Councillors new and old arrived at County Hall on Thursday for the first time since the local elections, where Reform claimed victory but fell three seats short of an outright majority - winning 40 of the 84 seats available.

David Bick, who was chosen as the new leader of the council, shrugged off concerns the party would be unable to govern - pointing to a convenient, albeit unspoken, arrangement with Great Yarmouth First.

David Bick with his deputy, Robin Hunter-Clarke (Image: Henry Durand)

While Mr Bick said no verbal agreement or coalition conversations had taken place, he said the two parties share a similar outlook on how the council should be run.

"What you saw there was an effective majority," he said.

"They have been both collaborative and very sensible, and like us they're not interested in playing silly parlour games."

He brushed aside suggestions that the public falling out between Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe would see the two groups bicker rather than bond.

"As long as it's in the interests of Norfolk residents it's fine," he said.

Both parties voted together on the two biggest items on the agenda - axing the council's net zero commitments and abolishing three political assistant roles.

Both motions passed by 46 votes, made up of the 39 Reform councillors and seven Great Yarmouth........

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