Carnoustie needs its place at the new Angus Council administration table

Sir, – I was sorry to read of Rona Wishart’s concerns on the Carnoustie independent councillors joining the new ruling administration of Angus Council (May 20) and, as a result, am concerned that she and others understand my reasoning for doing so.

Firstly, I remain an independent councillor. However, over the last five years since being first elected to represent Carnoustie, unless you were part of the ruling administration then Carnoustie became marginalised by the Tory-Lib Dem-other independents coalition.

I joined that administration at the outset at the invitation of the then council leader, Councillor Bob Myles, on a basis of trust when he said that “I had much to offer the administration”. I felt it was a good idea to join then because Carnoustie would be represented on the administration. As the later council leader, David Fairweather, once said to me “you have to be in it to win it”.

Despite all of that, as a result of what they did to Carnoustie’s Burgh Yard and other negative policies that adversely affected my home town, I resigned from the ruling administration as a matter of principle. This meant that Carnoustie had no place at the bargaining table.

Council shouldn’t be run this way of course, but with the hotchpotch of elected members that formed the ruling administration it was never going to work anyway.

There was nothing to gel them together and there was back-stabbing at every opportunity. Consequently, Carnoustie got nothing from the last administration from 2017 to 2022, with the bulk of money being spent in Arbroath, Forfar and Montrose where the principal members of the administration had their wards.

Now turning to my joining the new ruling administration as an independent member, my reasoning is as follows:

1. To ensure stability of an administration throughout the five years of this council regardless of the politics of the largest party. It just so happens that the SNP won the most seats and are entitled to form the administration.

2. The only way to get anything for Carnoustie and its surrounding villages is to be part of the ruling administration group. I am not prepared to see Carnoustie marginalised again like it has been over the last five years.

3. I did not enter this co-operative agreement lightly. I could see how it would be perceived by many people. I would reiterate that I have done this for the benefit of Carnoustie and hope to prove that it was the right move to make to deliver benefit for our town.

I will not be attending the SNP group meetings and my agreement with them ensures that I will not be “whipped” into agreeing to any SNP council policy that is not in the best interest of Carnoustie or Angus generally.

As I said in my election flyer, I will do my utmost to ensure Carnoustie gets its fair share of council spending and services. To deliver this you must be around the administration table.

To not even give it a chance would, I believe, be a dereliction of my duty as an elected member for those I represent. Of course, if this does not turn out to be the co-operative, “grown up”, listening administration that I expect then I can always leave. I would urge you to give it time and see what Carnoustie can gain.

Councillor David Cheape. Carnoustie and District.