The lack of a functioning administration running South Gloucestershire Council more than two weeks after the local elections has been slammed as “unacceptable”. Cllr Sam Bromiley, the new leader of the Conservatives, has criticised the “shambolic behaviour” of the Lib Dem and Labour groups, who are still yet to announce a formal coalition following lengthy talks since the polls on Thursday, May 4.
He says it is a “worrying taste of things to come” from the two parties that made gains at the elections at the expense of the Tories, who had run the authority since 2015 but lost their overall majority and are now expected to fill the opposition benches alone in the chamber. In response, Lib Dem leader Cllr Claire Young said residents “voted for change” and that her group and Labour were having “positive discussions” about working together to deliver that.
South Gloucestershire is the only council in the South West still in limbo without political leadership since the elections. North Somerset Council announced a week ago that five groups, including Labour and Lib Dems along with Greens and independents, had formed a rainbow coalition.
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Cllr Bromiley said that although the Conservatives remained the largest single party on the local authority with 23 seats – 10 fewer than previously – with the Lib Dems on 20 and Labour 17, they had been excluded from “secret talks” between the other two groups. He said the Tories had reached out to try to break the deadlock but had been met with silence.
Cllr Bromiley said: “It is simply unacceptable that two full weeks after the elections we still do not have a functioning administration running the council. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have been conducting secret talks in backrooms away from the public gaze, and are still no nearer to agreeing anything.
“We have repeatedly reached out to the opposition to offer to work with them to form an administration that works for everybody in South Gloucestershire. Instead, they are taking residents for a ride with shameless delay tactics.
“Labour and the Liberal Democrats seem intent on forming a coalition to run the council, despite the Conservatives emerging from the local elections as the largest party. Yet after two weeks of talks and still no final agreement, they can’t expect residents to have any faith in their ability to run the council effectively.
“Worryingly, I fear this shambolic behaviour is a taste of things to come.” Cllr Young said: “Local people voted for change in May, following eight years of Conservative rule in South Gloucestershire.
“The Liberal Democrat and Labour groups are having positive discussions about how we can work in partnership to deliver that change.”
Read next:
Local election results on 'desperately sad' night for the Tories
Outgoing Tory council leader says results are 'clearly disappointing'
Local election results at South Gloucestershire Council listed in full ward by ward
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