MUCH is yet to be determined after one of the most extraordinary elections in Waverley Borough Council’s history last week – with the now-hung council’s balance of power still very much up in the air.

Waverley will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday (May 21) when councillors will be expected to vote in Waverley’s leader and mayor for the year ahead.

Usually a ceremonial affair, this meeting has suddenly taken on huge political importance – with the ruling Conservatives laying claim to the greatest share of seats (23 of 57) and thus the most single-party votes, but lacking a majority and likely to face challenges from two fronts.

Farnham Residents’ 15 seats should, on paper, be enough to retain the title of Waverley’s official opposition which it has held since 2015.

However, it is threatened by the ‘Progressive Alliance’ formed between the council’s new Lib Dem (14 seats), Green and Labour (two seats each) groups.

Equally, if Farnham Residents and the Progressive Alliance opt to form their own partnership and agree on a shared leader and mayor, they could feasibly take the title of ruling group away from the Tories.

Jerry Hyman, founder of Farnham Residents, told the Herald he was optimistic of forming such a partnership with the Progressive group at last Friday’s Waverley count.

But Paul Follows, until last week Waverley’s sole Lib Dem representative, was more coy, commenting: “What we’ll need to do is establish the boundaries between the two. These are conversations we need to have.”

Explaining the next steps, Tom Horwood, Waverley chief executive, told the Herald: “Because no single party has more seats than all the others combined, Waverley Borough Council is said to be under ‘no overall control’.

“All elected councillors took office on May 7 and I welcomed them to the council at an induction session that evening.

“The full council meeting on May 21 will elect the new mayor and the council leader, who will then appoint the executive.

“I and colleagues have offered advice on these procedures.

“We will continue to support all councillors throughout this time and once a new administration is in place.”

Peter Martin has also been appointed the council’s deputy leader this week after his predecessor Ged Hall lost his seat.