Labour politician Paul Harvey is the new leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council after Liberal Democrat stalwart Brian Gurden was voted out of the top job.

The surprising result was the outcome of the first full council meeting of the new civic year that left the ruling Liberal Democrat/Labour coalition in power.

The council's new leader - 30-year-old Cllr Harvey - was the Labour Party candidate at the general election on May 5. He heads the smallest of the three main parties on the borough council. Cllr Gurden is to be the new deputy leader.

Cllr Gurden failed by two votes to win the first round of voting among the 58 out of 60 councillors present, when he was the sole candidate for the leadership.

After a 20-minute adjournment, councillors were faced with a new vote between Cllr Harvey, who has been a Cabinet member in the joint administration, and Cllr John Leek, the Conservative group leader.

Cllr Harvey scraped home by 29 votes to 28, thanks to a split in voting among the independents. All three voted against Cllr Gurden, reflecting how their relations with the Liberal Democrat chief had deteriorated over the past year.

The joint administration's grip on power has been tenuous in the past year, as Labour have 12 seats, the Liberal Democrats 17 and the Conservatives 28. This leaves the three independent councillors holding the balance of power.

In the election for deputy leader, it required the casting vote of new borough Liberal Democrat mayor Paula Baker to end the tie on 28 votes for and against Cllr Gurden.

After the meeting, Cllr Harvey said it was important the joint administration continues to run the borough council, but he hoped to get more co-operation across the parties.

He said: "We have been running it for 10 years and have been nationally recognised for the support we have given to residents. I hope to build consensus to continue the progress."

Cllr Gurden, who has been leader or deputy leader for the last six years, said: "You cannot do this sort of job without upsetting people from time to time."

Leading Conservative Cllr Phil Heath said: "Unless Paul Harvey can be more conciliatory and consultative, we will be back in the same position as last year where nothing goes ahead."

Independent forum co-ordinator Martin Biermann said: "It was a question of the right person for the right job. You've got to have a conciliator."

First published: Friday, May 20, 2005