Local elections are just a week away, when voters will head to the polls to decide the makeup of four decentralised government bodies.

Here's who you're voting for, what powers they have and how to vote.

Who am I voting for?

Gloucestershire County Council, which has been Conservative-led since the last election.

At present the council consists of Conservatives, 28, Liberal Democrats, 13, Labour & Co-operative Group, four, independents, three, Greens, two, Labour, one, and People Against Bureaucracy Group, one.

Stroud News and Journal:

Stroud District Council, which is presently led by a cooperative alliance of the Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat parties.

Voters elect 51 councillors for the district council every four years. In the last election, they voted in 20 Conservatives, 15 Labour, nine Green, two Liberal Democrats and four others. There is one vacant seat.

Not all parties are contesting every seat for Stroud District. You can find out who’s running in your area here.

Stroud News and Journal:

Only four parish council wards are being contested on May 6. These are Painswick (Painswick Ward), Stonehouse (Stonehouse Ward), Stroud (Central Ward) and Whiteshill and Ruscombe.

The Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), which has been Martin Surl, Independent, since 2012.

Challenging him are Chris Coleman, Liberal Democrat, Chris Nelson, Conservative, Simon O’Rourke, Labour, and Adrian Stratton, Independent.

What do they do?

Stroud District Council is responsible for services like rubbish collection, recycling, council tax collections, housing and planning applications.

Gloucestershire County Council look after education, transport, planning, fire and public safety, social care, libraries, waste management and trading standards.

Parish or town councils provide allotments, public clocks, bus shelters, community centres, play areas and play equipment, grants to help local organisations and consultation on neighbourhood planning.

They have the power to issue fixed penalty fines for litter, graffiti, fly posting and dog offences.

PCC’s are elected to hold Chief Constables and the force to account, and aim to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service.

How do I vote?

Polling stations will open at 7am on May 6 and close at 10pm that evening. You can find your polling station here.

You can vote via emergency proxy before 5pm on May 6 if an obstacle arises that you weren't aware of before the 27 April at 5pm, such as a medical emergency, you are away for work or you are self-isolating due to COVID-19.

Who should I vote for?

We asked each party fielding multiple candidates to send in 400 words on why you should vote for them.