WITH the Tories trying to run Basildon Council as a minority administration, the last 12 months have tested the patience of many, with squabbling and political tricks frequently holding up meetings.

In October, after a mammoth seven-hour full council meeting, chief executive Bala Mahendran wrote to every councillor, warning they risked losing the trust of the public because of their squabbling.

During 2014/15, the Tories had offered two cabinet posts to Ukip in a bid to ensure smooth governance. But the relationship was not a happy one, and council leader Phil Turner decided the Tories would go it alone instead this year.

At present, of the 42 seats on the council, there are 18 Tories, nine Labour and seven Ukip members in the chamber, as well as representation from Wickford Independents, the Lib Dems, the Green Party and independents.

In theory, this offered the possibility of the Conservatives being outvoted if all opponents combined against them.

In practice, however, such an event was a rarity, as Labour and Ukip councillors found themselves routinely unable to strike deals with each other, even if they wanted the same thing.

Both parties, for instance, were highly critical of a Tory plan to scrap council funding for two advice services, Dial and Impact, and giving the entire budget to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

When the issue was brought before a full council meeting in February, both parties put forward separate proposals to save the funding for the services, which were duly defeated.

Thursday’s election will see 14 of the borough’s 42 wards up for grabs.

Basildon is often viewed as a bellwether town, with its voters routinely reflecting national trends.

With Labour floundering nationally, and polls predicting a dismal showing this week, the Tories in Basildon must be eyeing the prospect of winning the necessary seats to gain a majority on the council.

But, just a month before an EU referendum, Ukip will also be hoping a surge of Euroscepticism will help swell their vote share, just as it did when the party swept the board in Basildon two years ago.

Prominent Tory names, including leader Phil Turner, are seeking to retain their seat, but will be confident of success in the party’s Billericay stronghold.

A councillor more at risk, however, is his Labour counterpart, Gavin Callaghan, who is seeking to hold onto his seat in Pitsea North West.

Ukip candidate Michelle Regan is a strong contender to oust Mr Callaghan, despite a row erupting after she was pictured alongside the flag of the far-right British Movement group at a protest rally earlier this year.

Wickford North is another intriguing ward, as Tory councillor Carole Morris seeks re-election.

Mrs Morris was ousted as the borough’s planning chairman in October after her decision to approve two major housing developments in private sparked anger among opponents.

Wickford Independents, formed last year when the town’s Ukip councillors broke away, will be contesting their first election in the ward, with Eunice Brockman hoping to defeat Mrs Morris.

Ukip, which is fielding candidates in 13 of the 14 wards, had hoped to register Anne Marie Waters, herself a controversial figure with links to the far right, in Wickford North.

But an “administrative error” which saw Ukip central office fail to approve her candidacy means Ms Waters cannot stand, inadvertently boosting Wickford Independents’ chances of success.

Echo:

THE CANDIDATES

BILLERICAY EAST

Susan McCaffery (Ukip)

Patricia Reid (Labour)

Stuart Sullivan (Con)*

BILLERICAY WEST

Jack Ferguson (Labour)

Cliff Hammans (Ukip)

Phil Turner (Con)*

BURSTEAD

David Kirkman (Labour)

Richard Moore (Con)*

Kevin Piper (Ukip)

CROUCH

Stuart Allen (Con)*

Sally Muylders (Labour)

Richard Petchey (Ukip)

FRYERNS

Adele Brown (Labour)*

Tony Low (Con)

Rhyan Waine (Ukip)

LAINDON PARK

Lewis Blaney (Labour)

Hazel Green (Ukip)

Gary Maylin (Con)

Phil Rackley (Green)

Alan Richards (Lib Dem)

LANGDON HILLS

John Drummond (Green)

Philip Gibbs (Ukip)

Liz Grant (Lib Dem)

Alex Harrison (Labour)

Stephen Hillier (Con)*

LEE CHAPEL NORTH

Andrew Gordon (Labour)

Arthur James (Ukip)

Stephen Yates (Con)

Clarence Zwengunde (Ind)

NETHERMAYNE

Chris Allen (Con)

Derrick Fellowes (Ukip)

Dean Hall (Green)

Graham Herbing (Labour)

Pauline Kettle (Ind)

Ben Williams (Lib Dem)

PITSEA NORTH WEST

Jacqueline Blake (Con)

Gavin Callaghan (Labour)*

Michelle Regan (Ukip)

PITSEA SOUTH EAST

Olukayode Adeniran (Labour)

Jose Carrion (Ukip)

Ian Dwyer (Con)

ST MARTIN’S

Leslie Allport (Ukip)

David Burton-Sampson (Labour)

Jeff Henry (Con)

VANGE

Kayte Block (Labour)

Terry Latchford (Ukip)

Tamara Rainford (Con)

WICKFORD NORTH

Eunice Brockman (Wick Inds)

Dolores McGurran (Labour)

Carole Morris (Con)*

David Radley (Lib Dem)

*denotes existing councillor