THE ruling coalition on Tendring Council plans to form into one political group.

The rainbow administration of Tendring First (12), Labour (6), Liberal Democrat (6) and Independent members (6) will put their political allegiances aside and sign up to a new party.

Councillors will keep their political identities but will come under the banner of the yet-to-be-named new alliance.

Leader David Lines said: “While each of the four component groups will retain their local and/or national identities, this new formation allows a greater degree of administrative and political flexibility when it comes to managing the council’s business.

“It also sends out a strong message to our communities, to the staff of the district council and to our supporters that councillors from all across the district, from all parts of the political spectrum and from all walks of life have decided to put politics on the back burner and work together to tackle the many different and major challenges that face Tendring in the next few years, especially in these turbulent economic times.”

The new policital group will be the biggest single party on the council.

It will have to be agreed at the February 19 full council meeting.

The two opposition groups on the council are the Conservatives (27 councillors) and the Community Representatives (three councillors).

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