A councillor from Hayle looks set to be the next leader of Cornwall Council after weeks of uncertainty.
Tense negotiations have been going on at County Hall since the May 2 elections did not deliver a clear victory for any political group.
Now the Independent group has said John Pollard, who represents Hayle North, is the man they will back as leader and the Liberal Democrats have also given him their blessing.
The Independents have 36 seats on the council, level with the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives now have 30 seats after the defection of Mike Eathorne-Gibbons to the Independent group.
The new leader would need the support of at least 62 councillors out of the 123 in total who sit in the chamber.
A spokesman for the Independent group confirmed to the West Briton that the Independents had elected John Pollard as their preferred candidate for leader of the council.
Jeremy Rowe, leader of the Liberal Democrats, also said Mr Pollard was somebody he would be keen to work with.
Mr Rowe said: "We think John Pollard has got good broad appeal and is a very capable guy and we would hope to be able to work with him."
The election of Mr Pollard would be part of a bigger deal between the Independents and the Liberal Democrats for a coalition.
Mr Rowe said: "We think we are close to an agreement with the Independents and we think the other parties are still involved in their talks.
"We are keen to work with the Independents. The detail has to be thrashed out but we are pretty close."
Mr Rowe said he could not comment on whether that would mean a deputy leader role for him.
The spokesman stressed that the decision regarding who leads the council would be entirely in the hands of the members who vote at the council meeting on Tuesday.
Tense negotiations have been going on at County Hall since the May 2 elections did not deliver a clear victory for any political group.
Now the Independent group has said John Pollard, who represents Hayle North, is the man they will back as leader and the Liberal Democrats have also given him their blessing.
The Independents have 36 seats on the council, level with the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives now have 30 seats after the defection of Mike Eathorne-Gibbons to the Independent group.
The new leader would need the support of at least 62 councillors out of the 123 in total who sit in the chamber.
A spokesman for the Independent group confirmed to the West Briton that the Independents had elected John Pollard as their preferred candidate for leader of the council.
Jeremy Rowe, leader of the Liberal Democrats, also said Mr Pollard was somebody he would be keen to work with.
Mr Rowe said: "We think John Pollard has got good broad appeal and is a very capable guy and we would hope to be able to work with him."
The election of Mr Pollard would be part of a bigger deal between the Independents and the Liberal Democrats for a coalition.
Mr Rowe said: "We think we are close to an agreement with the Independents and we think the other parties are still involved in their talks.
"We are keen to work with the Independents. The detail has to be thrashed out but we are pretty close."
Mr Rowe said he could not comment on whether that would mean a deputy leader role for him.
The spokesman stressed that the decision regarding who leads the council would be entirely in the hands of the members who vote at the council meeting on Tuesday.
