Council leader: Tommy Taylor

A COALITION of Liberal Democrats and Independents snatched control of Wear Valley District Council and dealt another blow to the Labour Party.

A bitter final annual meeting of the council saw Lib Dems installed in the four key posts, even though their membership, at 16, is one less than Labour's.

With the authority due to be given the top rating of excellent in an Audit Commission report due out at the end of the month, Labour should have been in a strong position to hold on, but the die was cast as soon as Independent leader Vere Shuttleworth announced his support for the Lib Dems.

Accusing Labour of aggression and arrogance in their refusal to work with other parties, he said: "If ever I needed evidence of the destructive nature of party politics, this is it."

Ousted council leader Neil Stonehouse replied with a claim that some Independents would use their influence to try to block the development of the region's first eco-village at Eastgate.

He defended Labour's record and warned his opponents that the next year would be difficult.

He said: "Populist posturing is not a substitute for government.

Now that the Lib Dems have power they have to sit down and decide what to do with it. I have seen no evidence that they can do that."

His deputy Charlie Kay said Vere Shuttleworth was the worm who turned' because of his previous refusal to align with any party.

He asked: "How can you be a group of four or five individuals?"

Once the first vote, which was for new chairwoman Betty Todd, went 21-18 to the Lib Dems with support from five of the council's Independents, Labour backed down from making any further nominations, leaving John Ferguson, from West Auckland, installed as vice-chairman, Tommy Taylor as council leader and Sam Zair as his deputy.

By then Independent John Shuttleworth had walked out, declaring his support for the Eastgate project, which could create about 350 jobs.

Independents were given chairs of some influential committees, including regeneration, which went to Richard Mews, and development control, where Ron Grogan was reappointed.

But Councillor Taylor's prophecy that his party would make mistakes was soon seized on by Labour, who pointed out that he and Councillor Zair could not head the main policy committee because they were not members.

Labour's demise followed a bad election night for the local party when several key members, including Coun Stonehouse, failed to win seats on County Durham's new super council.

12:23pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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