OPPOSITION councillors are getting ready to thrash out a deal re-aligning council controls and power in York after a by-election brought a former council heavyweight back into politics in the city.

The Press understands members of the Conservative, Green and Liberal Democrat groups, as well as independent councillors and the newly former Labour Independent group, met over the weekend to agree their priorities ahead of a key meeting later this week.

Since the Westfield by-election and the defection of three Labour members in recent months, the ruling group has been left in minority control and a special council meeting will be held on Thursday to determine membership and chairmanships of key committees. It is understood that opposition groups are to demand radical changes to the power balance on important committees in the council.

Conservative leader Chris Steward said he hoped the one of the first acts under the new regime would be to overturn plans to close Castlegate youth service.

He said: "With the recent defections having cost Labour their majority the council’s committees must be changed to take away the Labour majority on them. At a stroke we will then move to true democratic decision making and one of the first tests will be Castlegate.

"This will then just be the start with the Local Plan likely to be the big issue, but everything from Lendal Bridge fine refunds to pothole repairs likely to be able to be discussed and influenced by opposition councillors."

The meeting on Thursday will also be the first chance for Cllr Andrew Waller – the former Liberal Democrat leader of the council who won the Westfield by-election last week – to return to action in the council.

Until then, he holds no committee positions and will have to wait until seats are reallocated to know what areas he can influence.

He said he hoped his experience both in and out of power would be useful in the negotiations which will now have to go on in the council.

He said: “I am familiar with a council where there is no overall control and I know the need to build agreement across all parties. That is something that cannot be rushed, and has to be in the best interests of the city.”

Once he's fully back in council, Cllr Waller said he will be campaigning on for a safe future for community centres in York.

“The council supported centres have been under threat for some time, and I want to see them on a more secure footing.

“I think my experience outside of the Guildhall bubble has given me an insight into the struggles of small voluntary groups, community associations, and the way council bureaucracy can stand in the way of an outcome for them.”