THE ‘rainbow’ coalition that runs the Forest Council is facing a vote of no confidence that could lead to it losing power.

The no confidence motion has been placed before tomorrow’s (Thursday) full council meeting by Cllr Brian Robinson (Con, Mitcheldean) the new leader of the Conservative group which is the largest party on the council.

The council is led by Forest First councillor Tim Gwilliam (Berry Hill) with a Cabinet that includes Green, Independent and UKIP members.

The motion calls on the council to ‘note’ that “the leader has failed to represent the council at important meetings of Leadership Gloucestershire and consequently has no confidence in Cllr Tim Gwilliam as leader of the council.”

If the motion is passed there will then be a vote to elect a new leader.

Cllr Gwilliam, whose Forest First group has just four of the 48 councillors on the district council, became leader after a bizarre turn of events at the meeting of the council in July.

The then leader, Cllr Patrick Molyneux (Con Woolaston and Hewelsfield) lost a vote of no confidence and the Tories declined to put forward a candidate to replace him.

With the nine-strong Labour group saying party rules forbade it running a minority administration, it fell to Forest First – which had only been formed a few weeks earlier – to take over running the council.

The votes of the Labour group could be crucial – there are 48 councillors and the Conservatives have 20 seats.

If Labour votes with the administration, it will almost certainly continue but a vote against or abstentions could signal the end.