Conservative councillors have been accused of “disrespect” after deliberately missing a meeting en-masse, weeks on from quitting the authority’s ruling group.
Seven of the eight Tories who make up Moray Council’s Conservative group left a coalition with Independent councillors at the end of May, leaving the SNP to assume control of the chambers weeks later.
The Conservative members surrendered the position of power after falling out with their Independent counterparts over adverts for high-paying director jobs.
The Tory group argued that a review should be carried out into whether the positions were necessary before the council embarked on the recruitment process.
However, the jobs were ultimately advertised and all councillors were recently asked to attend a summit to determine whether one applicant should be awarded a post.
Moray Council leader, Graham Leadbitter, has now accused the Tories of a “lack of respect” after they chose to express their opposition to the process by missing the meeting.
Mr Leadbitter said: “The Tories did not have a single councillor from their group of eight at a full council meeting.
“This is completely disrespectful to hardworking council staff, to other councillors and, most importantly, the wider public of Moray who expect their councillors to be taking responsibility.”
Leader of the Conservative group, Tim Eagle, clarified that he was away on the day in question but explained the reason for his colleagues’ decision not to attend the meeting.
Mr Eagle said: “The meeting was about the recruitment of a director in a job which is not necessary, especially given recent warnings that Moray might not make a balanced budget.
“This is a £90,000 job and the group decided not to go as only one candidate was being presented.
“Unless things have changed in the new administration group, we were never provided with any strong evidence as to why this job was necessary.”
Moray Council is battling to trim £12 million from its budget over the next year.
The authority has hired an outside consultancy to pore over its finances and identify where savings can be made.
Following years in opposition, the SNP group took over the administration in the middle of June with Mr Leadbitter becoming leader and Shona Morrison appointed as convener.
