The Conservative leader of a Kent district council says he is prepared to step down if Tory rebels return to the fold.

Cllr Roddy Hogarth, who leads Sevenoaks District Council (SDC), made his offer as the breakaway West Kent Independents (WKIs) are about to bring a vote of no confidence against him.

The nine-strong WKIs deserted the Conservative group in protest at Cllr Hogarth's leadership earlier this year.

The WKI motion to go before Sevenoaks District Council tomorrow night (Oct 16) states: "This council resolves that it has no confidence in the leader."

The Liberal Democrat opposition leader Alan Leaman said the schism is causing the authority to drift and claimed it "is no way to serve local residents".

Cllr Hogarth said he had had a meeting with the WKIs recently but issues remained unresolved.

But when asked if he would have resigned at the time if the WKIs came back into the Conservatives, Cllr Hogarth replied: "The breakaway group do not understand what a negotiation is.

"They understand red lines and their red line is that 'Roddy has to go'. As a negotiating stance that is a non-starter.

"But for the greater good of the Conservative group and the Conservative Party as a whole I would have stood down to get a rapprochement but that was not the deal on the table. I like negotiating - it's a worthwhile thing to do."

Pressed if his offer still stands on the eve of the vote of no confidence, Cllr Hogarth said: "Yes, I would be willing to consider that. However, there are members of the Conservative group who would not be happy with that as they are fully supportive of me."

WKI spokesperson Cllr Angela Baker said: "I do not personally believe him (Cllr Hogarth). Our red line is that we wouldn't negotiate with anyone if Roddy was still the leader.

"We walked away because we didn't have faith in his leadership."

Cllr Hogarth added: "I have stepped back from the personal aspect. To be honest, their (WKIs') approach is 100% personal whereas my approach is that I am happy to be held to account and I am happy for my peformance to be evaluated in objective terms.

"The facts that the council is performing exceptionally well and while I do not take 100% credit for it, I am the leader at that time."

The Conservatives have 24 seats at SDC, the Lib Dems 13, WKI nine, Green Party four and three other independents.

Cllr Alan Leaman, Liberal Democrat leader at SDC said: "Just over two years since the last elections, we will probably have a third leader of the council by Christmas.

"This personal rivalry has split the Conservatives, is damaging the council, and is a massive distraction from the enormous challenges now facing us.

"The council is drifting and...this is no way to serve local residents. It must be brought to an end."