10/05/13…It’s a deal! ‘Indies’ join Conservatives to form administration

INDEPENDENT councillors have agreed to join the Conservative group at Oxfordshire County Council to form a majority administration following the elections on May 2.

The election left the Conservatives one short of an overall majority with 31 of the 63 seats. Four independent councillors were elected along with 15 Labour councillors, 11 Liberal Democrats and two Greens.

Three of them, Lynda Atkins, Les Sibley and Mark Gray have agreed to support an administration.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, the Leader of Oxfordshire County Council’s Conservative group, said: “It was essential that we formed a stable administration to give direction and purpose to the county council looking forward to the period 2013-2017.

“With the assistance of the three independent councillors elected to represent communities in Wallingford, Bicester West and Benson and Cholsey I believe we will provide that.”