THE Tories staged a dramatic coup of some of the most important jobs on North Wiltshire District Council on Tuesday evening.

Illness among the ranks of the ruling Liberal Democrats allowed Christine Crisp to grab the job as council chairman from Dianne Moore.

Just one vote divided the two women as a tense battle ended with Coun Crisp emerging victorious winning 25 votes to 24. As the past year's chairman, Coun Moore was ineligible to vote.

Lib Dem Coun Dennis Constable was unable to be at the meeting due to ill health and Independent Coun Philip Allnatt is still serving a two-month suspension.

The Tories were also elected as chairmen of four of the most important committees on the council.

Coun Crisp, said: "I'm very honoured to have been elected to serve the people of North Wiltshire and I will do it to the best of my ability. I'm certainly looking forward to it."

The 61-year-old, from Christian Malford, added: "I was surprised in that normally being the opposition party we wouldn't have been able to make an election like this, but it was all down to the numbers on the night.

I've been a councillor for 14 years at district level and I didn't stand for county in order to reduce my commitments, but I am very proud I was elected."

The chairmanship is a civic role, rather like a mayor and Coun Crisp's duties will involve representing the council in the community.

The Liberal Democrats have held the traditional position since 1991 and leading Tories said it proved how finely balanced the council was.

Tory Toby Sturgis said: "We were surprised to be given the opportunity and I think we are a hung council and it's a clear distribution of responsibility."

"I think what it means is where the committees have equal numbers, if there is a split vote the chairs casting the vote will decide.

"We will do what is best for the electors of North Wiltshire.

"There is a much better control now of the decisions being made so hopefully it will run smoothly and we work for the best of the electorate."

The Conservatives now have control of four of the council's main committee's the appointments committee, development control, licencing and urgent planning matters.

The leadership reins were officially handed over to political newcomer Carol O'Gorman after Coun Ruth Coleman was ousted from the position in March.

It was made clear to Coun Coleman, she would not win if the decision went to a vote.

Coun O Gorman tried to put a positive spin on the loss of the committee chairmanship roles.

She said: "We haven't lost control at all. We have the administration. The committees have been shared evenly between the two groups so that there is an equal representation for the community as a whole, which is what we are voted in for."

The council is also facing having to find a new chief executive after a decision was taken in March not to renew the contract of Bob Marshall, 52. The first stage of recruiting a new boss began at Tuesday nights meeting. A date has not yet been set for his departure, although he is expected to stay at the council until a replacement is found which could take up to six months.

On Tuesday a panel to appoint the new chief executive was agreed by councillors. The £90,000 to £100,000-a-year job is scheduled to be advertised in newspapers in June.