Lib Dems tighten hold

11:36am Monday 12th May 2008

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THE Lib Dems are preparing to exploit their election victory by tightening their grip on the district council at its annual meeting on Wednesday.

Able to impose its will with an overall majority of two, the party will ensure it can not be outvoted on any of the key committees, which in some cases will change to an odd number of councillors to prevent deadlock.

Lib Dems will be able to outvote their combined opponents on the committees for overview and scrutiny, licensing, audit, health, planning policy, planning referrals, appeals and employment procedure.

They will also have large majorities on two committees which decide planning applications, although the third, which covers Harpenden, will be dominated by Tories.

The highways panel, which can make important decisions on prioritising road improvement and safety schemes, will contain three Lib Dems, two Tories and one Labour member.

Wednesday's meeting will also approve a new cabinet, certain to be all Lib Dems although the details have not yet been published.

Council leader Robert Donald told the Review: "Negotiations are still continuing about portfolio holders.

"I have taken the opportunity to review the cabinet - there may be one or two changes."

At the full council meeting, Mayor Kate Morris will stand down, and members asked to approve Albert Pawle as her proposed replacement, with Maxine Crawley as deputy.

With a Conservative in the chair possessing a casting vote, the cabinet could be vulnerable to revolts if party discipline fractures.