Moray Council was plunged into fresh turmoil last night as a job swap at the top of the local authority was likened to “shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic”.
Conservative councillor Douglas Ross and members of the SNP group were left furious after colleagues voted 13-11 to appoint outgoing leader Allan Wright the new convener and existing convener Stewart Cree the new leader from January 1.
The Nationalists’ group leader Pearl Paul branded the decision a farce and claimed the two men were “playing musical chairs to save face”.
Councillor Ross said the changes would do nothing to enhance the troubled council’s reputation.
But Heldon and Laich Independent member Chris Tuke insisted the move was not a “cosy job swap”, and said there was “no better” leadership candidate than former senior police officer Mr Cree.
The reshuffle was triggered after Councillor Wright announced his resignation as leader following the administration’s defeat over a schools closure programme two weeks ago.
He got an angry response anger when he described councillors who did not support the education shake-up plans “cowardly”.
The scrapping of the closure proposals led to Mr Ross being expelled from the Independent-Conservative administration, and sacked as convener of the planning and police and fire committees.
Yesterday, the Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor, with the support of Councillor Paul, who represents the Speyside Glenlivet ward, tried to delay the reshuffle decision until the next full council meeting on December 17.
Mr Ross said the move would allow the winner of the looming Elgin City North by-election to have their say too, while Ms Paul said it would enable officials to examine whether there was any cost benefit to only having a leader or convener, rather than both.
“I have difficulty with this shuffle between convener and leader as the leader resigned because he felt he did not have the support of a majority of councillors,” said Mr Ross.
“I question why he feels he now has support to be convener and this job swap looks like shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic rather than actual changes to the leadership.
“I believe the decision to nominate two people for those posts within a matter of weeks of resignations and removals from office may be seen as knee-jerk reactions to a situation rather than fully thought out and considered appointments for the best way forward.”
Ms Paul said she had concerns about the candidates and was “really disappointed” Mr Wright had branded councillors cowards.
“I have voted many times after listening to communities I represent and if I am a coward, then I am proud of it,” she added.
“This is a toys out of the pram occasion and we need to look at whether we need a convener and leader.”
Keith and Cullen councillor Ron Shepherd, the new police and fire committee chairman, and Eric McGillivray, who represents the Heldon and Laich ward, said a decision had to be made immediately.
Mr Cree, who is also a councillor for Keith and Cullen, said: “I am trying to draw some sort of line and move on.
“My view is that when we have so many important things facing us I genuinely believe we need to show firm leadership and take action to fill the post that was vacated by Councillor Wright’s decision.
“That is why I do not want to hang fire until December 17.
“I think we should go forward in this council as united as we possibly can be.”
Councillor Tuke said many members of the administration were disappointed when Mr Wright stood down.
“We talked amongst ourselves and came up with no other or better candidate for the leader than Councillor Cree,” he added.
“To have Councillor Wright as convener will maintain his ability to attend at Cosla and keep that continuity going, and his experience in the leadership of the council.”