Opposition aim to oust Argyll and Bute Council
OPPOSITION councillors are making a “bold” bid to take over Argyll and Bute Council.
Fifteen SNP, independent and Labour councillors have called for a special meeting for April 4 try to replace the provost and council leader.
Their move comes just weeks after the Tory and LibDem administration introduced a record 10 per cent council tax rise, and just days after the authority’s leadership announced it was considering reversing the rise.
A special council meeting has already been pencilled in for April 15 at which it’s expected the 10 per cent rise will be officially scrapped.
But the 12-strong SNP group, along with two independents and Helensburgh Labour councillor Fiona Howard have lodged individual letters for a special meeting.
And they have issued an “open invitation to all like-minded councillors” to join them.
The opposition branded the administration “tired” and said they should have “engaged positively with the Scottish Government earlier” but instead opted for “petty politics”.
Opposition councillors tabled an alternative budget plan at a full council meeting in February that would have seen council tax frozen - but the ruling administration’s budget, with the 10 per cent rise, carried the day by 18 votes to 16. SNP councillor Jim Lynch, leader of the opposition, said: “In this time of economic instability and a cost-of-living crisis, Argyll and Bute Council requires strong leadership and positive solutions, rather than the uncertainty and callous politicking we are witnessing at present.
“It is clear to us that public trust in the current administration is incredibly low.
Questionable decision making over vital local issues such as Rothesay Pavilion, Luing Primary School, the Mull Campus, and the ongoing council tax debacle has caused real damage in our communities, which we simply must work hard to repair.
“Too much time has already been wasted, and we need to get on with backing the Scottish Government’s council tax freeze and sending the reduced bills out to households.”
The meeting on April 4 would seek to elect a new provost and council leader, then leave other senior posts unfilled until the next regular council meeting, currently set for April 25.
Independent councillor Dougie Philand, depute leader of the opposition, said: “The time has come for accountability, transparency, and a new way forward at Argyll and Bute Council.
“The public has quite rightly had enough of the status quo.
“For far too long the ruling group of councillors has been able to play political football with the important decisions that impact the daily lives of our constituents, and this must be stopped.
“We hope that by providing every councillor with an opportunity to add their signature alongside ours to call for a change in leadership, we will finally be able to bring an end to the political chaos we have seen in recent years and ensure that nothing like the council tax shambles can happen again.”
Council leader Robin Currie has been approached for comment.