Councillors meet to break power stalemate
Stirling Council’s first meeting since the elections will take place tomorrow (Thursday).
The new line up of councillors will have the opportunity to elect a leader and deputy leader and provost, and make a host of other appointments .
However, the identity of those to take on the posts largely depends on which party or coalition of parties takes on the running of the authority – and so far that remains unclear.
The elections on May 4 left no party with overall control – SNP and Conservatives each have nine councillors while Labour has four and the Greens have one.
Talks have been continuing between Labour and both of the two bigger parties with a view to forming an alliance similar to the Labour-Tory deal which had run the authority between 2012 and this year.
Council insiders suggested the most likely option was a union between Labour and the Conservatives.
However, the abusive tweets revelations which have led to the suspension from the Conservative Group of newly-elected councillors Alastair Majury and Robert Davies appear to have changed that.
Noises coming from Viewforth now suggest Labour and SNP may be willing to put aside their differences over independence to work together to keep the Conservatives out. An SNP spokesman yesterday (Tuesday) confirmed they had held discussions with the council’s Labour Group.
SNP Group Leader Scott Farmer said: “This is a crucial time for Stirling Council as we near the first statutory meeting which will appoint a provost.
“As discussions between myself and the Labour Group continue, it is clear that common ground can be met and it is possible to work together to deliver a progressive programme for the people and communities of the Stirling area in an SNP-led Administration.
“The SNP Group will never form a coalition with the toxic Tories who have recently had a number of their elected members unmasked as holding extremist views. It cannot be the case that these people are allowed to govern local services, including schools, in the Stirling area.”
A spokesman for the Tory Group said: “We have already stated that we are open to working with everyone who wishes to engage constructively with us.
“We will always put Stirling and all its communities first. That is the only priority we should all have beyond any other considerations.”
Councillor Danny Gibson said: “Discussions are ongoing between the Labour Group and other councillors as we look to create a framework with which we hope to take Stirling forward positively in the coming years.”