A TOP council meeting has been adjourned this morning in a unprecedented move because no one party holds political power on Cumbria's county authority.

The annual general meeting of Cumbria County Council has been postponed until after the general election on June 8.

The decision - taken jointly by the leaders of the three party groups - was taken because a power sharing agreement for control of CCC has not yet been reached.

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It means the county council will have no elected leader, deputy leader, chairman, vice-chairman or cabinet committee until next month.

However, council business will continue to run as normal, they pledged.

A statement released jointly on behalf of the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats read: "Following today’s annual general meeting of Cumbria County Council it was agreed by all three main political parties, that the meeting be adjourned until after the general election on June 8.

"The motion to adjourn was moved by the Labour group leader Stewart Young and seconded by the Conservative group Leader James Airey.

"This will give all parties a chance to continue with the negotiations and form a new administration."

The annual general meeting will reconvene on Thursday June 29.

This morning Councillor Stewart Young, Labour group leader said: "Legally the meeting had to take place within 25 days of the county council elections.

"All main parties are in agreement that we are unable to move forward with discussions to form an administration until after the general election.”

Cllr James Airey, Conservative group leader, said: "The calling of the general election poses extra challenges with regards to discussions and no coalition deal to form the next administration can be done ahead of June 8.

"We want to reassure the residents of Cumbria that normal council business will continue."

And Cllr Ian Stewart, new leader of the Liberal Democrat group, added: "The county needs a stable administration and the calling of the snap general election has meant we need extra time for discussions to take place.

"This will ensure that we get the best possible outcome for the residents of Cumbria.

"In the meantime, it is business as usual and all council services will continue to run as normal."

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