The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are poised to take control of Aberdeenshire Council today.
Aberdeenshire councillors are meeting for the first time since the local government elections a fortnight ago and will vote on a new administration in Woodhill House.
No party put forward enough candidates to win a majority of the 70 seats in the chamber and a coalition deal between different groups seemed inevitable.
It is understood the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have finally reached a deal after a week of private negotiations and will be joined by several aligned independent councillors.
The new administration would mark a return to the Aberdeenshire Alliance coalition, which governed the area until an SNP-led coup two years ago. It is expected that Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders Jim Gifford and Peter Argyle will be elected into leadership posts.
Independent councillor Norman Smith, who was the convener of the Aligned Independents in the last council, is also expected to take up a post. He was formerly the region’s deputy provost.
When the coalition talks began, Mr Gifford said: “We think we have a way forward with the three groups and look forward to those things being discussed in the next few days ahead of full council.”
After choosing a provost to act as Aberdeenshire Council’s civic leader, councillors will vote on the leadership positions and then the chairman and chairwoman posts for each of the authority’s policy committees.
Councillors will also be appointed to more than 50 outside bodies including trusts, community partnerships and safety groups.
Today’s council meeting comes less than 24 hours after similar talks in neighbouring Aberdeen City and Moray councils broke down.
In chaotic scenes at Aberdeen Townhouse, Labour councillors joined with Conservative members to keep the SNP out of administration.
But the move was against the strict instructions of the national party and the Labour councillors have now been suspended.
In Moray, an on going deadlock between the groups meant that yesterday’s full council meeting lasted only two minutes before the session was adjourned for further talks.
