Four Conservative councillors are free to vote against the leadership - after resigning the party whip.
Russell Quirk, William Lloyd, Nigel Clarke and Phil Baker remain as councillors but have in effect become free agents with the power to vote however way they wish.
They blame their decision on council leader Louise McKinlay who they say is seen to regularly "lurch from error to error" and has no grip on the day to day running of the administration.
Her policy approach has been described as "haphazard".
They say this is being reflected in local election results, most recently in the safe Tory ward of Shenfield where the Lib Dems have won two seats in the past year.
Since taking over as leader in 2009, Mrs McKinlay has overseen the loss of eight Tory seats with the party majority reduced from 21 to five.
Just three more defections would mean a overall loss of control for the Conservatives in the town hall.
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Brentwood Council leadership in turmoil after four Tory councillors resign the whip.
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