THE legality of a new political group in control of a North Yorkshire local authority has been called into question.

Concerns have been raised about the lawfulness of the Independent Coalition for Richmondshire.

The coalition was launched after the merger of the Richmondshire Independent Group, the Richmondshire Association of Independent Councillors and the Independent Councillors for Richmondshire.

The 18-member group holds the majority on all of Richmondshire District Council's committees.

However, Liberal Democrat councillor Stuart Parsons claims this is not allowed as the three old groups have not disbanded.

His comments come after the groups' leaders made a statement in an internal newsletter for councillors.

The statement said that members of the three groups had agreed to come together to form a single group - known as the Independent Coalition for Richmondshire (Independents) - "for the purpose of obtaining an overall political majority on the council".

But it said: "The three groups intend to maintain their own identities within the overall umbrella of a coalition, to retain their group leaders and to meet separately.

"Group leaders within the Independents may meet to discuss issues of common interest. This agreement has come about as a result of a common desire to provide some stability to the council as it faces a number of major decisions."

But Coun Parsons said: "I have taken advice from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Local Government Association and the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors.

"All three of them agree that what has happened is highly questionable, and all of them agree that councillors cannot be members of two political groups on one council."

District council chief executive Harry Tabiner said nothing illegal had been done.

He said: "Any number of groups can form a coalition and they are entitled to organise themselves in any way they want within that group.

"It is not costing the tax payer any more money. It is merely a way of joining together to have greater influence on and bring greater stability to the council."