A key meeting which traditionally decides who will lead Cumbria County Council has today been adjourned.

No overall party came through the election earlier this month with an outright majority to lead the authority.

That has raised the prospect of a coalition taking charge, but with no potential deals between the parties emerging, publicly at least.

The authority’s annual general meeting was scheduled to go ahead at County Hall in Kendal this morning with all 84 elected members in attendance.

It usually ends with a member of the ruling party voting in a leader of the council to take the reins at the authority for the next four years.

The leader is then expected to nominate a deputy leader and announce the members who will make up the cabinet committee.

A chairman and vice-chairman should also be voted into position.

However the meeting has now been adjourned as a formality until after the General Election, takes place on June 8, when an administration for the authority is likely to be formed.

The decision to postpone the formation of an administration is thought to have the backing of leading Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat figures.

Political leaders had said this was likely to happen.

A source said: “This is because of the General Election and the complications this brings.

“Whatever happens has to be right for Cumbria for the next four years.”

Currently, no party in Cumbria holds 43 seats on the authority – the number required to take control.

The previous administration was a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition.

Now, the Conservatives, led by Councillor James Airey, make up the largest single party on the authority with 37 seats – up from 24.

Labour, led by Carlisle Councillor Stewart Young – the most recent leader – reduced its share from 36 to 26.

The Liberal Democrat group, which elected Councillor Ian Stewart as its new leader last week, gained one seat, taking its total to 16.

Independent councillors account for a further five seats.