An Aberdeenshire councillor has accused the SNP of injecting politics into a “non-political” planning body as they attempt to oust him from his senior post.
Liberal Democrat Peter Argyle is currently chairman of the Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Planning Authority (SDPA), having been a board member since the group’s inception in 2008.
The committee is made up of 12 councillors – six from Aberdeenshire and another six from Aberdeen City Council – with the post of chairman swapped between the local authorities every two years.
Mr Argyle has one more year to serve as chairman.
But SNP councillor David Aitchison has lodged a motion to oust him from his post – almost six months after a change in power at Aberdeenshire Council, in which the political party seized control.
The 28-strong SNP group teamed up with the Progressive Alliance and the Democratic, Independent and Green group (Digg) to takeover from the Tory and Lib Dem-led Aberdeenshire Alliance in June.
Westhill and district councillor Mr Aitchison replaced Mr Argyle as head of the council’s infrastructure services committee (ISC) following the administration change.
He said it was a matter of “protocol” that the head of the ISC should also hold the most senior post at the SDPA.
However Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside councillor, Mr Argyle, accused the latest move of being politically motivated.
“The SDPA is absolutely a non-political body. It was established by both councils simply to prepare the strategic development plan and have an overview of planning in the north-east. It is not political,” he said.
“I can only assume this is politically motivated. I was on the SDPA when it was first formed.”
Mr Argyle added that the group is currently “working really well”, adding: “If everything is going well, it begs the question why they want to introduce politics into this.”
Mr Aitchison said it was “nothing to do with personalities”, adding: “Our view is that protocol determines it would be the chair of the ISC that would also chair this committee.
“I have no doubt that the organisation appears to work well but our feeling would be the administration of Aberdeenshire should chair that committee rather than a councillor that is no longer in the administration. It is not a personal thing at all.”
Vice-chairman of the committee, Aberdeen Labour councillor Ramsay Milne, said he would be “sorry” to see Mr Argyle go.
“He is an excellent chairman on a non party political basis. But these are issues for them (Aberdeenshire Council) really,” he said.
The Aberdeen City and Shire SDPA will meet today at Woodhill House.