Independents remain the largest block of councillors on Powys County Council – but haven’t won enough seats to claim an outright majority.
The Conservative party has enjoyed success at the polls across Powys and are now the largest political party on Powys County Council with 19 seats, seven more than the party won in 2012.
Counting finished just after 1pm at the Royal Welsh Showground with 30 independent councillors elected. 37 are required for a majority on the county council. The independents on Powys council have traditionally split into three groups so it is unclear if they will retain control of the authority.
The Liberal Democrats have also improved on their poor 2012 performance, winning an extra four seats to take their seats to 13.
Plaid Cymru and the Greens have also won their first county council seats. Green Emily Durrant unseated long-standing independent Melanie Davies in Llangors while Plaid won both its seats in Montgomeryshire
Labour remain on seven seats. It held its two seats in Brecon, with five returned unopposed from the Ystradgynlais district, but failed to take any of the other seats it fought.
Conservative leader Aled Davies said the party wants to influence the future of the council but refused to speculate on who might lead the authority.
He said: "“Anything is possible. We want to make a change. We don’t want to sit back and complain. We want to be the ruling group, setting the council in a new direction.
“I’m not going to speculate now. You know what it’s like trying to herd cats – it’s an impossible job. We will come together, because we need to, for Powys.
“Nationally, it looks very positive. The voters like Theresa May’s message, and trust her to deliver a good Brexit deal.
“In Montgomeryshire, we’ve won over half the wards. It’s great news for Glyn Davies. We will now be able to change direction and the face of the council.”