Moray’s SNP group has confirmed plans to boost its numbers by contesting an upcoming council by-election, the results of which could radically alter the power balance of the local authority.
The sudden resignation of Heldon and Laich councillor Eric McGillivray last Friday left the SNP and the ruling Independent-led administration with 11 seats each on the body.
Yesterday Moray Council announced the details of the vote to replace Mr McGillivray, which will take place at the beginning of October.
And the local SNP group, which earlier this year mounted a failed effort to seize control of the council, confirmed it would be fielding a Nationalist candidate for the vacant seat.
Last night an SNP spokesman said: “We very much welcome the opportunity to contest the Heldon and Laich by-election.
“We have begun our candidate selection process and we look forward to getting round the doors and speaking to as many people in the areas as possible in the coming weeks.”
Candidate nominations will open next Thursday, August 13.
The by-election will take place on Thursday, October 1, with the count and declaration happening the following day at Lossiemouth Town Hall.
Polling will be held at Burghead Free Church Hall, Hopeman Memorial Hall, Lossiemouth Community Centre, Lossiemouth Town Hall, Duffus Village Hall, Alves Primary School and Miltonduff Public Hall.
The by-election will be conducted by the single transferable vote proportional representation system, where people are asked to mark candidates by preference using numbers.
Voters will be able register support for as many or as few candidates as they wish.
There are approximately 11,000 voters in the ward, with 1,969 of those opting to vote by post.
In March a by-election took place in the Buckie ward after long-serving member Joe Mackay died.
After SNP candidate Sonya Warren stormed to victory the SNP launched plans to assume authority over the council, but the takeover bid was thwarted in May when the administration added another member to reach a 12-11 advantage over the Nationalists.
Another by-election took place in Heldon and Laich in March 2013 to replace departing SNP councillor Carolle Ralph – who quit the role after being subject to a hate mail campaign.
The seat was won by Independent John Cowe, who is now a part of Moray Council’s ruling group.