The political movement created during the bitter row over Donald Trump’s north-east golf plan is poised to trigger a shake-up on Aberdeenshire Council after securing enough members to earn a seat on every decision-making committee.
Mark Cullen has become the fifth councillor to join the Democratic Independent Group, which was set up by former Liberal Democrat members furious at their treatment after the US tycoon’s plans were originally rejected by the local authority.
His move means that the group – which also includes Paul Johnston, Martin Ford, Debra Storr and Sam Coull – should now be entitled to a seat on each of the five powerful committees which decide how the council is run.
One of its members may also now replace a Lib Dem on the policy and resources committee, which controls how the council spends its money.
The grouping is also likely to get one seat on each of the smaller sub-committees.
Its leader, Mr Johnston, claimed members would now be able to “hold the council to account for its actions” – but the faction was branded irrelevant by Mr Trump’s aide George Sorial last night.
Mr Cullen said: “The last two years have been very difficult on Aberdeenshire Council. Debate has been stifled, personalties attacked and decisions taken for vested interests rather than the good of the electorate.
“I want to help improve the way the council is run and I wish to remain as an independent councillor. This move will enable me to do both.”
The row over Mr Trump’s plans for the Menie Estate at Balmedie has changed the political landscape within Aberdeenshire Council.
The Lib Dems are still the region’s biggest party, but the group’s membership has fallen from 25 to 21 following a series of Trump-related rows.
Ms Storr, Mr Ford, Mr Johnston and Mr Coull quit the group in protest at the treatment of Mr Johnston after his claim that the council had struck a £5million sweetener deal with the US tycoon, an allegation the authority has always denied.
The council referred Mr Johnston to the Standards Commission, but he was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
Last night, Mr Sorial, managing director of international development at the Trump Organisation, said he was not worried by the latest development. He said: “We are a real estate developer, so we will leave the internal politics of the council to the councillors. But from what I have seen and heard at recent meetings, I’m not really certain if anybody is listening to these councillors any more.”