Ex-deputy leader makes shock return to council.

independent: David Fairweather walked out back in September

Angus Council’s former deputy leader has made a shock return to the administration – just four months after walking out.

Arbroath Independent councillor David Fairweather resigned in September over what he described as the “bungled handling of the recycling centres issue”.

Mr Fairweather previously turned his back on the coalition administration after suggesting the multi-party group had “fallen at the first hurdle” in its running of the cash-strapped council.

He has now performed a U-turn following an approach by former colleagues.

It follows months of what The Courier understands were a number of protracted behind-the-scenes discussions within the administration including the possibility of a coup to unseat council leader Bob Myles.

“In the early days of the new council,

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There can be no room for laissez-faire attitudes or sticking heads in the sand hoping it will be ‘all right on the night’. DAVID FAIRWEATHER

and against a backdrop of unprecedented cuts to services, it was disheartening and frustrating to encounter some deeply unrealistic expectations about what the council can do with little money and dwindling financial reserves,” Mr Fairweather said.

“There can be no room for laissezfaire attitudes or sticking heads in the sand hoping it will be ‘all right on the night’.”

He added: “I believe enough time has passed since the election for the reality of our position to sink in, and this is one of the reasons I have opted, following a unanimous vote by former colleagues, to rejoin the administration.”

It is understood Mr Fairweather will take up a role on the administration’s “management team”.

SNP group leader Lynne Devine said “absolute surprise” was her first reaction as she said Mr Fairweather appeared to have been “disenchanted with the administration as a whole”.

She said: “It’s interesting that the issue he resigned over in the first place – recycling – has not been solved.

“We don’t know who has asked him to return.”

She said it was proof that by voting Independent the public “don’t know what you are getting or how consistent the message will be”.

gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk

Picture: Kim Cessford. Mr Fairweather at his Arbroath home.