Fresh from their storming election victory, the Independent councillors of Allerdale have described their first meeting as “very positive.”

Stephen Stoddart, who founded one of the groups making up the Independents, revealed that 16 of the 19 non-aligned councillors attended a meeting on Tuesday.

The Independents now make up the largest group on the council, with Conservatives in second place with 15 and Labour trailing with 14 seats following a big slump.

Despite their superior numbers the Independents do not constitute a united party but a loose grouping with a broad spectrum of political opinion.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Stoddart has stressed that they have a “lot of common ground”, though the exact shape of the council administration still remains unclear at this stage.

He also revealed that the Independents discussed three possible options on the way forward at the meeting but they are remaining tight-lipped about what those options are.

However, a decision announcement is expected tomorrow following a second follow-up meeting.

A Tory-Independent coalition is among the most likely scenarios after the Conservatives ruled out “propping up” Labour.

Newly-elected councillors are now holding group meetings and cross-party talks, with the council leadership still to play for.

Labour’s Alan Smith remains in the top job until May 22 when the new leader will be formally announced. Mr Stoddart and other members of the group have been highly critical of the executive model which sees power concentrated in the hands of a small group of councillors.

The authority’s Labour executive had eight members, though decisions were typically put before the full council for further consideration.