SNP councillors in Aberdeenshire have voted themselves out of power – by accident.
The Press and Journal can reveal a vote taken on Thursday, which was waved through as a formality, could spark a change in leadership.
The council agreed to change how its four main policy committees operate – seemingly not realising the shake-up means the opposition Alliance group will become the de facto administration.
Following a double by-election victory earlier this month, the Alliance holds the balance of power.
Group leader Jim Gifford previously said he had no plans for a power grab as it was more important for the authority to retain some stability after a rocky 18 months.
But when councillors gather in January to elect new chairmen and women for the new committees, it is inevitable the opposition will take over all four – thereby taking control once more.
The bizarre hand-over of power will mark the second transition in as many years after the current Partnership group seized control in a coup last May.
But their grip on the chamber at Woodhill House began to crumble this summer when then co-leader Martin Kitts-Hayes became embroiled in the Lego-gate scandal.
Mr Kitts-Hayes resigned in the wake of his decision to abandon an international conference because he was asked to stay in a Wild West cabin at Legoland.
His departure, and the death of SNP councillor Ian Gray in Banff, triggered two by-elections which were won by the Conservatives.
Last night Mr Gifford said the by-election results had “thrown the cat among the pigeons”.
“We effectively have a majority opposition,” he said. “When it takes effect in January the new committees have to appoint chairs and vice-chairs.
“What we intend to do about that remains to be seen. We need to have a think about this – it’s coming down the track in January.
“We’ll wait and see what happens – but the numbers make it very interesting.”
He added the Alliance’s priority is acting in the best interests of the people of Aberdeenshire.
The details of the committee shake up – which has been planned for months – were haggled over privately prior to the by-elections.
On Thursday, councillors spent less than 10 minutes ratifying the changes, without many councillors realising the unintended consequences of their vote.
Now Aberdeenshire Council could change hands again only months before the local government elections and, crucially, only days before a raft of budget cuts will have to be agreed.
The Alliance group would have to take responsibility for more than £20million of cuts.
Their only option may be the bizarre scenario in which they do not challenge their rivals for the committee chair posts.
Councillor Martin Ford, whose Democratic Independent and Green Group has a confidence and supply agreement with the Partnership, said setting a budget must remain the priority.
He added: “Clearly, dissatisfaction with hotel accommodation can have unforeseen consequences.
“Addressing the council’s budget challenge is the most important issue facing councillors between now and February – not arguing about who should chair the policy committees for the four months from January until the election in May.”
The SNP’s councillor Richard Thomson, said: “Committee Chairmanships are always appointed by the full council membership, so in that respect the new system is exactly the same as the old.
“Fundamentally, the only proper and competent way to change administration is for the opposition to move a successful motion to remove the Provost. The new governance structure doesn’t alter that in any way.”
