They may be cracking open the organic champagne at Ebley Mill today (May 4) after the Green party swept to power as the largest group of the council.

But with 22 of the 51 seats now green, a political paradox may yet upset celebrations. 

As things stand, the party's unprecendented support does not spell a sufficent majority for an administration without a political deal.

And despite dropping to just two councillors, Punchline-Gloucester.com has learned that the Liberal Democrats, as potential kingmakers, intend to sit back in the coming week and see what offers land on their desk – leaving a clear implication for a potential Lib-Lab way forward.

Behind the headline of the Green's new high of 22 seats, Labour saw a rise from just four candidates on May 1 to a new body of 20 councillors – and that change introduces the potential for the brokerage of negotiations which could see the Greens ironically locked out of power.

Led by Green Cllr Catherine Braun, whose victory in the ward of Wotton-under-Edge was the final vote to be announced this afternoon, Cllr Braun said the result was a fantastic moment and added: "People are voting in increasing numbers for the Green Party and I think that's because they are looking for a positive political vision."

Before the election, SDC's makeup consisted of 18 Conservatives, 14 Greens, four Community Independents, four Independent Left, four Labour, three Lib Dems and two non-specified councillors. A seat in Nailsworth was also up for election in the wake of the sad death of Green Cllr Norman Kay  last December.

Post-election, the balance is made up of: 22 Greens, 20 Labour councillors, seven Conservatives and two Lib Dems.

Before this election, SDC's Co-operative Alliance saw the Green, Independent Left, Community Independent and Liberal Democrat Groups work together, but a Liberal Democrat source told Punchline-Gloucester.com that the party will now consider "any reasonable approaches to work together for the good of the Stroud district, be that in formal alliance or not".

The source indicated that a decision on how to proceed would be made in the next seven days.

Once the dust has settled, the Draft Local Plan sits in the top of the in-tray for whoever leads. The examination of this key document has been paused by government inspectors for 10 months after they raised serious concerns about its viability, with councillors being told they need to do more work on transport issues surrounding new developments in Sharpness and Wisloe – including how J12 and J14 of the M5 will be upgraded to cope with the influx of new residents.

The new administration will also need to address glacial progress at the Brimscombe Port development: St Modwen was revealed as Stroud District Council's chosen developer for the site in 2022, but nothing has happened to date.