A MID Essex council has been blasted by sitting members who have claimed its failure to form an administration weeks after the election is “absolutely disgraceful”.

Maldon Council has come under fire after failing to decide on how the authority will be run after a local election on May 4 saw no party seize overall control.

The council is made-up of ten Conservatives, seven Independent Group councillors, seven independents, six Liberal Democrats and one Labour.

That is a change from the 2019 results where there were 12 Conservatives, 11 Independent Group councillors, five independents, two non-aligned Conservative and one Lib Dem.

Despite the election having taken place more than two weeks ago, there has still been no breakthrough over who should lead the council.

The stalemate has now been criticised by two former leaders who now sit as independents.

Independent councillor Wendy Stamp, who was leader between 2020 and 2021 told Full Council last Thursday the decision to defer the formal announcement over the make-up of the administration until June 8 was letting down residents.

But ger call for a decision to be taken at Full Council last week was not agreed.

She said: “It’s absolutely disgraceful that egos, party politics and spin cannot be put aside and replaced with cooperation and compromise.

“After all, that is what residents voted for, the council is to represent them, work hard and deliver the best services for them and not ourselves.

“I feel sorry for some of the new members. I bet they’re wondering what the heck they have signed up for.

"I’m pretty robust and I’m absolutely worn down and worn out and disgusted 31 members from this administration cannot form an actual working cooperation administration.

"The people we are letting down are all our residents.

"This situation has to change and it has to change quick and I’m sorry, but you know I’ve not been privy to any notes or any information that have come out of these meetings between the leaders and nothing I’ve seen so far has convinced me that the situation will be any different chairman on the June 8.”

Independent councillor Adrian Fluker, who was leader between 2018 and 2020, added: “By the time we get to June 8 £68,000 would have been taken out of reserves to prop up this council and its work. It is unacceptable.

"This situation has to change and it has to change quick and I’m sorry, but you know I’ve not been privy to any notes or any information that’s come out of these meetings between the leaders and nothing I’ve seen so far has convinced me that the situation will be any different chairman on the June 8.”