REDBRIDGE Council will meet in full for the first time following the election this evening, under the new Tory-Lib Dem coalition which will govern the borough for the next four years.

The vote on May 6 saw residents return a council with no overall control in which the Conservatives are the largest party with 30 seats, while Labour – who made substantial gains – follow closely on 26 seats, with the Lib Dems falling further behind to seven seats.

The council had been hung – or, as some members have described it, balanced – for twelve months prior to the elections, and while Conservative group leader Keith Prince will continue as leader of the council, he will have a new deputy in Cllr Ian Bond, who took charge of the Lib Dem group after Cllr Hugh Cleaver stood aside following the election.

Much of tonight's meeting will be ceremonial, as the leader of the council is officially appointed, while the incoming mayor – Tory councillor Jim O'Shea – will also be appointed, along with his deputy.

Under the terms of the coalition, announced yesterday, the number of cabinet members will be reduced to nine members, and will consist of seven Tory councillors and two Lib Dems.

Council leader Cllr Prince said: “We will work together to provide a strong and stable administration through these challenging times.”

Deputy leader Cllr Bond said: “It was clear from the elections that people no longer trust any single party to take every decision, but want to see politicians working together.”

Another full council meeting is scheduled for next week when the normal business of running the borough will be resumed.

The announcement of the terms of coalition comes on the same day as the news that there will be a by-election for a seat in Chadwell ward, following the revelation that elected Labour councillor Mark Gittens was ineligible to stand because he is a teacher at Wanstead High School.

Mr Gittens took the seat from the Lib Dems in the election, but as a teacher he is an employee of the council, as such cannot hold elected office.

The council meeting will be held at 7:15pm in the council chamber in Ilford Town Hall.