberal Democrat)

Duncan McGinty (Conservative)

Harry Munt (Liberal Democrat)

Lydeard

Clive Martin (Green)

Steve Richards (Conservative)

Mike Rigby (Liberal Democrat)

Paul Sayer (Conservative)

Andrew Sully (Liberal Democrat)

Martock

John Bailey (Liberal Democrat)

Neil Bloomfield (Independent)

Stephen Bower (Conservative)

Tony Capozzoli (Independent)

Gregory Chambers (Labour)

Emily Pearlstone (Liberal Democrat)

Gemma Verdon (Conservative)

Mendip Central and East

Barry Clarke (Conservative)

Philip Ham (Conservative)

Clare Hudson (Liberal Democrat)

Matt Mellen (Green)

Melania Moulding (Labour)

Robert Reed (Liberal Democrat)

Mendip Hills

David Baker (Conservative)

David Hine (Green)

Edric Hobbs (Liberal Democrat)

Tony Robbins (Liberal Democrat)

David Swain (Conservative)

Mendip South

John Parham (Conservative)

Claire Sully (Liberal Democrat)

Alex Wiltshire (Liberal Democrat)

Nigel Woollcombe-Adams (Conservative)

Mendip West

Stuart Kingham (Conservative)

Heather Shearer (Liberal Democrat)

Mandy Thomas-Atkin (Conservative)

Ros Wyke (Liberal Democrat)

Minehead

Benet Allen (Liberal Democrat)

Mandy Chilcott (Conservative)

Andy Hadley (Conservative)

Craig Palmer (Independent)

Jane Scott (Liberal Democrat)

Liam Tucker (Labour)

Terry Venner (Independent)

Monkton & North Curry

Norman Cavill (Conservative)

David Fothergill (Conservative)

Nick O'Donnell (Liberal Democrat)

Andy Pritchard (Green)

Ray Tully (Liberal Democrat)

North Petherton

Anthony Betty (Conservative)

Alan Bradford (Conservative)

John Falkingham (Labour)

Bill Revans (Liberal Democrat)

Genevieve Wark (Labour)

Gary Wong (Liberal Democrat)

Rowbarton & Staplegrove

Dixie Darch (Liberal Democrat)

Greg Garner (Conservative)

Libby Lisgo (Labour)

Derek Perry (Liberal Democrat)

Rod Williams (Conservative)

Shepton Mallet

Clare Adduochio (Labour)

Simon Davies (Conservative)

Bente Height (Conservative)

Garfield Kennedy (Liberal Democrat)

Martin Lovell (Liberal Democrat)

Abi McGuire (Independent)

Gregor Neeve (Green)

Victoria Welsh (Green)

Somerton

David Hall (Conservative)

Tim Kerley (Liberal Democrat)

Keith O'Boyle (Labour)

Peter Richardson (UKIP)

Dean Ruddle (Liberal Democrat)

Lucy Wallace (Conservative)

South Petherton & Islemoor

Stephen Carp (Conservative)

Colin Comben (Green)

Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat)

Michael Fox (Green)

Jo Roundell-Greene (Liberal Democrat)

Sarah Setter (Labour)

Derek Yeomans (Conservative)

Street

Brian Beha (Conservative)

Simon Carswell (Liberal Democrat)

Liz Leyshon (Liberal Democrat)

Terry Napper (Conservative)

Taunton East

Simon Coles (Liberal Democrat)

Stanley Ely (Labour)

Henry Haslam (Conservative)

Tom Linnell (Conservative)

Chris Salter (Green)

Federica Smith-Roberts (Liberal Democrat)

Taunton North

Lee Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Tom Deakin (Liberal Democrat)

Giuseppi Fraschini (Conservative)

Rowan Thorne (Labour)

Brenda Weston (Labour)

Jason Woollacott Conservative)

Taunton South

Jean Allgrove (Conservative)

Fran Hicks (Green)

Ross Leach (Labour)

Joanna Lewin-Harris (Conservative)

Hazel Prior-Sankey (Liberal Democrat)

Fran Smith (Liberal Democrat)

Upper Tone

Roger Habgood (Conservative)

John Hassall (Liberal Democrat)

James Hunt (Conservative)

Dave Mansell (Green)

Michael McGuffie (Labour)

Philip Thorne (Independent)

Gwilym Wren (Independent)

Watchet & Stogursey

Ian Aldridge (Independent)

Craig Coleman (Conservative)

Hugh Davies (Independent)

Guy Denton (Independent)

Jill Dillamore (Liberal Democrat)

Andy Kingston-James (Liberal Democrat)

Edward Martin (Independent)

Chris Morgan (Independent)

Lucy Naylor (Labour)

Loretta Whetlor (Independent)

Rosemary Woods (Conservative)

Wellington

John Ainsworth (Green)

Marcus Barr (Conservative)

Zoe Barr (Conservative)

Andrew Govier (Labour)

Catherine Govier (Labour)

Mark Lithgow (Liberal Democrat)

Wells

Theo Butt Philip (Liberal Democrat)

David Grace (Green)

Richard Greenwell (Conservative)

Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat)

Amanda Phillips (Green)

Harvey Siggs (Conservative)

Wincanton & Bruton

Abigail Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Robin Bastaple (Independent)

Ewan Jones (Green)

Kate Pettemerides (Liberal Democrat)

Tom Power (Conservative)

Lucy Trimnell (Conservative)

Suzanna van Moyland (Labour)

Yeovil Central

Tony Ash (Conservative)

Martin Bailey (Labour)

Alan Flint (Green)

Stephen Hawker (Freedom Alliance – People, Power, Politics)

Andy Kendall (Liberal Democrat)

Andrew Simkins (Green)

Bridge Spender (Conservative)

Dave Woan (Liberal Democrat)

Yeovil East

Mary Ashby Labour)

Teresa Bond (Conservative)

Tony Lock (Liberal Democrat)

Graham Oakes (Liberal Democrat)

Karen Stutz (Green)

Claire Thorne (Conservative)

Yeovil South

Tareth Casey (Independent)

Mark Edwards (Green)

Karl Gill (Liberal Democrat)

Trisha Lawford (Conservative)

Terry Ledlie (Labour)

Faye Purbrick (Conservative)

Andy Soughton (Liberal Democrat)

Yeovil West

Amy Green (Conservative)

Peter Harvey (Green)

Evie Potts-Jones (Liberal Democrat)

Graham Pritchard (Conservative)

Wes Read (Liberal Democrat)

Robert Wood (Green)

For more information on the election, visit www.somerset.gov.uk/how-the-council-works/elections.