SWINDON Council leader Rod Bluh narrowly stayed in his post at the first council meeting after the local elections.

The council’s AGM, at the Civic Offices, in Euclid Street, today, saw several tight votes and was the first taster of how the council is expected to operate until the next election in 2014.

The Conservative Party has 29 members overall, compared to Labour’s 24, giving it a majority of just one. However, three Conservatives were absent yesterday while all Labour’s members turned up, meaning the four Lib Dems held the balance of power.

Coun Bluh and Lib Dem group leader Coun Stan Pajak initially threw their hats into the ring to be leader, but Coun Pajak withdrew after some confusion and debate around the voting process.

All 26 Tories present, including the mayor and deputy major, then voted for Rod Bluh, with all 24 Labour members voting against. The Lib Dems abstained, allowing Coun Bluh to return to power.

Coun Bluh said: “Thank you council. I suppose if that’s an indication of how the voting might go it was a fairly good start, so there you go. How much support I have or how much support I don’t have, I’m more than privileged to be standing here again.

“And for as long as I’m here and as long as I hold my position, I will do my very best for the whole council and for the residents of Swindon with my colleagues. And hopefully all of us can work together to drive this borough forward.”

Coun Pajak said he withdrew his nomination to be leader, and the group then abstained, as he did not think Labour would vote for him and he did not want the meeting to be a protest vote against Coun Bluh.

Some cabinet portfolios were changed and there are new cabinet members to fill three cabinet vacancies. Coun David Renard, still the cabinet member for children’s services, is now deputy leader, replacing Coun Garry Perkins, who is still responsible for regeneration and culture.

Coun Dale Heenan, formerly chairman of the planning committee, is cabinet member for strategic planning and sustainability, Coun Fionuala Foley is cabinet member for Streetsmart and corporate services, and Coun Vera Tomlinson is cabinet member for a safer and stronger borough.

The new mayor is Coun Mick Bray (Con, Lydiard and Freshbrook) and the new deputy is Coun Nick Martin (Con, Shaw).

The AGM also saw debate over the Haboakus project to build 241 homes on the former allotment site Pickards Small Field and the Kembrey Grass open space.

Labour originally wanted the council to agree a motion saying it did not support the disposal of the sites, however the final agreed wording came out of amendments by the Lib Dems and Labour.

The council has agreed to seek to protect public land and open space and also to recommend to Cabinet to instigate a community consultation on the future of the sites and report back before any disposal of the land.