Oldham Council could face intervention by UK Government officials later this year after another meeting failed to break a deadlock over who should lead the authority.

At the end of July, the council officially declared it is breaking the law because of an ongoing row over leadership. Since May, no councillor has gained the majority support needed at multiple meetings, leaving the authority without anyone in charge.

On August 20, seven proposals were put forward and all of them failed to pass. Labour and Reform each put forward bids to form a minority administration, as did an alliance made up of smaller parties and an independent councillor.

Reform also proposed that all councillors be elected at the ballot box in May 2027, arguing it should be up to the people to decide. Other parties said this was not a quick fix and amounted to passing the buck, as the council still needs a leader over the next nine months. A move to all-out elections is understood to need Parliamentary approval, as Oldham Council currently elects its members in thirds.

The latest meeting was called after the council's top legal officer, Alex Bougatef, said it was his legal duty to declare the local authority is breaking the law. The declaration, made in what is called a Section 5 Report, set in motion a process that could see outside intervention if no solution was found at the August 20 meeting. He warned that while there were no immediate risks, there could be significant financial costs coming down the line.

Commissioners are officials sent by the UK Government to help run councils deemed to be failing or breaking the law, with little local say. They are often brought in when a council goes effectively bankrupt. Commissioners being imposed due to an unshifting political quarrel like Oldham's is thought to be a first, and could cost £1,200 or more a day.

Conservative councillor Beth Sharp said: "Doing nothing comes at a cost and that cost isn't being paid by us. It's paid for by the residents who elected us." She added: "At the end of the day, residents do not care who won the argument, they care whether their council works."

Presenting the report, Mr Bougatef said the lack of anyone in charge raised serious concerns about decision making, accountability, and effective governance. He said: "The appointment of a leader is not optional. It's a statutory requirement."

Chief executive Shelley Kipling said that while council services are continuing as they did before, the lack of a leader or elected members in key roles puts at risk how key children's and adults' services are assessed. It also meant the authority was not being represented at a Greater Manchester level, which could mean the borough could miss out on key opportunities and funding.

In a plea to members, she said: "I am hopeful we can find a way forward that reflects an immense amount of work that has gone on behind the scenes."

She also told councillors that the UK Government had escalated its oversight of the situation in recent weeks, suggesting an anticipation of a requirement for government intervention or greater, more formalised support.

During the meeting, councillors criticised the borough's toxic politics, where elected members faced abusive behaviour, hostility and unfair aggression. However, there were quickly rows between members and claims that the council was the worst it's ever been. There were allegations of personal attacks and lying as a majority of elected members struggled to reach any agreement. At one point, independent councillor Brian Hobin said: "It's getting personal, it's getting nasty and we are not getting anywhere."

As a result of the deadlock, officers will now request government intervention in the coming weeks.

Following the meeting, a council spokesperson said: "Council services continue to operate as normal, and arrangements remain in place to ensure the Council can fulfil its statutory responsibilities and continue delivering for residents, communities and partners across the borough.

"We will now await further correspondence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government."