00:01Political control of Newcastle City Council is shifting after a deal between the Liberal
00:06Democrats and the Green Party. The agreement follows a fragmented election result, leaving
00:11no party with overall control and raising questions about how the authority will now
00:16be run. Under the arrangement, the Liberal Democrats will form a minority administration
00:21in the city, working with the Greens through a stability and cooperation agreement. The
00:27partnership is designed to provide governing stability following an election that produced
00:32no clear majority at present. Gosford councillor Colin Ferguson is expected to be appointed
00:38as council leader at the authority's annual general meeting, marking a formal change in
00:43leadership after years of labour control across the city and a significant shift in local political
00:49balance locally evident. The election left no party with a majority on the 78-seat council,
00:54with the Liberal Democrats on 25 seats, Reform UK on 24 and the Greens on 23, creating uncertainty
01:02over who will become the official opposition group in the chamber. The Liberal Democrats
01:07and Greens say their agreement will strengthen scrutiny, establish cross-party working arrangements
01:13and encourage cooperation in decision-making while maintaining political independence and
01:18setting out a more stable approach to governance across Newcastle City Council going forward locally.
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