New riddle over Wolverhampton Council control

The death of a Conservative councillor could pave the way for Labour regaining control of Wolverhampton City Council next year.

A by-election is expected to be held in Bilston North after the sudden death of Councillor Gillian Fellows at the weekend.

The council is run by a Conservative and Lib Dem coalition, with a majority of two.

But if Labour wins back the seat in a by-election, it would create a political deadlock with 30 coalition councillors and 30 Labour.

If that happens it will place the balance of power in the hands of the mayor, Lib?Dem Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett, who would be given the casting vote.

Councillor Gwinnett today said that he would have to seek advice from council officers on the protocol should the council become deadlocked.

But next year's mayor is set to be Labour's Bert Turner and if the deadlock remains he may be able to use his casting vote in favour of his party.

The Lib Dems have refused to comment yet on whether they would field a candidate against their coalition partners in the by-election

.Labour has already tried to seize back control of the council since winning an extra seat in the elections on May 7.

The party proposed its leader Councillor Roger Lawrence as leader of the council at last week's annual meeting.

The motion, supported by all 29 Labour councillors, was defeated by just one vote.Councillor Fellows was elected to Bilston North in 2008.

Her victory for the Tories over Labour was one of the eight seats that helped the party win power at the council.

The 69-year-old stepped down as cabinet member for schools last week to make way for Lib Dem Councillor Claire Darke, who has been given a post as part of the new Tory Lib-Dem coalition

.Councillor Fellows, who lived in Bunkers Hill Lane, Bilston, died suddenly on Saturday after a short illness.

Councillor Neville Patten, leader of the council, said: "She was a hard-working and dedicated member of the council and embraced her role as cabinet member for schools with great enthusiasm. She took pride in her work on the Building Schools for the Future programme and the fact that Wolverhampton became on of the earliest authorities to move to closure on the programme.

"She was also a good and loyal friend and she will be sorely missed by all sides within the council.

"We are devastated by the sudden loss, but our thoughts are with her husband Brian, her sister and fellow councillor, Christine Mills, and the rest of her family at this time."

Labour leader Councillor Lawrence said: "Councillor Fellows was a great stalwart of Bilston who worked hard with voluntary and community organisations."