Claims new roles don’t reflect political picture
Labour and Conservative councillors are taking up the vast majority of key positions within the council civic and committee structure.
And there is criticism from a number of opposition quarters that the appointments are not reflective of the political picture across the council or the public vote.
At last Thursday’s meeting, former SNP councillor Alasdair Macpherson - who is the first councillor to stand and be elected as an independent and was successful at the first stage for Bannockburn ward - suggested he had been frozen out in a bid to dilute his profile and undermine him for future elections.
He said:“if they are serious about collegiate working then they have to reflect what people voted for.”
Council leader Chris Kane said, however, there had been“no attempt to freeze anyone out”and accused Councillor Macpherson of taking “cheap shots”.
Sole Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache had been offered the role of Depute Provost in the new council and declined citing concerns that there were some elements of politicism.
However, he raised concerns about representation on the council’s committees.
This week he told the Observer: “When people hear that the new council Labour minority administration say that they want to be inclusive, residents have contacted me with incredulity.
“Previously I was on both the Environment and Housing and Children and Young People committees. As it stands I am on neither. The political atmosphere is too tribal. This was displayed in election leaflets which were largely about stopping others.
“The public want and deserve constructive politics, not this toxic atmosphere. I trust that things will change and all councillors will be able to work together as happened previously on the climate emergency, Covid recovery and the buses. These topics were and are too important not to tackle together.”
However, the new council leader said while appointments had been made these would be under review and would be revisited after the summer recess.
Councillor Kane sdaid:“the election result has given us a remarkable and rare opportunity to try and do things differently in Stirling and that is what this Labour Administration will try to do.
“That Councillor Tollemache isn’t on any committee is his choice, not ours. Rather than work with us, Councillor Tollemache keeps finding reasons not to.
“We said we would review the committee structure and Councillor Tollemache will have another opportunity to serve, but he has to engage with us to achieve that.”