RIVAL parties have been accused of trying to cause "havoc" by joining forces to seize control of council committees.

Despite being the largest party in the borough, the Tories could be excluded from leadership roles on decision making groups after failing to strike a deal with opposition groups.

Conservative leader Phil Turner, running Basildon Council as a minority administration, has labelled the pact between Ukip, Labour and the Wickford Independents as an "unholy alliance."

He warned it opens up the chance of the Dale Farm crisis being repeated.

At this month's election, the Tories failed to make any gains on their 18 seats.

Despite running the council, made up of 42 seats, as a minority administration over the past year, the Tories occupied all the authority's cabinet positions, as well as the chairmanship of major committees such as planning and licensing.

After this year's election cross party talks took place in an attempt to ensure committees in 2016/17 reflected group sizes- but rivals have accused Mr Turner of failing to engage.

It means an order paper dividing up chairman roles between the opposition Labour, Ukip and Wickford Independent groups- and excluding the Tories-is likely to be passed at a full council meeting tonight.

The three parties hold 22 seats, meaning they can seal a narrow majority and pass the paper without needing support from the Tories or Basildon's two Independence from EU councillors.

Ukip leader Linda Allport-Hodge said: "A proposal was put forward which was inclusive of all groups and as far as I was concerned it was a fair reflection of the electorate's will.

"But the Conservatives have refused to work with us and I think Phil Turner is cutting his nose off to spite his face, as the order paper will now go forward without being democratic.

"The Tory leader has left us nowhere to go, but we still have to pass an order paper."

Mr Turner said it was unreasonable to expect the Tories to run an administration without controlling council committees.

He said: "Nothing was off the table, but if they expect me not to control the committees that ties my hands.

"Labour, the party that gave us Dale Farm, will control planning, so any enforcement action will go through the chairman who can sign it off using delegated responsibilities.

“It's is an unholy alliance between groups diametrically opposed in their thinking, their voting and importantly their ideology.

"It puts all the hurdles and roadblocks in the way and causes havoc."

The order paper will also see extra scrutiny committees created, which Mr Turner has dismissed as a waste of money.

Labour leader Gavin Callaghan said: "We will have councillors properly scrutinising what cabinet is doing, rather than waiting for full council every month.

"Phil Turner said he wanted consensus, but what the people of Basildon don't want is one party controlling every area of the council."