THE leader of Colchester’s Conservative group is set to put himself forward as the leader of the council... and form a minority administration.

The Conservatives, who gained two seats in Thursday’s election, now hold 25 seats which is one short of an overall majority.

That means a coalition of the Lib Dems, Labour and the Highwoods Independent group could still hold a one-seat majority but it is unclear whether the groups will agree on a new deal.

In any case, Conservative group leader Darius Laws said no other party has been given a mandate from voters to form an administration.

He said: “I will lead this council. The Lib Dems and Labour have no moral mandate to govern Colchester anymore.

“We have the talent, experience, personalities and ideas and I am excited to form an administration and I am declaring my hand.”

The Conservative group met and unanimously agreed the proposals.

Mr Laws added: “I am absolutely determined to lead this council and change Colchester for the better

“But I accept it will be a minority administration so it would need even greater collaboration and understanding with other parties in the council chamber with a view to working in the interests of communities, taxpayers and businesses in Colchester.”

Council leader Paul Smith was one of two high profile Lib Dem casualties but remained as technical leader of the council until midnight last night.

That role now moves to his deputy, and Labour group leader, Tim Young, whose party held firm on 11 seats.

Labour briefly moved up to 12 seats during the election count as young gun Lorcan Whitehead took New Town and Christ Church from the Lib Dems only for Rosalind Scott to lose her Wivenhoe seat to Andrea Luxford-Vaughan.

Tory leader Mr Laws did consider calling an emergency meeting before the authority’s annual general meeting on May 23 to contest Mr Young’s appointment but has opted not to.

He did not rule out entering a formal coalition but said it is more likely any deal with another group would be struck on an “informal confidence and supply arrangement”, possibly with the Highwoods Independents.

Gazette: Kingmakers? - the Highwoods Independents

Kingmakers? - Highwoods Independents' Gerard and Beverley Oxford

Gerard Oxford, who leads the independent group, said: "We are talking to everybody and we are ruling nothing in and nothing out."

The key vote for any administration is the budget and Mr Laws would need assured backing on that for the minority administration to have any chance of working.

Martin Goss, leader of the Lib Dem group on Colchester Council, said his members are still in discussion at what an administration’s programme would look at if the coalition were to reform.

He added: “We are looking at the fine details and putting it to the groups and the groups will have to vote on that.

“We now have our first Momentum member and we have to be mindful of how we control that as the last time that movement had such support, it didn’t turn out so well.”

Mr Goss added: “What I would say is there is common ground between all parties. For example, I would be up for setting up a heritage fund and, as part of that, have all parties represented on a task and finish group.

“Likewise, we should all be looking at how we can improve tourism and lighting up some of our assets - but crucially in an affordable way.

“But there is one big point on the Conservative manifesto I could not support, which is the return to weekly bin collections.”

The Conservative manifesto outlined plans to reintroduce weekly black bag collections, with a maximum of two sacks per week.

The party said that would cost about £200,000 but Mr Goss claimed it could cost double that, taking into account the potential cost of recycling credits and a drop in recycling rate.

He added the only way the move could be funded is through scrapping the local council tax support grant, which helps about 11,000 people pay their council tax.

Tim Young, the leader of the Labour group, said: “Whatever the Conservatives say, they do not have a majority. They have got 40 per cent of the vote. which means 60 per cent of people did not vote for the them.

“That does not give them a mandate and the coalition between us, the Liberals and the independents can continue and I am hopeful of that.”

He added: “We believe a Conservative administration would be bad for Colchester. A combination of a Tory Government, a Conservative Essex County Council and a Colchester Council would be absolutely disastrous.”

Mr Young also cited Tory plans to bring back weekly bin collections as a “retrograde step” which could cost the taxpayer more than £400,000.

Responding to Mr Goss’ concerns over Momentum member Lorcan Whitehead’s election in New Town and Christ Church, Mr Young said: “That is a red herring. Lorcan is a Labour councillor.”

“We have Labour councillors who are already a member of Momentum and I think that is Martin just not understanding how the Labour Party works.”