TODAY North East Lincolnshire's new councillors are continuing to settle into their roles.

However, it has not all been smooth sailing for NELC's leader Councillor Andrew De Freitas, who has faced criticism from independent and Tory councillors, some of which claim he had tried to secure support by offering key council posts.

As reported, this week's Annual General Meeting of NELC ended fears power would remain hung after the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives tied with 15 seats each following the last local elections.

Labour – which now holds 10 seats – gave its support to the Lib Dems – securing minority control for the Lib Dems for a second term.

As such, the Lib Dems still hold all cabinet posts, Labour councillors have been voted into almost half the council's key committee positions, while the Tories held on to just one committee seat.

Councillor Jon Paul Howarth (Ind), claimed: "I was offered a place on a panel with a Special Responsibility Allowance, if "they" could rely on my vote."

Councillor Keith Brookes, the leader of the local Conservative party said he felt the Lib Dems and Labour had "run roughshod over the public."

However, Mr De Freitas denied that any "deal" had been done, adding he believed the nominated Labour members were the best people available to chair the health, leisure, housing, planning and community protection scrutiny panels.

To read the arguments from all parties in full, see today's Grimsby Telegraph.