CONSERVATIVES are gearing up to retake control of Basildon Borough Council, with Reform UK expected to take a role on council committees, although no formal coalition between the two parties has been announced or is expected.

Billericay councillor Andy Barnes is expected to become the new leader, after Labour, who had controlled the council, suffered a battering at the local elections. The new leader will be formally voted upon at a meeting tomorrow evening (Thursday, 21 May).

Council papers say that, if agreed, Cllr Barnes will also be the councillor responsible for finance and strategy, with Cllr Kevin Blake taking the role of deputy leader of the council and councillor for service improvement.

Reform UK surged at the polls earlier this month and now holds 11 seats on the council, after Labour lost six seats and Independents lost four on the night. Reform already held one seat, which was not up for election.

The Tories and Labour now each hold 12 seats, while the various Independent groups hold seven, meaning the Tories will have to work with other parties to get their motions through the council, with that support expected to mostly come from Reform.

Cllr Gavin Callaghan, who was the Labour leader of the council before the elections this month, has announced he will lead the opposition.

It comes amid claims the council could be plunged into "chaos", as longstanding Independent councillor Kerry Smith fears the Tories and Reform UK will not be able to work together.

But Cllr Barnes, who represents Billericay East, insists a confidence and supply arrangement with the Tories and Reform UK, "will work and be successful." This could see Reform supporting the Conservatives on major decisions, such as the budget.

Meanwhile Reform UK has taken over Rochford District Council, with the new leader pledging to look into free parking at the weekends. The party, led nationally by Nigel Farage, won 13 seats on the council at the local elections earlier this month.

Cllr Adi Malviya was voted in as the new council leader on Tuesday (May 19), with Cllr Neil Hookway becoming deputy leader.

Cllr Adi Malviya said: "People did not vote for more of the same. Rochford voted for change, that's real, visible and accountable. I stood for election because I believe in something fundamental, that local government must work for the people who pay for it, rely on it and deserve better."

Addressing plans by the Labour Government to scrap all local councils and replace them with larger authorities, he told the meeting: "We will oppose any reorganisation that reduces local representation and increases financial burden on our residents."