Positive discussions over a coalition at the council
“VERY positive discussions” continue as a coalition between Tamworth Indepdendent Future and Local Conservatives draws ever closer.
New Tamworth Borough Council leader Thomas Jay announced the intention to form a formal coalition upon taking on the role at last week’s Full Council meeting.
Tamworth Indepdendent Future was formed in August 2022 made up of a number of former Tory councillors, led by Councillor Danny Cook.
Speaking to the Herald this week, Cllr Cook told us: “There is no coalition as we sit and speak right now but the best way to describe it is myself and Thomas are in some very positive discussions and there should be an announcement very shortly.
“All of us want to just get away from party politics and put the residents first and get some good outcomes for the council again.
“I think this is what the residents of Tamworth deserve from their councillors: some maturity, coming together and sorting better outcomes.”
Asked how it came about and what it would mean in laymen’s terms, he explained: “I think there has been a realisation over the last six months on a few sides of the chamber that a small controlling group and no overall control is not the best thing for the residents of Tamworth and actually more of us pulling together and giving the council a solid direction is what needs to happen.
“So the discussions I have been having with a few Conservative councillors recently is let’s put party banners to the side for one minute and get back to doing the best we can for the residents.
“You would have 14 Conservative councillors and potentially five independent councillors who agree to work together in the policy setting side of things and direction of the council. Rather than battling with each other, trying to find some common ground and come together.
“So we would technically form one group even though we are different political entities and it would become the controlling group of the council if the discussions continue as positively as they are.
“We left the Conservative party over the scandals of 2022 but those things have all moved into the past now, they have gone and whatever is going on in Parliament doesn’t affect Tamworth anymore, that has been laid to rest.
“We keep our identity, we are five independent councillors that choose to work together and are having discussions about working with the Conservative party again about better outcomes for the people o of Tamworth.”
Cllr Cook was also complimentary about Cllr Jay’s new position as leader of the council, saying: “He is a very thoughtful person. I don’t think he does anything rash, he thinks things through. He is very detail orientated. He doesn’t do anything until he fully understands it and that gives him a good starting platform to really get his teeth stuck into the role.”
Cllr Jay was also contacted by the Herald and said: “There’s a lot of experience and talent in the chamber which had, unfortunately, been fractured and split in recent years - I want to fully utilise it.
“I’m a firm believer in there being more that unites us than divides us. When like-minded people get together, and look beyond past differences, good things happen and that’s to the benefit of Tamworth.
“I am a different leader, and that does indeed mean that things will be done differently, but that doesn’t mean I want to push out past experience, within both our Conservative group and the Tamworth Independent Future group.
“It’s my job now to bring it all together and this coalition will be the first step in achieving that.”