Newark and Sherwood District Council will be led by Labour for the next four years after the Conservatives lost the authority in the recent local elections. The previous leader and deputy leader of the council both lost their seats following the May 4 vote, with Newark having been one of only two district and boroughs controlled by the Conservatives in Nottinghamshire.
The other authority, Rushcliffe, remains under the control of Conservatives, although they have a smaller majority. But at Newark, a coalition has now been formed between Labour, Independents for Newark and the Liberal Democrats.
The May 4 elections saw the Conservatives win just 14 of the 39 available seats, compared to the 29 they held after the 2019 elections. The Labour Party and Independents won 11 seats each while the Liberal Democrats won three seats.
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Labour's Councillor Paul Peacock was chosen as the leader of the council at a meeting on Tuesday (May 23). He said: "At the moment we've got a minority administration, there are challenges with that for sure.
"But tonight a number of parties supported us. We are happy to work with them and find a way forward. We've got a number of groups supporting each other and I hope the Conservatives will come to the table in that same way."
During Tuesday's meeting, Conservative Councillor Sue Saddington accused the Independents of Newark of "propping up Labour" to form an administration with three Liberal Democrats. She said: "Although they claim to be Independent, I would question that.
"I wonder if they realise they will have no alternative but to vote with Labour if they are to keep the administration in power. Do you really think that those voting for the Independents in Newark knew that they were really voting for Labour?"
But in terms of how the coalition would work, Liberal Democrat Group deputy leader, Councillor Keith Melton, said: "I think the categorisation that it will be us supporting Labour is wrong. It is going to be a partnership.
"I think the Conservative leadership in the country has been abysmal and unfortunately for local councillors, they have suffered the backlash. I think residents realised there was an opportunity for change."
Councillor Rhona Holloway announced earlier this month that she would lead the Conservative Group. Labour leader Councillor Peacock added that the elections revealed a "seismic change across the country".
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