MALDON District Council (MDC) has this evening (Thursday, 1 October) decided on who shall act as leader until its Annual Statutory 'mayor making' meeting on Thursday, November 5.

The interim role of Council Leader Designate will be filled by Conservative Councillor Bamford.

The decision was made at a meeting of the full council after members were asked to ratify the Conservative group decision to put Councillor Elaine Bamford in the role following the sudden resignation of former leader Councillor Adrian Fluker in August.

However, since then the political balance of power at the local authority has shifted away from the Conservatives. Currently, there are two political groups at MDC – the Independents, with 12 councillors, and the Conservative group, with 11. This followed the resignation from the Tory group of Councillor Maddie Thompson.

Cllr Bamford will now remain in the role until the district's Statutory Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 5. The November meeting will decide who will fill the role of Council Leader and other key member positions going forward.

Speaking at tonight's meeting, Cllr Bamford said: "I want to go forward positively and proactively on behalf of the community we serve, and put behind us the complaint and blame culture that has been so damaging in the press." While Councillor Heard offered his congratulations on behalf of the opposition group, a number of councillors said that the issues that Cllr Bamford was referring to had not been fully resolved.

The Coronavirus Act means there can be no further local elections until May, 2021, at the earliest.

A fuller report of tonight's meeting, including the latest make-up of the council, will be provided by Maldon Nub News tomorrow.