Proposals have been put forward for a new administration

Together they have 21 seats out of 47 and will rely on SNP "constructive opposition" to get measures through.

The authority was previously run by a minority Labour group.

A meeting earlier this month failed to find agreement on an administration but councillors will reconvene later this week to try to agree the new plans.

Dumfries and Galloway Council has been operating without an administration since elections nearly three weeks ago.

I'm pleased that an accommodation has been reached, so that we can now set about facing up to the big challenges ahead Sandra McDowall Lib Dem leader

A first meeting to try to form a ruling group broke up without agreement.

Now councillors believe they have found a way forward.

"I'm delighted that a new partnership has been found that can shortly begin work on resolving the problems faced by Dumfries and Galloway Council," said Tory group leader Ivor Hyslop.

"As the largest group of councillors, Conservatives take seriously our obligation to put together an administration."

He claimed the election results - where the Tories won 18 wards - had shown that people wanted a change in the way the council was run.

Delivering agenda

"They wanted it to be more local, more accessible, more focused, better value for money and less chaotic," he said.

"With our Lib Dem partners, we will now set about delivering on that agenda."

Lib Dem group leader Cllr Sandra McDowall said she looked forward to working with the Conservatives to "take the council forward".

"I'm pleased that an accommodation has been reached, so that we can now set about facing up to the big challenges ahead," she said.

Robert Higgins, who leads the SNP group, confirmed the role of its 10 councillors in "constructive opposition".

The Labour group will form a principled opposition, holding this new regime to account at every opportunity Ronnie Nicholson Labour leader

"The SNP cannot have a formal alliance with the Tories, that is the bottom line," he said.

"We will take it on an issue by issue basis.

"But there are quite a lot of parallels between all groups on what they would like to do for Dumfries and Galloway."

However, the proposals have come under fire from Labour group leader Ronnie Nicholson.

He said the parties involved had put "positions before principles".

"The Labour group will form a principled opposition, holding this new regime to account at every opportunity," he said.

"Above all else we will fight to protect the most vulnerable in our community who will suffer most from the extremes of a Tory council backed by the SNP."

The full council will meet again on Thursday to discuss the administration plans.