The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Tory leader who was ousted back in charge
Conservative returns to power two years after SNP coup
Former Conservative council leader Jim Gifford has returned to power in Aberdeenshire, two years after he was dramatically ousted from the position.
A Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Independent coalition took charge in the chamber at Woodhill House yesterday with Councillor Gifford at the helm.
The new administration is a rerun of the Alliance group which governed the region until an SNP-led coup two years ago.
The 43-member group now dominates the chamber and has taken the chairman and chairwoman posts for all the major committees.
But last night the SNP warned council majorities appear safer on paper and said they were waiting in the wings to seize back control if the leaders do not deliver for Aberdeenshire.
Yesterday’s meeting – the first official gathering since the election a fortnight ago – began with the election of a provost.
In the first public confirmation a deal had been struck, Liberal Democrat member Bill Howatson was elected as the north-east civic head, defeating Independent councillor Paul Johnston by 39 votes to 25.
Councillor Howatson is now serving his second stint as provost and is joined by Conservative member Ron McKail who is his deputy.
Mr Gifford triumphed in the leadership race against SNP chief Richard Thomson – the outgoing co-leader of the authority – by 38 votes to 25.
The Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor Peter Argyle, was appointed as his deputy. He was unopposed for the role.
A raft of senior committee posts were then made with councillors from both parties appointed.
And in the most surprising decision of the morning, former SNP leadership contender John Cox – now an Independent – was named vicechairman of the infrastructure committee.
The appointment of Aberdeenshire Council’s administration came only hours after a similar meeting for Aberdeen City ended in chaotic scenes as the Scottish Labour Party suspended a group of its own councillors who joined a Conservative coalition.
In contrast the discussions at Woodhill House remained cordial and the new administration said they had the blessing of the national parties.
“We’ve agreed to start with a clean sheet of paper and put together a group of people who can deliver for Aberdeenshire. What happened previously can be put into the annals of history and we can start afresh,” said Mr Gifford.
We’ve agreed to start with a clean sheet of paper.
COUNCILLOR JIM GIFFORD