Labour have lost control of Ashfield District Council after cllr Cheryl Butler lost a motion of no confidence.
Cllr Jason Zadrozny of the Ashfield Independents has been chosen to lead the Nottinghamshire council following the vote.
Cllr Butler had ignored calls to resign after eight councillors left the party in recent months.
Speaking before the meeting Cllr Zadrozny said: ‘As people know, this council has been in crisis for a couple of weeks since labour have had eight defections.
‘The Ashfield Independents will take over Ashfield District Council and turn this into a common sense, value for money, transparent council that represents the residents of Ashfield and not personal interests.’