COUNCILLORS will convene at the Civic Offices tonight for an extraordinary meeting called by Labour after last month’s local elections.

The Conservatives maintained a majority in the council but Labour claimed important victories in Old Town as well as Lydiard and Freshbrook.

Tonight’s meeting will be dominated by motions from the two new councillors in those wards who claim their election alters the council’s mandate on key issues.

Coun Matthew Courtliff (Lab, Lydiard and Freshbrook), will make the argument that local opposition to the transfer of Lydiard Park to external management was the reason for his win.

He will put forward a motion that would see private companies excluded from being able to take over the project.

However, given that the bidding process for Lydiard has been extended at the request of interested parties and is still ongoing, questions have been asked as to whether it is too soon to have the debate.

It is likely to serve only as a way of restating Labour's position rather than affecting any change in the process.

Another motion is to be introduced by Coun Jane Milner-Barry (Lab, Old Town) on Conservative plans to introduce parish councils across the whole borough.

Coun Milner-Barry will argue that she was elected last month because she stood on a platform opposing parishing, arguing that public polls should be held before any final decision is taken.

Her motion seeks to commit the council to holding such polls in areas that do not currently have parish councils.

However, tomorrow night the cabinet is expected to move forward with the next stage of their plans to introduce parishes and formally polling the public does not feature in their plans.

It would take an unlikely rebellion from Conservative councillors on this issue for the motion to get through and force a rethink on those plans.

Before debating the motions on parishes and Lydiard, councillors will be asked to vote on a change to the rules governing the makeup of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Until his defeat in last month’s election, Brian Mattock was a Conservative councillor in Old Town, the Cabinet Member for Adult Health and Social Care and a member of the Health and Wellbeing Board since its inception.

Council Leader David Rennard has proposed that, despite his failure to get re-elected, Mr Mattock should be brought back onto the board as a voting lay member with a view to him then becoming the chairman at the next meeting.

A report by council officers backed the proposal, pointing to the loss of experience and knowledge that the board would suffer if Mr Mattock did not return.

However, the move has not been welcomed by Labour who plan to oppose it.

The leader of the Labour group, Coun Jim Grant (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney), has questioned the appropriateness of having an unelected individual chairing such an important body.

He has asked whether there is really no other member of the Conservative cabinet with the ability to assume the role.

The extraordinary meeting will take place at the Civic Offices on Euclid Street at 7pm.