Cllr Ian Gillies says he will review cases of suspended executive members Keith Aspden and Nigel Ayre 'in my own time'

Cllr Ian Gillies, the new Conservative leader who is set to become council leader next month, was responding to a question from The Press about the futures of Cllrs Keith Aspden and Nigel Ayre following the ousting of Cllr Carr as Tory leader.

Cllr Carr said last August that the two needed to vacate their roles while a standards board inquiry was carried out.

The move sparked a rift between the Conservatives and the Lib Dems, who are in joint control of City of York Council.

Two long-serving Lib Dem councillors - Keith Orrell and Ann Reid - were subsequently appointed as interim executive members to fill the two empty posts.

The suspended councillors' cases are still unresolved, although North Yorkshire Police announced in December that they would not be investigating allegations, which have still not been made public.

Cllr Gillies said this afternoon: “I will review the situation of the two Liberal Democrat councillors in my own time and when I’m fully appraised of the situation.”

A Lib Dem spokesman said this afternoon that the group 'will be discussing the membership of the executive, with the Conservative Group, over the coming weeks.'

He also said that despite the recent uncertainty generated by 'Conservative Group in-fighting' and a vote of no confidence in Cllr Carr, Lib Dem councillors would continue to act in the best interests of the city.

"By doing so, we will work hard to ensure that frontline services are run to the highest standard, major projects are progressed in a timely manner, and that communities are represented at the council," he said.

"It is important to reiterate, Cllr Gillies is not the Leader of the Council and this is subject to a vote at full council.

"Over the coming weeks, we will discuss with the Conservative group the future membership of the council’s ruling executive and the upcoming programme of key projects on the council agenda."