THE leader of Thurrock Council's Tory group is confident of taking charge of the authority at a meeting tonight.

Control of the council is up for grabs after Labour's John Kent announced on Monday he would resign from the leadership at today's full council meeting.

The decision came after Ukip gained six seats at this month's council elections, missing out on becoming the largest party by a single vote.

It leaves no party in control of the 49-seat council, which now consists of 17 Ukip, 17 Tory, 14 Labour and one independent member.

Tory leader Rob Gledhill said he is confident he will take the top spot when the council votes to approve a new leader.

Should he win, Mr Gledhill said he will seek to make politics "fairer", while clamping down on flytippers and tackling problems with potholes.

He added: "Like other politicians, I'm confident I'm going to be council leader.

"I will endeavour to introduce a way of deciding on policy, where all decisions go through a scrutiny committee before going to the cabinet for a decision.

"That way, more councillors will have a say in policy.

"I will also look at bringing in new rules for those caught flytipping and littering.

Pot holes are on the agenda, we will be looking at ways of prevention rather than constantly trying to cure the problem."

Bukky Okeunade, Labour councillor for Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park, said Mr Kent had stepped down to "restore political balance".