THE Conservatives have accused Labour and Liberal Democrats of ganging up at the first full meeting of Redditch Council since the local elections.

Though all three party leaders on the hung council were keen to stress consensus would be the key in the year ahead, there already appeared to be cracks.

Tory group leader and newly elected Council Leader Gavin Smithers accused his Labour and Lib Dem opposites of using "strong-arm" tactics in using a combined majority to vote in their own chairmen of the main committees.

Labour leader David Cartwright in turn accused Mr Smithers of failing to come to any arrangement with the other parties before the meeting.

Lib Dem leader Diane Thomas said the Tories had a fair share of the power with five out of 10 members on the powerful executive committee, the casting vote and the council deputy leader post.

Mrs Thomas was pleased her party had gained chairmanship of the planning committee and now had two members on the executive committee.