Mystery still surrounds the future of Elmbridge Council as the Liberal Democrats remain tight-lipped on whether they will form a coalition with the Conservatives or the Residents Associations.
The Conservatives saw a loss in seats at this year’s elections on May 5, with their numbers dropping to 22 and leader of the council John O’Reilly ousted.
The Residents Associations won 19 seats, whereas the Liberal Democrats retained their seven seats amidst the controversial ward boundary changes which saw wards divided and councillor numbers slashed from 60 to 48.
The shock result also saw Labour, UKIP, the Greens and Independent councillors fail to gain any seats.
Secrecy surrounds whether the Liberal Democrats, who now hold the balance of power, will side with the Conservatives of the Residents Associations.
Negotiations began after the count on Saturday, May 7, continuing through to meetings on Monday and Tuesday.
Leader of the Lib Dems, Councillor Andrew Davis, said on Monday that he suspected negotiations would "take a little time. It won't be instant."
No further updates from the parties have been issued as of this morning.
Newly-elected councillors will have until May 18 to come to a decision.
Elmbridge’s new councillors are listed below:
Claygate
- Mary Marshall - Liberal Democrat
- Alex Coomes - Liberal Democrat
- Kim Cross - Liberal Democrat
Cobham and Downside
- Mike Bennison – Conservative
- Dorothy Mitchell – Conservative
- James Browne – Conservative
Esher
- David Archer – Conservative
- Tim Oliver – Conservative
- Peter Heaney – Esher Residents Association
Hersham Village
- Roy Green – Hersham Village Society
- Mary Sheldon – Conservative
- Anne Hill - Hersham Village Society
Hinchley Wood and Weston Green
- Tannia Shipley - Hinchley Wood / Weston Green Residents' Associations
- Janet Turner - Hinchley Wood / Weston Green Residents' Associations
- Nigel Haig-Brown - Hinchley Wood / Weston Green Residents' Associations
Long Ditton
- Shweta Ramesh – Liberal Democrat
- Neil Houston - Liberal Democrat
- Barry Fairbank - Liberal Democrat
Molesey East
- Stuart Selleck - The Molesey Residents Association
- Ivan Regan - The Molesey Residents Association
- Tony Popham - The Molesey Residents Association
Molesey West
- Mike Axton - The Molesey Residents Association
- Vic Eldridge - The Molesey Residents Association
- Ruby Ahmed - The Molesey Residents Association
Oatlands and Burwood Park
- Glenn Dearlove – Conservative
- Lewis Brown – Conservative
- Barry Cheyne – Conservative
Oxshott and Stoke D’Abernon
- Oliver Chappell - Conservative
- Andrew Burley – Conservative
- James Vickers – Conservative
Thames Ditton
- Tricia Bland - Thames Ditton / Weston Green Residents' Association
- Karen Randolph - Thames Ditton / Weston Green Residents' Association
- Ruth Lyon - Thames Ditton / Weston Green Residents' Association
Walton Central
- Chris Sadler - The Walton Society
- Alan Palmer - The Walton Society
- Graham Woolgar - The Walton Society
Walton North
- Andrew Kelly – Conservative
- Rachael Lake – Conservative
- Alan Kopitko – Conservative
Walton South
- Christine Elmer – Conservative
- Chris Cross – Conservative
- Malcolm Howard – Conservative
Weybridge Riverside
- Andrew Davis – Liberal Democrat
- Michael Freenman – Conservative
- Andy Muddyman – Conservative
Weybridge St George’s Hill
- Peter Harman - Weybridge & St. George's Independents
- Ian Donaldson – Conservative
- Simon Foale - Conservative
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