ROSSENDALE Council’s Conservatives have elected a new leadership as two of its councillors moved to sit as Independents. Cllr Margaret Pendlebury, who represents Greenfield, will take charge of the group, with newly-elected Goodshaw councillor David Foxcroft as her deputy. Thursday’s local elections left the authority in no overall control with Labour having 18 councillors, the Conservatives 15, two sitting Community First representatives and a new Independent Janet Whitehead who beat Labour in Facit and Shawforth ward. Labour also lost Goodshaw to Cllr Foxcroft but picked up the vacant Stacksteads ward. The Conservatives also won Whitewell ward, previously held by Pam Bromley as an Independent after being expelled from the Labour Party.