Warwickshire County Council's fraught 10-hour slog to set a budget ended without success and in bizarre fashion with the leadership pushing to vote on a proposal they hadn't seen.

The election of a new chair – Cllr Dale Keeling – the presentation and debate of five separate budget proposals and a lunch break took a total of five-and-a-quarter hours before leaders of each political group, none of which has outright control, got together to thrash out compromises.

The biggest bone of contention appeared to be the rate at which council tax would go up.

The ruling Reform UK group started out at 3.89 per cent with likeliest bedfellows the Conservatives setting out their stall at 4.89 per cent, a smidge shy of the 4.99 per cent maximum advocated by the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Labour and the council's finance professionals.

Only 15 of Reform's 22 councillors were present but all nine Tories turned out with Reform able to rely on independent Councillor Luke Shingler, who initially stood for the party but had to give up his political affiliation due to restrictions related to his work, for a decisive 25th vote out of 49 councillors in the room. 

But while those talks went on, the Liberals, Greens, Labour and independent councillor Judy Falp formed their own compromises, giving up some new spending plans to incorporate Tory wants on gulley cleaning and rural transport in the hope that the dark blue corner would abstain – not vote for or against it – and allow the pact to pass.

At the back end of the 10th hour, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats Cllr Sarah Boad led the only alternative proposal put forward but did so before the documents had been sent to councillors.

"We see this as a sensible alternative to the proposals voted down earlier on in a no-overall-control council where all five groups were not able to agree," she said.

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"It would be really good to get this through and not have to wait for the 17 (of February), we are not sure much would have materially changed by then.

"Clearly the other groups are struggling to get close enough on council tax to make an agreement so we think of this as the best way forward for the council." 

With everyone still waiting for the documents from council staff, Conservative group leader Cllr Adrian Warwick argued enough was enough and called for the meeting to be adjourned to another day.

"We hear that this might work but I don't think we can make a decision at this point without considering what is before us," he said.

"After the discussions we had this afternoon, I am not prepared to rush into making any decision."

Deputy leader and lead on Reform UK's budget Cllr Stephen Shaw asked to vote on the adjournment but was advised by Cllr Keeling that councillors would have to wait for the papers.

Ire grew on the right of the chamber with Cllr Yousef Dahmash requesting clarity on the process required to move straight to a vote.

All of this was being watched from the public gallery by a familiar face, former Warwickshire councillor Clare Golby.

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The wife of Reform UK councillor Nigel Golby, who served on the authority as a Conservative until May 2025, Mrs Golby recently published a social media video in which she chatted to county leader Cllr George Finch. The post included the question: "Can we unite the right?"

Perched next to the Tories' political assistant, Mrs Golby left the public gallery to briefly liaise with Reform UK's political assistant before retaking her seat.

Murmurs and grumbles continued amongst councillors while waiting for the papers until Cllr Finch rose to ask: "Would it be possible to vote on the proposed budget or amendment before we have seen it or not?"

The documents landed seconds later, diverting attention from the prospect of that question being answered, but cabinet member Cllr Mike Bannister went on to query whether Cllr Boad's proposal was valid as it came before papers were available.

"You've seen it all before, just in a different format," said Cllr Boad.

Chief executive Monica Fogarty chimed in to say the proposal didn't need to be made again. On the question of shutting down a debate that had yet to start, she added: "Clearly the chair, in saying that we are still in debate, feels that insufficient debate has been given to the proposal so that is what we are doing."

Cllr Shaw was asking how long would be given to reading the new papers when another councillor – it was unclear who – called out to move straight to the vote, a prospect he then put to the chair. 

Cllr Keeling asked: "Do you not want to consider the proposal?"

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"I want to go straight to the vote," came Cllr Shaw's reply.

Eventually, all councillors were given 15 minutes to read the papers. The meeting actually reconvened again after 21 minutes at which point Cllr John Waine interjected. 

"I'm sorry, I was not aware that the information had come through," he said.

"I certainly haven't seen it. Why should I be expected to vote on something I haven't seen?"

Cllr Keeling told him that "the chief executive has confirmed that it did go to you by email".

Despite that, Cllr Waine joined his colleagues and the Conservatives in voting against the plans and for an adjournment until Tuesday, February 17 when councillors will try again.