Coalitions and back room deals likely in struggle for power

Although voting will take place on Thursday, the counting of ballots will only be held on Friday.

E-counting software is used to check the votes and generate reports which will provide a detailed analysis of the calculations at each stage of the count.

Voters’ preferences are transferred to candidates once their favoured candidate has been eliminated from the contest.

When all of the stages of the count have been completed for each ward, candidates will be given provisional notice of the result and allowed to ask for a recount.

If there are no recounts, or once they have been completed, the returning officer will publicly declare the successful candidates to be elected.

This is likely to happen some time between Friday afternoon and evening, with negotiations beginning almost instantly to start forming administrations.

The party with the most councillors may well have enough politicians to hold an outright majority, but often coalitions are formed or minority groups are tacitly supported by another party.

Backroom deals could be key. Angus managed to run from 2007-2012 with a so-called rainbow coalition, despite the SNP having the largest single group of elected representatives.

Don’t be against more jiggery-pokery across all colours as politicians bid to secure power after the results are in.

The counting of votes will be held on Friday.