Tories and Lib Dems prepare to share power once more

A Tory and Lib Dem alliance is due to re-install Roger Blackmore, leader of the Liberal Democrats, as council leader next Thursday.

Their last power sharing pact broke down after a vote of no confidence on the hung council.

Labour reckons regeneration plans could be on the rocks, but Tories claim they are behind a cultural quarter scheme.

The legacy we inherited was a 10% council tax increase, several million pounds worth of cuts, a decimated voluntary sector and a deficit of �2m in the education budget Ross Wilmott, Labour leader

Councillor Blackmore said the council as a whole can now work together to move the city forward.

He said: "Despite the rhetoric, there are issues on which people can co-operate. We have a budget which was agreed by all three parties.

He said that will give "a lot of stability" for the coming year.

But Labour leader Ross Wilmott, set to be deposed from the top job, is adamant a return to a Lib Dem and Tory alliance would be a bad thing for the city.

He described the state of the council when he took over last November.

He said: "The legacy we inherited was a 10% council tax increase, several million pounds worth of cuts, a decimated voluntary sector and a deficit of �2m in the education budget.

"I think it would be a very bad day for the city to go back to that, (with) a big question mark over the regeneration of the city."

'Fully committed'

Tory group leader Roman Scuplak, set to be the new deputy council leader, claims his party is backing the development of a new theatre and a cultural quarter in the St George's area.

He said: "We are fully committed to the cultural quarter and fully committed to the flagship development of the performing arts centre, we hope to see that through during the next administration."

He said the party could change its mind later, but was fully behind it for now.