Mid Argyll councillors in top roles in new administration
On the day the SNP and Greens ended their power deal in the Scottish Government, the two parties joined to run Argyll and Bute Council, alongside Labour and the Lib Dems.
All 36 Argyll and Bute councillors attended a meeting in Kilmory Castle on Thursday April 25 to hear and vote on appointments to the new SNP-led administration, under the new council leader, SNP councillor Jim Lynch.
The SNP-led Strategic Opposition Partnership had seized control of the council from The Argyll, Lomond and Islands Group (TALIG), a coalition of Tories, Lib Dems and Independents, after a “no confidence” vote on Thursday April 4.
After the five Lib Dem councillors, led by ousted council leader Robin Currie, left TALIG to join the SNP in a new administration, it was disclosed that Councillor Currie will now be a co-depute leader of the new
“Administration Partnership”, alongside SNP councillor Audrey Forrest.
Two Lib Dem councillors now have key policy leads: Councillor Currie is the policy lead for economic development, islands and rural communities, and housing, with Councillor Lynch as his depute. Finance and commercial services go to Lib Dem councillor Ross Moreland, again deputised by Councillor Lynch.
While the SNP-Green power sharing Bute House Agreement collapsed at Holyrood on Thursday April 25, at Argyll and Bute Council a new agreement was reached between the two parties, with the appointment of Green councillor Luna Martin as policy lead for climate change, renewables and net zero. SNP councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle is her depute.
Labour has also gone into partnership with the SNP: Labour councillor
Fiona
Howard has been appointed deputy policy for education, lead by SNP councillor Audrey Forrest.
Independent councillor Mark Irvine, who was also a member of the SNP-led opposition group, becomes policy lead for community planning and corporate services, deputised by SNP councillor Iain Shonny Paterson. Independent councillor Kieron Green keeps the portfolio he held in the former TALIG administration, as policy lead for planning and regulatory services, with SNP councillor Gordon Blair as his depute. Care services will be led by SNP councillor Dougie McFadzean, deputised by Councillor Kieron Green. SNP councillor John Armour becomes policy lead for roads, transport and amenity services, with SNP councillor Willie Hume as his depute. SNP councillor Math Campbell-Sturgess leads on business development, deputised by SNP councillor Jan Brown. The area committees have new chairpersons: Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands has SNP councillor
John Armour as its chairperson, and SNP councillor Dougie McFadzean as its depute; Oban, Lorn and the Isles will be chaired by SNP councillor Julie McKenzie, deputised by independent Andrew Kain; Bute and Cowal has SNP councillor Gordon Blair at the helm, and SNP councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle at his side; finally Helensburgh and Lomond will be led by independent councillor Mark Irvine, with Labour councillor Fiona Howard as depute.
An opposition amendment to put independent councillor Alastair Redman in the chair of Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands, and Conservative councillor Amanda Hampsey as head of Oban, Lorn and the Isles, was defeated 24 -11, with independent unionist councillor Tommy Macpherson abstaining.