By David LennardTHE Conservatives are to officially take control of Waveney District Council after becoming the largest party on the authority.The new Tory administration will assume power when the full council meets tomorrow evening, replacing the Labour Party at the helm.

By David Lennard

THE Conservatives are to officially take control of Waveney District Council after becoming the largest party on the authority.

The new Tory administration will assume power when the full council meets tomorrow evening, replacing the Labour Party at the helm.

Peter Austin, leader of the Conservative group on the council, said: “We are delighted to be able to form the next administration and our members on the council are looking forward to the challenge.

“We had a very good election and our aim now is to provide a quality service for people living in Waveney.

“The Conservatives will be making sure that the council gives good value for money and that council tax payments are kept as low as possible.”

This month's Waveney District Council elections left the authority with no single party winning enough seats to take overall control, although there was a slight swing to the Conservatives.

After all the votes were counted, the Tories were left with 21 seats, Labour 19, the Independents five and the Liberal Democrats three.

Up until then the Labour group had been in power, even though it did not have overall control.

During the past two weeks there have been negotiations between the two main parties and the Independents and Liberal Democrats, who hold the balance of power.

It had been expected the result of the election would leave the Labour and Conservative groups locked together, which is why the annual council meeting was delayed until tomorrow.

New Labour group leader David Jermy said its councillors would form a “constructive opposition” and continue to have the best interests of Waveney residents at heart.

david.lennard@eadt.co.uk