SOUTHEND’S new council leader has promised to listen more and work closely with opposition groups to take the town forward in a new era of collaborative politics.

Conservative Tony Cox promised residents and rival politicians a fundamental change in the way politics is conducted in Southend and vowed to focus on the environment and tourism with two new cabinet posts.

He spoke to the Echo after the Conservatives lost their majority on the council in a bruising set of election results which also saw former Tory leader, James Courtenay, ousted from Blenheim Park.

Opposition groups – which hold more seats on the council than the Tories – could not agree to form a coalition which means the Conservatives now run the council without a majority.

This means the Tories will need to work collaboratively with other parties to win votes on key issues and plans.

Mr Cox, Tory councillor for West Shoebury, said: “I recognise that our administration did not get everything right and in the coming days we will be announcing a number of new policies that we will be implementing very quickly.

“Following the election results we respected the vote and allowed the opposition groups the time and space to agree who will be leader and to form an administration.

“Sadly, they couldn’t agree on what day of the week it was, let alone who can be leader of the council.

“The results left no one party with a clear majority and the town could have been left without an administration.

“Regardless of the politics, bins still need to be emptied, children still need to be taught and the vulnerable need to be cared for.

“Therefore, due to the political impasse, we will run a minority administration.

“I was clear in my speech at the count following my re-election, this council needs to change the way it does its politics.

“I recognise that the last administration did not get everything right.”

Among the changes he aims to introduce is greater co-operation with opposition parties by providing them with “unrestricted access” to briefings with portfolio holders, allowing the parties to help shape policy before it goes to cabinet.

He is also creating two new cabinet posts, with one focussing solely on the environment and another focussing on culture, sport and tourism.

He promised they will not cost the taxpayer, as cabinet members will be asked to take a cut in their pay to cover the cost of the additional posts.

Mr Cox added: “This cabinet will be a listening cabinet who will work with opposition groups, on an issue by issue basis for the good of the town.

“We are working on and hope to announce shortly a number of exciting and radical policies that we will seek to implement in the next few months.”

The first of these policies are likely to be announced at a cabinet meeting on June 18.

The full list of proposed Tory cabinet members will be confirmed at a meeting on Thursday night.

The nominees are:

Meg Davidson (Prittlewell) - deputy council leader and councillor responsible for housing.

Daniel Nelson (Southchurch) - community safety.

Derek Jarvis (West Shoebury) - culture, sport and tourism.

Lesley Salter (Belfairs) - health and adult social care.

Helen Boyd (Blenheim Park) - children and learning.

Kevin Buck (Prittlewell) - transport.

Alex Bright (Southchurch) - environment.

Andrew Moring (Eastwood Park) - IT, corporate and community support.

No party has overall control of the council following the local elections.

However, the Tories remain the biggest individual party with 20 seats. Labour has 14, Independents hold 12 and Lib Dems five.

Voters will be asked to return to the pollson May 23 for the European elections where new single issue parties will also stand.