A ward by-election is set to be held after a councillor was accused of multiple sex offences.

The vacancy for Murston near Sittingbourne has arisen after James Hall failed to attend meetings in the last six months.

Cllr Hall was charged with a total of 31 offences – some of them dating back almost 40 years and in August he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court alongside his wife and son.

He has served the authority since 2015 and lives on Tonge Road, Murston.

The councillor pleaded not guilty after being charged with six offences of rape, nine of indecency with a child, 12 of indecent assault, one of sexual assault and three of cruelty between July 1986 and December 2005.

He was joined at the plea and trial preparation hearing by his wife, Lory, who pleaded not guilty to one charge of rape and two of cruelty.

They sat alongside their son Ryan Hall, of Limehouse Court, Sittingbourne, who denied attempting to pervert the course of justice – an offence alleged to have occurred in August last year.

A four-week hearing has been set for October 26, 2026, with the delay said to be due to long court waiting lists.

All three are subject to conditional bail.

At the time, a spokesman for the local authority said it had no legal power to suspend a councillor charged with criminal activity.

According to the Swale council website, he was expected to attend a total of eight meetings since May 15.

He was absent for seven of them, with one – an urgent decisions committee on May 22 – where he was virtually present.

It is understood the matter of his attendance and the wavering of the six-month attendance rule was addressed at a full council meeting last Wednesday (October 2).

The press and the public were excluded from listening to the discussions as it was voted the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Cllr Lloyd Bowen, leader of the Conservative group, called for the by-election along with others.

He said: "Murston residents need to ensure they have a voice representing them at Swale Borough Council.

“There a some very important issues due to come to the council in the coming weeks and months and Murston residents should have their voices heard at the earliest opportunity.”

A Swale council spokesman added: “A by-election to elect a new councillor for the Murston ward is due to be held within 35 working days of Friday, October 4.

“This is due to Cllr James Hall being unable to attend meetings of the council for a period of six consecutive months from the date of his last meeting, which means the seat is vacant under the Local Government Act 1972.”