The Independents and Con-servatives could form an alliance to run Herefordshire Council.

With no party in overall control after the election, a coalition is inevitable and the Independents could ditch the alliance with the Liberal Democrats, which provided the administration for the last council.

Key cabinet positions will not be decided until Friday, May 23, but indications are that the new leader in waiting is Conservative Roger Phillips.

The Conservatives have 21 seats, Liberal Democrats 16, Independents 16 and Labour four.

Independent councillor Don Rule, of Ledbury, said: "It looks certain that the Ind-ependents will form an executive with the Conservatives, with the Labour group being invited to take part as well."

If Labour declines the offer of one of the ten positions on the ruling cabinet, it looks set to be divided evenly between the Independents and the Conservatives.

The Independent Group, under the leadership of George Hyde, will discuss the issue further at a meeting on Wednesday.

The situation is even more uncertain in the Forest of Dean, where the Conser-vatives made huge gains at the election but no party has overall control.

The Conservatives have 17 seats, Labour 16, the Independents 11 and Liberal Democrats four.

At present, the Labour and the Independent Group are pressing for there to be no leader in a 13-strong Cabinet made up of five Conser-vatives, four Labour, one Liberal Democrat and three Independents.

Tory leader, Will Windsor Clive, who represents Redmarley, believed he was to be council leader as the head of the biggest party. He has questioned whether having no leader is constitutional, even when no party has a clear majority.

Appointments to committees will take place at a meeting on Thursday.