Conservatives to continue running minority council

The Conservatives will continue to run North East Lincolnshire Council as a minority administration following the appointment of a new cabinet.

The local elections in May saw the party lose its majority but it remains the largest group with 19 of the authority's 42 councillors.

A Conservative-only cabinet was formed at a meeting on Thursday.

Representatives from Labour and Independent councillors criticised the situation for "last minute" changes to several scrutiny panels.

Labour group leader, councillor Kath Wheatley, said: "It’s not acceptable and arrogant, to be perfectly honest, in the current position of no overall control.”

She added the change “pulled the rug from under the feet” of new councillors.

Independent group leader, councillor Steve Holland, said the late change "doesn’t bode well".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, two cabinet working groups to look at houses of multiple occupancy and licensing and the environmental street scene and enforcement have been set up.

Scrutiny panels to cover transport, infrastructure and strategic housing and economy, culture and tourism will also be formed.

The changes were passed by 22 votes to 19, with the Liberal Democrats siding with the Conservative administration.

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