MUCH like in Westminster the parties of Mole Valley are currently in negotiations as to how the power will be shared in a hung council.

The current situation, that of a Conservative executive led by Jean Pearson, will continue until the council's Annual General Meeting on May 25.

Angela Griffiths, the head of Democratic Service at the council, said: "At this meeting we would expect nominations for the leader of the council to be made.

"Once the leader has been elected he/she will advise the council of their proposed members of the executive and which portfolios those members will hold.

"Usually, the leader of the majority group becomes the leader of the council.

"However, as no group has a majority on the council, we understand the various group leaders are having discussions as to how to proceed."

All of the leaders confirmed that discussions were taking place in order to determine the best way forward.

Just like the Liberal Democrats on a national scale the Ashtead Independents are in a powerful position as the third party in a hung council.

David Howell, the group leader, said that this is a return to the status quo of four years ago where the party held the balance of power until the Conservatives gained outright control.

Mr Howell, councillor for Ashtead Common, said: "Mole Valley has been a hung council in the past, and the Ashtead Independents are used to this situation.

"We shall use our position constructively with the aim of making the council's decision making more transparent, harnessing the expertise of all members of the council and not just those of one group."