Local elections are still due to take place in May, but the Government will keep the matter under review, according to the Cabinet Office.

Rumours have been circulating that mayoral and local authority elections could be postponed for a second year in a row because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the Cabinet Office has confirmed that, at this stage, the Government is still intending local elections to go ahead, as planned, on Thursday, May 6th. But a spokesperson cautioned that the matter would be kept “under review”, so there is a chance they could be postponed.

Last year’s local elections were postponed to avoid having to send people out to the polls or on the campaign trail, and to allow local authorities to concentrate on the unfolding outbreak.

Another postponement would mean that Bristol City Council’s Labour administration and its Mayor, Marvin Rees, would have not just five years, but as many as six, in office.

The usual term is four years and the current crop of councillors were elected in 2016.

Mr Rees said: “All indications are that they’re going ahead, and we need them to go ahead.They’re really important. But they need to go ahead in a safe way, they need to be quality elections.”

Mr Rees said the Council was ensuring people were registered to vote, were aware of postal voting options, proxy voting options and that all polling stations are covid-safe.

Other elections affected by a postponement would include the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and the West of England Mayor.

Sue Mountstevens is the current PCC in Avon and Somerset and Tim Bowles is the Metro Mayor heading up the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) covering Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset. Both have said they will step down at the end of the municipal year and not seek re-election.

Marvin Rees is the only official contender for the role of Bristol Mayor, at this stage, after the Liberal Democrat candidate, Mary Page, stepped down for personal reasons and the Conservative candidate, Samuel Williams, threw his hat into the ring for the top job at WECA instead.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021. We continue to work closely with the electoral community and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely.”