IT'S AS-YOU-WERE FOR COUNCIL'S TORY LEADER AS HE SURVIVES NO CONFIDENCE VOTE

THE leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Cllr Philip Jackson,  survived a No Confidence vote at last night's full meeting of the authority.

During an untidy debate, Labour leader Cllr Matthew Patrick accused the Conservative controlling group of "a culture of gagging opposition members".

However, his move to have Cllr Jackson ousted from office - for reasons that were not entirely clear - was defeated by 22 votes to 16, with two abstentions.

Later in the meeting's proceedings, the Labour leader claimed there was a £5-million "black hole" in NELC's finances and accused portfolio holder for finance, Cllr Stan Shreeve, of "having lost control".

However, this was rejected by the portfolio holder who insisted: "The council is solvent and won't run out of money.

"Our cashflow is sufficient to maintain services."