WORCESTER’S Conservatives have secured a shock deal with the Liberal Democrats to control the city council.

A pact has been struck between the two rival parties for the Tories to run the council as a minority administration, backed by Lib Dem support.

It brings to an end six days of fevered speculation after last Thursday’s dramatic election count resulted in a hung council.

Your Worcester News can today reveal a hastily-drafted deal between the Tories and Lib Dems which will effectively become a new manifesto for the city. It includes: l A pledge to put the economy first, with new efforts made to support traders.

l Fresh talks about reducing congestion in Worcester.

l The city’s green belt will be protected from development.

l No cuts in budget support to voluntary, sporting, community or arts groups.

l All cash from future council house sales to be put towards new affordable homes – since 2003 it has generated £6.5 million.

It does not include old Tory manifesto commitments to: l Freeze council tax beyond April 2013; the Lib Dems want more time to discuss it further.

l Cut parking charges; although this could form part of the economy pledge at a later date.

Under the deal, the current six-strong Tory cabinet would remain Conservative, with Councillor Simon Geraghty staying on as leader.

In return for their support, the Lib Dems have been given the option of having a seat on the cabinet, an extra role which would take the total number to seven.

The Tories are also planning to hand over chairmanships of the key committee panels such as planning, licensing, audit and scrutiny to either the Lib Dems or even Labour. Coun Geraghty said: “This will be a stable, strong administration and we are doing this for the people of Worcester, it’s their interests we have at heart.

“We recognise we lost overall control at the local elections and wanted to act as quickly as we could to end the days of uncertainty.

“This is very much a new dawn at the Guildhall, make no mistake about it.”

Councillor Liz Smith, Lib Dem group leader, said: “We were looking for a stable administration and predominantly, this was a numbers game.”

It means the Conservatives’ 17-strong group will be propped up by two from the Lib Dems, with Labour the largest opposition on 15 members and Councillor Neil Laurenson as the solitary Green. It will be formally ratified during the council’s annual meeting on Tuesday.

l The deal is not a formal coalition because the Conservatives are being allowed to form their own decision-making cabinet by the Lib Dems. But if the group take up the Tories’ existing offer of a cabinet seat over the coming weeks or months, it would become one.