Leadership of Cherwell council in doubt as Labour quits coalition plan

A statement from the leader of the Labour group, Sean Woodcock, today confirmed that his party would not be part of a new coalition.

Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and the Independents have been in negotiation to form a coalition since the elections on May 4.

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The Tories won only three seats in the vote and the council swung from a Conservative majority to no overall control.

Mr Woodcock said: "The local election results in Cherwell demonstrated that people are fed up with the Conservative Party; in government and at the council.

District council elections were held on May 4 (Image: Olivia Christie)

“Unfortunately, after weeks of serious negotiation with other parties, we have taken the difficult decision that we are unable to form a stable, alternative administration.

“We will continue to hold whatever administration does form to account with our increased representation on the district council and a clear mandate to speak up for the people of Banbury.”

In a separate statement released yesterday evening (May 16), Mr Woodcock confirmed that his party would be vying to form their own minority administration.

He said: “As the largest opposition party in Cherwell we entered negotations about forming an administration in good faith.

"However, it quickly became clear that the Liberal Democrats and Greens had done a back room deal before a single vote had even been cast.

"We believe that this sort of back room dealing treats voters with contempt which is why we will play no part in it.

"At the council AGM we will be putting ourselves forward to run the council, should the Lib Dems vote against it, they will have to answer to their voters about why they are propping up a failing Tory administration”

Leader of the Conservatives on the council, Barry Wood, also confirmed that his party want to form a minority administration.

The Liberal Democrats and the Greens have said they are ‘deeply disappointed’ that Labour has decided to not be part of a coalition.

Ian Middleton, Green leader and deputy leader of the Progressive Oxfordshire group said: “We are bitterly disappointed that after a huge amount of work, negotiation and compromise between our parties, Labour have decided to pull the plug on a controlling alliance at the eleventh hour.

“During the election we all made a pledge to local residents that we would do whatever it takes to remove Conservative control in Cherwell, as has happened on all other district councils across the county.

“We believe that voters gave all opposition parties a mandate to do this with some spectacular results in the local elections.

The Green Party at the latest round of district council elections (Image: Ian Middleton)

“I’m therefore at a loss to understand why Labour, who would have had a significant role in a controlling alliance, seem content to allow the Conservatives to form a chaotic minority administration, when an alliance may have better served the people who voted for us.”

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David Hingley, Liberal Democrat leader of the Progressive Oxfordshire group, added: “Sadly, this means the change that Cherwell residents so clearly voted for in the recent elections will not now take place at tomorrow’s annual council meeting, despite the tireless efforts of all members of my group, new and existing councillors alike.

“With the best will in the world, my group simply does not – for now – have the numbers to provide an enduring administration on our own.

“It is of particular concern that this could leave the Conservatives taking decisions over the district’s new Local Plan, when so many people voted for change and for an approach to planning that listened more carefully to local communities.

“We will continue to scrutinise the progress of this plan for development to 2040.”

A full council meeting is due to be held tomorrow evening (May 17) at 6.30pm.