POLITICAL manoeuvring at the highest level has begun at a marginal council just weeks away from what is expected to be a tight election battle.

Steve Kay, leader of the East Cleveland Independents (ECI), has written a letter, seen by The Northern Echo, to the three other political leaders at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

In it, he argues that there is a strong possibility that the council will be hung status and outlines the conditions on which his party would lend support to other groups.

However, current leader of the council, Labour's Dave Walsh, has dismissed the letter as an attempt to persuade him to concede defeat before a vote has been cast.

Coun Kay, leader of the smallest party with only three council members, addressed his letter to Coun Walsh, Vera Moody, leader of the Conservatives, and Chris Abbot, leader of the Liberal Democrats.

It reads: "There is a very strong possibility that the next council will be hung. If this occurs, I am sure you will agree arrangements must be made to secure the sound and stable governance of Redcar and Cleveland. After the election, the ECI group is willing to co-operate with any other group, or groups who will undertake, with us, to deliver the following . . ."

Coun Kay goes on to list a number of policies, including establishing a rolling programme to adopt currently unadopted roads, more community wardens, more grants to village halls, better monitoring of absent landlords and that the ECI has representation on the council's executive committee.

Coun Kay said: "In the interests of the people of Redcar and Cleveland, in what will almost certainly be a new situation, we must put aside old hostilities for the public good. If, some of us, at least, don't learn to work together, Redcar and Cleveland council will fall into chaos after the election on May 1."

Coun Walsh said: "I am very confident of an outright Labour victory, given all we have achieved in improving services and pegging back council tax levels."

Neither Coun Moody or Coun Abbot could be contacted for comment yesterday.