Council in no overall control after two defections

The defection of two councillors to Reform UK has left a local authority in a state of no overall control.

The Residents for Uttlesford party had led Uttlesford District Council, in Essex, but Geoff Bagnall and Mark Coletta have switched allegiances.

Bagnall said Reform UK "best represents" his views and that of the community, while Coletta hoped to deliver improvements to the ward of Takeley.

Council leader Petrina Lees told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Residents for Uttlesford remained "a party of hard work".

Uttlesford District Council covers three Parliamentary constituencies, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch's seat in North West Essex.

It is now made up of 19 Residents for Uttlesford councillors, 11 Conservatives, four Liberal Democrats, three Reform UK members and two independents.

Lees pointed out that her party was still in charge of the administration and that auditors recently concluded the council provided good value for money.

"We will continue to work with other councils across Essex to get the best for all our residents from the imposed local government reorganisation."

The news came as similar defections were made at Maldon District Council.

Matthew Neall, who represents Tillingham, and Adrian Fluker, of the Southminster ward, also joined Reform UK earlier, having left the Residents Alliance group.

The council is run by a joint-administration of Conservatives and Maldon District Independents.

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