Power shift: (left) Conservative Group leader Paul Dundas and (right) Highwoods Independents Gerard and Beverly Oxford THE Conservatives are set to take control of Colchester Council for the first time in more than ten years. After Thursday’s election the incumbant Lib Dem and Labour coalition was left with 23 seats between them, one less than they started out the night with. However, after the Conservatives failed to secure a majority, holding 23 seats, leader of the council and Lib Dem Mark Cory said discussions had been ongoing to form a renewed coalition. But in a statement this morning, the Conservative Group announced it had reached an agreement with the Highwoods Independent Group to form a new joint administration for the next year.
Power shift: (left) Conservative Group leader Paul Dundas and (right) Highwoods Independents Gerard and Beverly Oxford THE Conservatives are set to take control of Colchester Council for the first time in more than ten years. After Thursday’s election the incumbant Lib Dem and Labour coalition was left with 23 seats between them, one less than they started out the night with. However, after the Conservatives failed to secure a majority, holding 23 seats, leader of the council and Lib Dem Mark Cory said discussions had been ongoing to form a renewed coalition. But in a statement this morning, the Conservative Group announced it had reached an agreement with the Highwoods Independent Group to form a new joint administration for the next year.
THE Conservatives are set to take control of Colchester Council - for the first time in 13 years. After Thursday’s election the Lib Dem and Labour coalition was left with just 23 seats between them, one less than they started the night out with. The Tories failed to secure a majority, also holding 23 seats, and Lib Dem leader of the council Mark Cory said discussions were ongoing to form a renewed progressive alliance. However, the Conservative Group has now confirmed it has reached an agreement with the Highwoods Independent Group to form a new joint administration for the next year. The Highwoods Independents are made up of Gerard Oxford, his wife, Beverly and their son, Philip.
“POSITIVE discussions” on the future of Colchester Council’s ruling coalition have taken place, with hopes other groups can be persuaded to bolster its ranks. After Thursday’s election the Lib Dem and Labour coalition was left with 23 seats between them, one less than they started out the night with. However, after the Conservatives failed to secure a majority, now also holding 23 seats, leader of the council and Lib Dem Mark Cory said discussions were ongoing to form a renewed progressive alliance. He said: “It is interesting to see how the Conservatives have made gains across the country and across Essex but not in Colchester.
COLCHESTER Council’s ruling coalition looks set to have maintained its grip on power after a dramatic election night. The Lib Dem and Labour alliance went into Thursday’s poll holding 24 seats between them. After the results were counted they hold 23. However, with the Conservative opposition failing to make up ground or take seats from other parties, the progressive alliance looks like it will survive at least another year. Leader of the council Mark Cory (Lib Dem) said: “We will start talking with other parties about how we work together going forward. “I personally could not work with the Conservative Party because I do not believe our values align but I believe the other parties could work together.”