TAKE YOUR PARTNERS SNP warning asTory-led council takes charge
Perth and Kinross Council’s new Conservative-led administration formally came together for the first time yesterday.
The Tories will partner with members of three other political groups, Liberal Democrats, independents and Labour, to push through council decisions.
Tory group leader Cllr Ian Campbell, who is also expected to take the role of council leader, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to form a working partnership with other elected members, who are as keen as I am to see the delivery of sustainable, high quality services to the people of Perth and Kinross.
“We believe that by working together we can deliver that vision and we are all committed to making that happen. Peter Barrett (Lib Dem) Alasdair Bailey (Labour) Mike Barnacle (Ind) and Rhona Brock (Ind) with Conservative group leader Ian Campbell, seated
“Now the hard work begins, but by all of us facing the same way, it will make that aim much easier to achieve.”
The partnership of Lib Dems,
independents and the single Labour councillor has also hinted that change is on its way to communities.
Lib Dem councillor Peter Barrett said: “I and my Scottish Liberal Democrat colleagues want to make this partnership work to make the council more agile and responsive, quicker to respond communities, more active in devolving power to communities and better at empowering communities in their neighbourhoods and localities.”
Newly-elected independent Cllr Xander McDade, who is also the youngest member, said: “By supporting the Conservative group to form an administration, all involved are respecting the result delivered by the voters and I will still be holding the new administration to account.
“Councils should be about working together in the best interests of everyone, not about prioritising party politics and that is what this agreement should deliver.”
And Labour’s Alasdair Bailey said: “By working in partnership we are able to move forward and start addressing the issues that matter most to the people of Perth and Kinross.”
Kinross-shire councillor Mike Barnacle and Strathearn councillor Rhona Brock, both Independent members, will also support the Conservatives in administration.
Yesterday afternoon members were meeting to vote on the main roles, including provost, before official appointments are made at a meeting of the council on Wednesday.
Ahead of the meeting the SNP, who ran Perth and Kinross Council’s previous administration, issued a warning over the potential for Tory-imposed cuts.
Perth and North Perthshire candidate Pete Wishart said: “Perth and Kinross residents now face five years of a services-cutting Conservative administration determined to reverse the many advances made by the previous administration. The people of Perthshire should now brace themselves for a bumpy and costly five years.
“The Tories secured their success in these council elections on the single issue of opposing a second independence referendum so we have no idea what their priorities for Perth and Kinross’s services are.
“In all the screeds of literature put through Perthshire doors on constitutional issues they said practically nothing about how they would actually run the council.
“This Conservative victory in the council elections should therefore be regarded as a massive wake up call to everyone in Perthshire.’’
PKC chief executive Bernadette Malone – who also acted as returning officer - will initially take charge of the Wednesday’s meeting until the main roles have been filled.
After the first round of post holders has been agreed, members also have the opportunity to reconfigure the committee structure.