Power struggle set to be resolved

A POWER struggle at Warrington Town

Hall, almost mirroring the national scene, will be resolved at next week’s annual meeting of the council which takes place on Monday at

5.30pm.
Members of the minority Conservative group, who despite only having six members could hold the balance of power, met last night to discuss their options.
After last week’s results they declared they would not continue their alliance with the controlling Lib Dems.
But this is known to be an unpopular decision with various members of the group who hold cabinet style positions on the council, including Deputy Leader of the council Keith Bland.
Coun Bland, who is also leader of the Tory group said before last night’s meeting: “We will be discussing all aspects of the situation and deciding our future actions.
“What we will have most in mind is what is best for the town.”
Members of the group have been “sworn to secrecy” on the outcome of their meeting.
Labour gained five seats on the council – four from the Liberal Democrats and one from the Conservatives.
While not gaining overall control of the council they are now the largest single party with 27 seats, with the Lib Dems on 24 and the Conservatives on six.
After their election victories jubilant Labour leader Coun Terry O’Neill (pictured) said he would be calling for a group meeting and recommending a minority administration to run the town hall.
“We have been given a mandate to serve the people,” he said.
Labour would have to put forward their proposals for a switch in control at the annual meeting of the council on May 17.
They could be out-voted if the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives join forces again.
But at the moment, the outcome is unpredictable because of a split in the Tory ranks.
Tory councillor Paul Kennedy – who was victorious Parliamentary candidate David Mowat’s agent in the General Election campaign – has openly stated that he was always opposed to power-sharing with the Lib Dems and believes it should end.
He, and a number of other senior Tory figures, have been bitterly critical of the Lib Dem election campaign which he has condemned as “dishonest, disgraceful and disgusting.”
One possibility is that Labour could attempt to run a minority administration with Tory councillors taking the chair of scrutiny committees to hold them to account.
Council and Liberal Democrat leader Ian Marks says it “too soon to say” what the future holds.

Top picture shows Labour leader Terry O’Neill with some of his new councillors and above Penketh winner David Keane with fellow councillor Linda Dirir and friends.

Full Results were as follows:

Appleton
Jean Carter (Labour) 810
Phil Marshall (Conservative) 2663
*Judith Walker (Liberal Democrat) 2850
Kenneth Wilson (Green Party) 112

Bewsey and Whitecross
Ann Raymond (Liberal Democrat) 1276
Stephen Taylor (Conservative) 612
*Pat Wright (Labour) 2132

Birchwood
*Russ Bowden (Labour) 2314
Christine Oliver (Liberal Democrat) 1265
Judith Wise (Conservative) 1653

Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft
Merril Cummerson (Liberal Democrat)1374
*Les Hoyle (Conservative) 2904
Chris Vobe (Labour)1808

Fairfield and Howley
Doug Ashbrook (Liberal Democrat) 1149
Sandra Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat) 1190
*Peter Carey (Labour) 2417
Peter Garner (Conservative) 912
*Tony Higgins (Labour) 2341
Mike Phillips (BNP) 468

Grappenhall and Thelwall
Sonia Boggan (Conservative) 1884
Helen Dutton (Labour) 998
*Wendy Johnson (Liberal Democrat) 2946

Great Sankey North
Stephanie Davies (Green Party) 90
Philip Eastham (Conservative)807
Tony Williams (Labour) 1126
*Trudi Wood (Liberal Democrat) 1520

Great Sankey South (LAB GAIN)
Adam Grant (Conservative) 1367
Hitesh Patel (Labour) 2080
*Jim Regan (Liberal Democrat) 1908

Latchford East
Roger Cawthorne (Conservative) 472
Eddie Sloane (Liberal Democrat) 880
*Steve Wright (Labour and Co-operative) 1860

Latchford West
Matthew Harris (Conservative) 625
Maureen McLaughlin (Labour) 1144
*Graham Welborn, (Liberal Democrat) 1614

Lymm
*Bob Barr (Liberal Democrat) 2932
Harish Sharma (Conservative) 2660
Su Williams (Labour) 1363

Orford
Edgar Davies (Liberal Democrat), 861
Gareth Rowlinson (Conservative), 759
*Kelly Simcock, (Labour) 2587

Penketh and Cuerdley (LAB GAIN)
*Peter Elton (Conservative) 1604
Veronica Hudson (Liberal Democrat) 1149
David Keane (Labour) 1978
Lyndsay McAteer (Green Party) 152

Poplars and Hulme
Bob Haskew-Jones (Liberal Democrat)807
*John Kerr-Brown (Labour) 2297
John Leslie (Conservative) 810

Poulton North (LAB GAIN)
Susan Jenkin (Conservative) 1111
Geoff Settle (Labour) 1888
*Scott Wilson (Liberal Democrat) 1857

Poulton South (LAB GAIN)
Andrew Davis (Conservative) 909
*Dave Eccles (Liberal Democrat) 816
Lottie Ladbury (Labour) 1868

Rixton and Woolston
*Bill Brinksman (Labour) 2363
Roger Rankin (Conservative) 1517
Ron Stafford (Liberal Democrat) 1068

Westbrook (LAB GAIN)
Robert MacLaren (Conservative) 1012
*Marina Smith (Liberal Democrat) 1123
Natalie Smith (Labour) 1227

Whittle Hall

Steve Bradley (Conservative) 1603
*Keith Gleave (Liberal Democrat) 2366
Jan Hart (Labour) 1734

*Denotes sitting councillor or party holding seat.
There were no council elections in three wards this year – Stockton Heath, Burtonwood and Winwick and Hatton, Stretton and Walton.