Leader Ian Davison is set to face a vote of no confidence next week amid claims his Green group does not have the "calibre" to run Warwick District Council alone.

The Green-Labour coalition that has run the council since May 2023 is being dissolved by Labour over a Green Party policy that declared Zionism as racism.

Labour chair Bridget Phillipson issued an ultimatum to local Green leaders to either reject the policy and call on national figures to intervene or see their arrangements pulled apart.

Some partnerships have survived, but the stance of Warwick District's Greens – that they generally disagreed with the motion but could not call for the policy to be quashed – saw Labour pull its councillors out of the pact.

On Monday night, the Greens announced their intention to continue as a minority administration under the leadership of Cllr Davison.

With 14 out of 44 seats, the Greens are well short of a majority to vote through big decisions but they remain the district's biggest part and intend to soldier on in power until a new council is elected in May 2027.

Cllr Davison told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he intends to name his refreshed cabinet tomorrow (Wednesday 4 November) with changes to the elements that each portfolio covers "quite possible".

It is not known whether that will mean fewer positions than the nine in place currently, three of which were filled by Labour – housing, the place portfolio which includes planning, and safer, healthier and active communities.

However, ex-leader Cllr Andrew Day, who saw a request to debate the future of the leader narrowly voted down at the last meeting, believes the Greens are "very divided and do not have the talent" needed to steer the council through key decisions, prompting his push to remove Cllr Davison from office.

The case for change

Cllr Day says he has secured the five signatures required for an urgent council meeting that he believes will be called for Wednesday, November 11.

"I have been engaging with other group leaders, the Liberal Democrats and others, and they want to have the debate," he said.

"There will be no constraints; people can come back as often as they need to so we can thrash this thing out.

"We have a budget to form, local government reorganisation, the South Warwickshire Local Plan is at a really critical stage and we have a potential inspection on £1 billion worth of council housing.

"If the Greens want to carry on a minority administration, the council needs to have confidence in that. I am not sure that is there.

"When I look at the calibre of their councillors, I don't think they are up to it."

Part of his rationale is the "pathetic" answers Cllr Davison and deputy leader Councillor Chris King gave to his questions at the last council meeting amid the uncertainty caused by the Zionism row.

"I was just appalled," he said.

He makes the case for a coalition of the willing to see through the final few months of this council, "building consensus" across all parties to get the big decisions through, even if political allegiances block some from taking cabinet roles.

"There is talent in this council," said Cllr Day.

"How do we unlock that to get people who are really going to do the job? How will Ian do that? Is he going to go to his backbenchers who won't even turn up for some meetings?

"Is he going to give them the housing portfolio, the planning portfolio? Will they deliver? What experience do they have? This isn't about wearing a coloured shirt, it is about doing the job.

"We have nine independents. You could have a smaller group leading the administration, provided you achieve cross-party support. Seasoned councillors are sitting there who you could bring into portfolios.

"We were a minority in the last council, we had five independents, we still managed to get our budgets through and run it.

"Ian would have to adopt a completely different leadership style and he has not demonstrated his ability to do that so far, and it is not just me who says that."

A comeback?

Cllr Day insisted he would be "very reluctant" to be leader again.

He argues "there are other people who could do it" and that there was "no political ambition" on his part, confirming he does not intend to stand in the May 2027 elections.

"I am just completely exasperated by where we are and there is too much at stake to get the next six months wrong," he added.

"I would do whatever was needed to in order to support the council but ending up in the hotseat would not go down well in various parts of my life. There are other people who could do it, I think.

"There will be party constraints. We do have difficulties there but you can lead a relatively small group provided they can deliver the talent needed for the cabinet.

"That is where the Greens are coming from. They say they can do that, I say that they are already very divided and do not have the talent.

"I don't think Ian is up to the job, he has proven that in the way he fudges it. He doesn't seem to recognise the importance of our council as a functioning part of our democracy."

The leader's response

Cllr Davison accused Cllr Day of "more political point-scoring attempts".

"I am very happy that the talent we have is great," he said.

"It takes a long time to get to grips with things and with six months of an administration to run, to say 'let's do things differently' is a recipe for complete disaster. You are going to get nothing done for six months. That's mad, it really is.

"I don't think it is serious but that is for others to decide."

Asked whether he was confident of winning, Cllr Davison said that was "entirely up to other parties".

"As I have discussed with other group leaders, if there is a sensible, coherent alternative, then put it on the table. So far there has been nothing about that," he added, insisting that Cllr Day "didn't come up with a better arrangement" in their conversation on Monday.

"He may be plotting and that's fine, he's able to do that, but from what I heard from all five group leaders, there were no plans to do that," said Cllr Davison.

"The responsible thing for us to do is get on with the job and run a minority administration while talking to all groups.

"Everyone has the opportunity to have input into the best way forward. Over the three-and-a-half years, there has been a collaborative approach to most things, 90 per cent.

"I am hopeful that most people on the council will see the wisdom of that."

What now?

Warwick District Council has been approached for comment on the state of play and whether the meeting is being pencilled in for Wednesday, November 11, a date currently set aside for a planning meeting.

Any vote to remove the leader will be decided by a simple majority of the councillors present and voting. Those who choose to abstain – not vote either way – do not count towards any majority required.