When it comes to the local political map of Suffolk, Babergh has always been something of a throwback.

Put bluntly, political principles are far less important in this part of Suffolk than local issues and personal loyalty - membership of political groups has always been very fluid here!

There has always been a fair smattering of independent councillors in Babergh and in the past the Liberal Democrats have done well with picking up seats.

At the last council election the Green Party made significant gains - and it is hoping to repeat that this time. It is putting up more candidates than any other party in Babergh.

The fractured nature of Babergh's political structure was shown a year ago when the Tory group split dramatically for the second time in three years.

Leader John Ward and three others left the group and formed the Independent Conservatives - but he remained council leader and former a "rainbow coalition" cabinet featuring members of all parties except the official Tory group.

Now there will be "Independent Conservatives" challenging "Local Conservatives" in some wards across the district.

Babergh politics tend to be dominated by what can appear to be trivial issues to people looking in at the district.

East Anglian Daily Times: Babergh councillors are carrying out a review of free parking in Sudbury

The question of whether drivers should be charged for parking their car in the district's largest towns of Sudbury and Hadleigh has been a long-running sore that has caused major issues and contributed to the Conservative splits.

And the future of some council properties has also provoked heated debate.

Making any predictions about this election across the district is difficult because voters tend to back individuals rather than parties.

Mr Ward remains a key figure in Babergh and Independent councillors like Clive Arthey, Alastair McGraw, and Derek Davis have considerable experience of Babergh politics.

One interesting candidacy is Brian Riley who is standing as a Local Conservative in Pinewood and Sproughton.

East Anglian Daily Times: Suffolk County Councillor for Hadleigh Brian Riley.

He was a member of Babergh in the early 2000s and was then elected to Suffolk County Council as Conservative member for Hadleigh in 2013.

However in 2015 he caused controversy when he moved to North Carolina but decided to remain a county councillor - dealing with issues from his US home and returning to the UK every six months to ensure he attended the minimum number of meetings.

He had to resign in 2016 after failing to attend one meeting within the six-month period - but returned to Suffolk in early 2020 saying he wanted to return to local politics.

Now he is seeking a return to Babergh in one of the fastest-growing wards in the district.

Babergh shares an administration with Mid Suffolk Council and its ballot papers will be counted at Wherstead Park during the day after the election.

Polling Day is Thursday, May 4, and for those people planning to vote in person they will need to take photographic identity documentation.

This could be a driving licence or passport - and full details of what is acceptable or how you can get identity cards to vote are available from the councils' website.

The lack of political control at Babergh over the years has enabled the district to develop its own particular character.

Development has finally started at the former Ganges site in the far east of the district and more homes are planned around Sudbury at the other end of Babergh.

It seems unlikely that any one party will be in control of the district as these developments progress - so from that point of view the real shape of Babergh in the future may be decided more by the post-election negotiations than what actually emerges from the ballot boxes.