The new leader of Aberdeenshire Council’s ruling Conservative group has dismissed claims the shake-up is an “unwanted distraction” from the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Council leader Jim Gifford announced on Monday he had quit the group after nine years at the helm.
The Mid-Formartine councillor – along with former Tory councillors Jeff Hutchison and Lesley Berry – has now joined the aligned independents group, which is part of the coalition administration alongside the Lib Dems.
The move came after the Conservative group’s annual meeting at the weekend, where Fraserburgh councillor Andy Kille was elected as the new leader.
Mr Kille will shadow Mr Gifford for the next five months, and it is expected he will become council leader in November.
But yesterday, SNP group leader Gwyneth Petrie raised concerns the changes were being made at a time when members should be pulling together to support communities.
Ms Petrie – who was recently made group leader following the resignation of Richard Thomson after he became MP for Gordon – said: “While it’s obviously a matter for the Conservatives who they want or don’t want to lead them, trying to depose the leader of the council in the middle of a pandemic when council officials are working flat-out is not where the focus of the Conservative group should be.”
Mr Kille said: “I thank Councillor Petrie for her welcome, and I note her remarks on leadership change.
“Clearly the SNP group have also just changed their leader and I hope that the two new leaders can continue to work on a cross-party basis where possible, for the good of the council and the community.
“The council leader change is not effective until November and is to be done in a smooth, planned and as such, non-distracting way.
“This will provide new leadership for the council and a fresh perspective as we face entirely new challenges resulting from Covid-19 and the lockdown.”
