GRANDFATHER of local politics Tony Phillips OBE holds the future of West Wiltshire District Council in his hands after being elected to the top job at the council.

The Independent councillor, who has been a district councillor since the 1970s and was chairman of the council in 1990/1991, was elected leader at the new council's first meeting on Wednesday.

Election results on May 1 left no one political party with overall control, ousting the Liberal Democrats after 12 years in power.

The council now has 19 Liberal Democrats, 19 Conservatives, four Independents and two Labour councillors.

Former leader Cllr Bob Brice, the Liberal Democrat nominee for leader on Wednesday, lost out to Cllr Phillips by 23 votes to 20.

Cllr Phillips now holds the makeup of the council's powerful cabinet in his hands, and can pick up to 10 councillors from the 44 member hung council to join him on the executive.

Members of the cabinet are each given an area of responsibility, called a portfolio, and oversee policy changes and service provision in areas such as corporate services, leisure and health and environment and development, including planning.

Cllr Phillips said: "I hope that as the grandfather of the council I will be able to make a contribution towards the well running of this authority.

"In the next 12 months or so I hope that I can convince all the members of the council to contribute towards the well-being of the citizens of west Wiltshire.

"I once before had the honour of being chairman of this authority when we had a problem and I tried my best to support the electorate as a whole and I hope all members will help me in undertaking that task now."

District council spokesman Louise Knox said: "We expect Cllr Phillips to name his cabinet soon. The council will continue to work to existing policies until such time as the cabinet is named and I am sure Cllr Phillips will be meeting with the relevant officers to discuss the way forward. It remains business as usual and does not affect the way we deliver services at present."

The new chairman of the council is Conservative councillor Marion Clegg, who beat the Liberal Democrat nominee, Sophie Farkas, to the post by one vote.

Cllr Farkas will be the council's vice-chairman.