A LANDMARK deal has been hatched for Worcester's Labour, Conservative and Green parties to work together on the city's future, it has emerged.

Six weeks after talks about a potential 'Rainbow coalition' fell apart, the city council's three parties have struck an historic agreement.

Under the deal the Corporate Plan, a major public document spelling out the city's main aims, will be worked on by all three camps under a 'joint working party'.

The move breaks with the age-old tradition of the leadership of the day, whether it be Conservative or Labour, putting the council's mains aims and aspirations into one public vision.

Worcester's Corporate Plan has been through four revisions over the last five years due to the chaotic changes of power back and forth.

Last year the old Tory administration decided to publish a new five-year version of the dossier, which includes lofty goals like securing £100 million of investment into Worcester by 2020, 100 per cent superfast broadband coverage, quicker trains to Birmingham and Bristol, and more people holding Level 3 qualifications.

But every fresh change of control brings the prospect of it being torn up, with leading city politicians fearing it could harm confidence among investors.

The move is the first time ever that Worcester's main parties have agreed a formal deal to work together - with a motion being voted through unanimously during a full council meeting.

It was led by Tory group leader Councillor Marc Bayliss, who said with all the problems in Westminster city politicians could show the way.

"I believe it's a sensible, proportionate response to the situation the council finds itself in, with no party in overall control," he said.

"I believe the city needs stability and it needs a plan that can be implemented, whatever the administration of the day.

"Without overplaying this, at a time of great turmoil nationally it'd be a great message to send out to the people of Worcester, that we're able to work together positively for the good of the city."

Green Councillor Louis Stephen said: "No one party has enough votes to run the council completely by themselves.

"I don’t think any political party has a monopoly of good ideas so it's only right that everyone gets an opportunity to input.

"Everyone always talks about the benefits of all the parties coming together for the benefits of Worcester, I see this as a test case for both Labour and Conservatives to see if they are true to their word - I am sure the people of Worcester will be watching closely."

Councillor Adrian Gregson, the city's Labour leader, said the parties have "fundamental differences" between them in areas like congestion, public transport and housing but pledged to work together.

"What I am keen on is that this is developed with a degree of urgency and commitment," he said.

The working group will be tasked with taking a revised Corporate Plan back to full council in September.

The council is currently controlled by a minority Labour administration with backing from the Greens.