Elmbridge council is set to have a Liberal Democrat and Resident Association coalition after the Conservatives lost overall control and the leader of the council was ousted from his seat.

The decision is to be confirmed at tonight’s annual council meeting, where a new council leader will be proposed, after Tory leader John O’Reilly lost by just 29 votes at the count on May 7.

The Conservatives narrowly won 22 seats, just ahead of the Residents Associations with 19 seats and the Liberal Democrats with seven seats.

The Conservatives had held the council for the last eight years as a majority.

The Lib Dems, who had the balance of power in the coalition, had remained tight-lipped on whether they had made a decision in the days following the results, and had until today to make their outcome known.

However, it was Councillor Roy Green of the Hersham Village Society who announced the news on Facebook last night.

Surrey Comet:

He said: “The local Liberals have decided to support the Elmbridge Residents Group and therefore we will have control. There will be seven RA councillors and three Liberal councillors forming the cabinet.

“I have been asked to be the new portfolio officer for housing a challenging role which I am looking forward to. There are many housing problems in Elmbridge not at least the relationship between the various housing associations and their tenants.

“But we have to increase the amount of social or affordable housing being built, this is something I will be looking into.”

Other councillors then followed suit on social media by further announcing the decision.

Weybridge councillor Lewis Brown tweeted yesterday: “We’ve had word – Elmbridge Residents’ Groups have ditched election promises of being independent and agreed formal coalition with Lib Dems.”

Surrey Comet:

The decision will be formally announced at the full council tonight at Esher's Civic Centre.