Cambridgeshire's UKIP leader has alerted the council's senior officials that he intends to replace the Cabinet system with a series of all party committees – a move which would prevent the Conservatives leading the council.

According to Cllr Peter Reeve – who leads the UKIP group which won 12 seats and pushed the previously Conservative-led council to a state of No Overall Control following this month's elections – such a move would take the party political element out of running the authority and allow a more democratic system.

Cllr Reeve has held talks with the Liberal Democrats who won 14 seats, Labour who won 7 and a further 4 independent councillors to see if they could unite to defeat the Conservatives at the council's annual meeting on 21 May.

Cambridgeshire chief executive, Mark Lloyd has advised opposition councillors on the implications of abolishing the cabinet system.

However, in preparation for the committee system, Cllr Reeve has outlined a one year transitional cabinet structure that would give the Conservatives more seats than other parties, on a proportional basis but prevent them having control.