THE power struggle between district councillors in Teesdale continues to rumble on, with its short-lived first and only leader, Coun Phil Hughes, failing to be elected to any of the policy-making committees.

At Wednesday's annual meeting, councillors decided against electing a leader, opting for a streamlined committee system and giving more powers to the corporate strategy group.

Non-aligned councillors got together informally last week to decide nominations for the various committees, but Coun Hughes had no knowledge of that meeting and, consequently, no opportunity to put his name forward. He likened it to the workings of a cabal or secret society.

In a bid to include him, Coun Richard Betton nominated him for the three main committees, but he was defeated in a secret ballot each time. However, Coun Hughes will serve on the overview and scrutiny and standards committees, and as a substitute on planning.

The council has recently been criticised by the Audit Commission for its lack of leadership and unwillingness to change.

"This says to me that people are not serious about taking a way forward," said Coun Hughes. "Within five minutes of agreeing a recommendation today, it's already been changed. On the corporate strategy side of things, it's virtually the same people that are still in charge."

Asked if he thought he was being got at after last year's leadership struggle, which saw him resign after only three months, Coun Hughes said: "You could draw the conclusion that they are trying to get at me in some other way, either that or they were completely ignorant."

But non-aligned member, Coun John Armstrong, refuted any plot against Coun Hughes.

"He is still a member of Teesdale Independents and this is just a ploy to get control of corporate strategy, which will have new powers," he said.

He stressed that non-aligned councillors were not part of a group, but met annually to decide nominations and therefore Coun Hughes could have assumed that a meeting would take place at some point and have made inquiries.

"The seven other non-aligned members knew about it, but where can you find Coun Hughes? He did not contact any of us," he added.