BATTLE lines have been drawn during Colchester Council’s first meeting since the election.

The Conservative group gained four seats from the Lib Dems in the election, bringing their total to 27.

It means the Tories are the single largest party on the council, but is still three seats short of a working majority.

That led to the coalition, which has run the council for seven years, reforming in a bid to keep out the Conservatives.

But during the meeting, senior Tory Kevin Bentley warned the Lib Dems, Labour and Independents they will “pay at the ballot box next year”.

Mr Bentley, who proposed a motion to allow his group form an administration, said: “The reason we have proposed this is not about arithmetic, but one of morality.”

He added the coalition is compiled of “minor political parties” and “people in their droves have swung towards the Conservatives making us the largest party”.

Mr Bentley also said: “These minor parties have come together to take control with no overall mandate from the people of Colchester.

“That is not legitimate at all and the coalition is clinging on to power and running out of ideas.”

But new leader of Colchester Council Paul Smith responded saying the council is made up of members voted in over three years and said it was “presumptuous”

to try to suggest all voters had swung to the Conservatives when some wards did not have elections.

He added: “What is acceptable is we have an administration which commands widespread support and it is quite right we work together in coalition for the good of the people of Colchester.”

Mr Bentley’s motion was defeated by 28 votes to 24.

A separate motion to approve the make up of the new cabinet was approved by the same margin.