THE Conservatives have triumphed in the battle for control of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Although the party failed to win an overall majority of seats in the local elections on May 4, they swept into power at the full council meeting on Thursday.

The night's events ended 11 years of joint administration by the Liberal Democrats and Labour.

The key vote for the position of council leader was won by Conservative councillor John Leek, beating former mayor Cllr Paula Baker a Liberal Democrat with 30 votes to 26 after four councillors abstained.

In theory, a single abstention from one of the three Independent councillors would have been enough to see the Tories into power.

The Conservatives have 30 of the council's 60 seats, while the members of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties total 27.

Who is in charge Leader of the council - Cllr John Leek
Deputy leader of the council - Cllr Harry Robinson

Cabinet member for planning and transportation - Cllr Horace Mitchell
Cabinet member for environment and community services - Cllr Elaine Still
Cabinet member for economic and education development - Cllr Andrew Finney
Cabinet member for housing and regeneration - Cllr Cecilia Morrison
Cabinet member for sport and leisure - Cllr Keith Chapman

Conservative group leader - Cllr Mark Ruffell
Liberal Democrat group leader - Cllr Paula Baker
Labour group leader - Cllr David Potter
Independent forum co-ordinator - Cllr Ian Tilbury

Development control committee chairman - Cllr Anne Court
Development control committee vice-chairman - Cllr Sheila Allen
Economic and community development overview committee chairman - Cllr Flora (Cathy) Osselton
Economic and community development overview committee vice-chairman - Cllr Stephen West
Environment overview committee chairman - Cllr Martin Biermann
Environment overview committee vice-chairman - Cllr Marilyn Tucker
Scrutiny committee chairman - Cllr Alex Green
Scrutiny committee vice-chairman - Cllr Laura James
Sustainable communities overview committee chairman - Cllr David Leeks
Sustainable communities overview committee vice-chairman - Cllr Christine Heath

But on the night, two Independents Cllr Martin Biermann and Cllr David Leeks abstained in the crucial vote, along with new mayor Cllr Tony Jones and fellow Labour councillor Sean Keating, a former Cabinet member.

Independent councillor Ian Tilbury voted to keep the joint administration in power.

As mayor, Cllr Jones would have had the casting vote if the result had been a tie.

In the battle for deputy leader, Conservative councillor Harry Robinson beat former council leader Paul Harvey, after Cllr Biermann and Cllr Leeks again abstained.

Commenting on the Conservatives' triumph, Cllr Leek said: "We believe the borough has a brighter future with a Conservative administration.

"We will not shrink from difficult decisions if we believe they are in the best interests of our residents."

But he was reluctant to say any more about the new administration's policies, adding that the party needed time to talk to council officers.

He said: "It would be foolish to make rash promises and we intend to spend time investigating the possible before outlining our proposals for change."

Cllr Baker, who is now leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: "I think the outcome was what we expected.

"We will now want to see the borough continue to offer excellent services to the community and we will hold the new administration to account."

Although Cllr Leeks, who represents Tadley South, abstained in the votes for leader and deputy leader, he voted in favour of the Conservatives for important committee roles. He was also backed by the Tories to become leader of the sustainable communities overview committee, but denied this was part of a deal with the party.

He said: "Everybody was trying to make deals with us. I did what I considered best for Tadley and that is the way I voted. I think if I hadn't, it would have put the mayor in a very embarrassing position because he would have had the casting vote."

Having abstained in the key votes, Cllr Biermann said: "I wished to remain non-partisan. I knew the outcome of that would inevitably lead to a Conservative administration but I felt that was reasonable in view of the outcome of the election and the spread of seats in the council."

Cllr Tilbury defended his decision to vote in favour of the previous administration, adding: "The Conservatives are a party with no policies. You think about who is the best person to do the job and I do not think they are."

Cllr David Potter, leader of the Labour group, said there had been some resignation in his camp that the vote would go the Conservatives' way.

He added: "Despite all the discussions we have had with the Independents, they were not convinced by our arguments for the administration being able to legitimately carry on."

He also said he now regarded Cllr Leeks as "the 31st member of the Conservatives".

  • New council leader Cllr Leek's first move was to cut the number of Cabinet positions from six to five and rename them, claiming it would make it easier for residents to understand the roles.

He also renamed the learning, skills and culture overview committee to the economic and community development overview committee.