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THE Labour Party are today back in control of Sheffield Council - after a cliffhanger of a vote which saw them win back power by a majority of one.
The political scene has been in stalemate since the local elections 10 days ago and a hung council with no overall control.
At a special meeting yesterday, both Labour and the Lib Dems said they wanted to be the ruling party.
In a very close vote, Independent councillor Martin Davis backed his former party the Lib Dems, while Conservative Anne Smith and Greens Jillian Creasy and Bernard Little all abstained.
The final result was that Labour won by 41 votes to the Lib Dem's 40, which means Labour will now be the ruling Cabinet and Coun Jan Wilson will remain as Council Leader.
Coun Davis - who quit the Lib Dems in 2005 - said he had no plans to return to his old party but voted along with them because he believed that's what his constituents wanted him to do.
He said: "I looked at my Stocksbridge ward and people there had voted in a Lib Dem councillor at the local elections so obviously people in my ward expressed a wish that they wanted a Lib Dem administration.
"It was a hard decision but people in my ward returned a Lib Dem majority so that was my mandate to vote Lib Dem."
Labour Leader Jan Wilson and Lib Dem Leader Paul Scriven both outlined why their party should be in power.
Coun Wilson said: "We don't feel Labour was wholeheartedly rejected in the elections.
"It's serious to lose seats but overall we got the majority of votes and don't feel our policies have been rejected.
"Labour is still the largest group and we wish to continue with our policies."
Coun Scriven said people had voted for change. "They didn't vote for the status quo but gave a clear message that they want to see a change of policy and direction. People voted in the ballot box and their voice should be truly reflected."
Conservative councillor Anne Smith tried to call for Labour and the Lib Dems to share power. She said: "Put aside your differences - there is hardly a cigarette paper between you on many policy issues.
"If Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley can do it for the good of the community, surely Labour and the Lib Dems can."
But all the parties - including the Greens - said a joint Labour and Lib Dem administration would be unworkable and impractical as there were fundamental differences between the two.
Green councillor Jillian Creasy said: "We want Sheffield to have a stable administration. Labour has the largest number of seats and is in the best position to do this.
We also recognise that the people of Sheffield want to see some changes and we will support the Lib Dems' efforts in this regard."
Along with choosing which party was going to be in power, councillors also had to vote on who should sit on the committees.
The Greens said opposition councillors should chair the majority of scrutiny boards, which can question cabinet decisions, but in the end Labour retained much of the control.
Labour will chair the culture and economy scrutiny board, the neighbourhoods scrutiny board, the west and north planning board, the city centre and east planning board and the licensing board. The Lib Dems will chair the children and young people scrutiny board and the health and community care scrutiny board. Conservative councillor Anne Smith will chair the strategic resources scrutiny board.
The Star Readers' Panel gives its view. Log on to www.the.star.co.uk/jury
Labour has lost control of Dronfield Town Council for the first time in 12 years.The Lib Dems now have 11 seats, Tories six and Labour two. Lib Dem councillor Issy Pryce was elected Mayor. Coun Frank Higgin is new leader of the town council.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
