opposition members warnof ‘dangerous waters’

Council chiefs attacked over review group

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Opposition politicians warned Highland Council chiefs yesterday they were steering the authority into “dangerous waters” by refusing them membership of a new body charged with shaping yet more reforms.

An angry debate, aimed at establishing a working group to review the failings of reforms introduced last May, focussed on the exclusion of Liberal Democrats and Labour councillors.

The opposition claimed the decision breached a “gentleman’s agreement” among Scottish councils requiring political balance on committees in the absence of legislation that it said governs councils south of the border.

Addressing council leader Sandy Park, Lib Dem group deputy leader David Alston said: “I suggest to you, convener, that in choosing to go down this route you are taking this council into uncharted and dangerous waters and you are taking your own convenership into that same area.”

Tongue-in-cheek, Inverness Provost Bob Wynd suggested “the English and Welsh maybe do it their way, but we do it better.” Labour group leader Jimmy Gray, however, said the exclusion did “a huge disservice” to the council and threatened “irreparable damage” to future relations.

Council chief executive Alistair Dodds intervened by highlighting a subtle difference in definition between “sub committees” – which are covered by the southern legislation – and “working groups,” which are not.

As the result of a 39-25 vote at council HQ in Inverness, the fourth council reorganisation in 34 years can now begin, overseen exclusively by an elite list of representatives from the authority’s ruling Independent and SNP coalition. It will focus on key committee structure, area planning and licensing, and the operation of area wards.

It January, around a quarter of the 80 Highland councillors made it clear that the latest reforms had created an “uninformed, unfair and undemocratic system” of local government.