NO one political party has gained overall control of Otley Town Council - for a second term.

Although the makeup of the council has changed slightly, Labour and the Liberal Democrats remain with an equal number of seats with six each.

The remaining three seats on the council are taken by two Conservatives, including new councillor Norman Harrison, and independent, Nigel Fran-cis.

With Labour and Liberal Democrat members having an equal number of votes, the parties will have to convince the three minority members to side with them to get any proposals through.

So far, all political parties have vowed to work together for the good of the town. But with current plans to change the ward boundaries, another election is due to take place in a year's time when also the number of councillors will rise from 15 to 20.

Otley Labour councillors claim they lost out at last week's elections because voters chose to register their opposition to the war in Iraq, but say Otley bucked the national trend with two new councillors and only one seat lost - giving a net gain of one seat on the council.

Labour leader, Councillor John Eveleigh, who failed to win a seat on Leeds City Council, said he was pleased with the town council result.

"A lot of people cited the war and said they wouldn't vote for us this time but would be back next time," he said.

In Prince Henry ward, Ray Dunn, former chairman of the council's Civic Centre Committee, lost his seat to Conservative, Norman Harrison and former mayor, Phil Coyne stood down.

But Labour gained three seats elsewhere - on Manor ward with Nigel Gill, on West Chevin ward with Kevin Cooney and at Danefield with Neville Birch.

"Otley itself bucked the trend nationally and has done very well to only have lost one seat, it was a commendable effort," said Coun Eveleigh.

He believed the Liberal Democrats, Conservative members and Independ-ent would work together as an alliance.

But he added with current plans to change the whole council again in a year's time, because of the boundary changes, and to add five more councillors, the political makeup of the council might very well change again.

Independent Councillor Nigel Francis, who as deputy mayor should be the next town mayor, said he was yet to have a meeting with Conservative members Gerard Francis and Norman Harrison to discuss policies, but he denied there would be any pact between them and the Liberal Democrats.

"At the end of the day, instead of a very political town council, we want to look at what we can do for the town as a parish council."

Issues he believed would be most important for the new council would be the future of the Civic Centre and staffing of the town council officers.

He believed with next year's retirement of town clerk Les Cross and centre manager Malcolm Scott there could be room to change the way the council was run.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have six seats on the council. Two former councillors, Lawrence Ross and Elizabeth Furze lost their seats in Ashfield and Danefield wards, but the party picked up a seat in Ashfield with former councillor Millie Stott and one in Manor with Jonathan Kirkland.

Councillor Colin Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "I'm pleased with the result. I'm disappointed that some of my colleagues did not get elected, but pleased that we did better than last time.

"No party has overall control, but we will try as we always do to get the best deal for the people of Otley. "

Coun Campbell added that he was disappointed that there had been such a low turnout of voters.

"The future of the town is the responsibility of all the people not just those in political parties. People should use their vote and express their opinion."