POLITICAl jostling is under way following last Thursday's election which saw the Conservatives lose overall control of Gloucestershire County Council.
UKIP made a strong showing, with three councillors elected, and Labour made gains.
The county's 53 seats are made up of 23 Conservative, 14 Liberal Democrat, nine Labour, three UKIP, one Green and one People Against Democracy members and two independents.
In the Stroud area, Labour gained a seat with Steve Lydon elected in Dursley.
Newcomers UKIP made a strong show across the district, polling several hundred votes in each division.
While three UKIP councillors were elected in the Forest of Dean, none won in Stroud.
The Five Valleys and Severn Vale are now represented by five Conservative councillors, three Labour, one Green and one Liberal Democrat.
Labour's Brian Oosthuysen retained Rodborough with a 750 majority, up from just three votes in 2009. But UKIP's Richard Williams was the runner-up with 549 votes, pushing the Tories into third.
Conservative Stan Waddington was re-elected to the council in the new Minchinhampton division, which includes Chalford and Bussage.
He was "pleased and relieved" and said: "It's been a month of hard work, tramping the streets, and it's all been in a new patch."
UKIP's Adrian Blake polled 743 in Minchinhampton. Coun Waddington admitted UKIP had "taken a big slice of the vote".
He said: "It's due to general disillusionment with the Government. But UKIP is presenting something it can't deliver – getting out of Europe. It's scare tactics."
Mr Blake said: "People want change and are fed up with the main parties."
Labour increased its representation in Stroud with the election of Coun Lydon in the new Dursley division.
"There are lots of issues and lots of worries for people, including jobs and what's happening with the economy," he said.
Labour group leader Lesley Williams retained her Stonehouse seat with a solid 700 majority.
She said: "The big issue the council now faces is the perpetual reduction in finances.
"We will work to make sure that the most vulnerable members of society are being looked after. That has to be the priority."
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