Basildon Council has seen a dramatic overhaul in how it is run after opposition groups ganged up against the Tories to push through a motion.

Ukip, Labour and independent leaders joined forced to support a motion proposed by Ukip Linda Allport-Hodge which will see the cabinet system replaced by a committee system.

There will be no leader, but the chairman of the new Policy and Resources Committee will have the same responsibilities as leader.

The council will also now be run by different committees, on which no political party will hold a majority.

The Tories argued that the new system will be less transparent, more expensive and make making a decision more complicated and time consuming.

Chairman Gavin Callaghan has denied forming an alliance.

Tory councillor Andrew Barnes said in his major speech during the meeting: "Ukip and Labour wouldn't want a committee system if they could be in control of a cabinet one.

"It is a stitch up of the worst kind."

Tory Andrew Baggott added: "Ukip and Labour are discarding their ethics for the sake of power."

Former leader of the council Phil Turner added that there would be a huge cost in the changeover, and called it a "shoddy" motion that had been "railroaded" through.

However, Ukip Linda Allport-Hodge said that Turner's estimation on how much it cost was a "whimsical fantasy" and compared his knowledge of number to that of Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott.

Gavin Callaghan will take the role of chairman.

She says that Ukip and Labour are not "seizing control", but they are sharing it, rather than six Billericay Tories having it.

He said that the opposition groups had "lost confidence" in the Tory administration through decisions such as the Dry Street housing development, the closing of Pitsea Swimming Pool and moving the market.