A troubled north-east local authority has been dealt a fresh blow today after a member of the ruling administration announced he was quitting.
Moray councillor James Allan said he was no longer prepared to be part of a team that was “not interested in listening to the public”.
The Conservative member for Elgin South has formally tendered his resignation to local authority convener and head of the Independent-led administration, Stewart Cree.
Mr Allan’s decision follows a stormy full council meeting yesterday when councillors voted 13-11 to appoint outgoing leader Allan Wright the new convener and Mr Cree the new leader from January 1.
The reshuffle was triggered after Mr Wright announced his resignation as leader following the administration’s defeat over a package of schools closures two weeks ago.
Fochabers Lhanbryde Tory councillor Douglas Ross likened the job swap to “shifting the deckchairs on the Titanic”.
And SNP group leader Pearl Paul branded the decision a “farce”, claiming the two men were “playing musical chairs to save face”.
Mr Cree said he admired Mr Allan and had no personal animosity towards him but voting against leadership appointments made his position on the administration “untenable”.
He added that the Tory councillor had left himself with no alternative but to leave and rejected any suggestion that the administration was in crisis.
Mr Allan, whose resignation takes effect immediately, said: “I want to be a strong councillor representing the people who elected me in Elgin South.
“I feel I did that when I listened to the majority of residents over their concerns with the Western Link Road but by voting with other councillors to successfully refuse the application it would seem I was at odds with the administration.
“I also voted with opposition councillors against the hastily arranged moves for the convener and leader to switch roles.
“Both these decisions confirmed to me that the administration is not interested in listening to the public and seems to believe it’s their way or no way.”
Mr Allan said the manner in which the administration broke the news that Mr Ross was being removed as convener of the council’s planning and police and fire committees was “unacceptable”.
“No one from the independent group thought to inform me of their decision and I had to find out about it on the radio,” he added.
“Recently I have found myself more and more at odds with positions taken by the administration and I feel I can best represent the views of the people who elected me by sitting as part of a Scottish Conservative group with Councillor Ross outwith the administration.”
Mr Ross said it was not an easy decision for Mr Allan to have made, but he had made it clear to him that he would have his full support.
“Clearly he has not been comfortable with the direction or behaviour of the administration lately and has decided to remove himself from that group,” added the Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor.
“I want to look forward now and assure people that James and I will look at each issue on its merits and if it’s right for Moray we will support it whether it comes from the administration, the opposition or from anyone else.
“The last few weeks have seen the reputation of Moray Council tarnished and comments that it is in turmoil have not been too wide of the mark.
“It’s up to councillors to now work out our differences and provide the real leadership that people in Moray want.”
Mr Ross claimed the public would not care who wore the convener’s chain or who chairs committees if decisions were made in their best interests.
Mr Cree said: “I admire James and recognise the work he does as a local councillor and I have no personal animosity towards him.
“But it was in my mind untenable that Councillor Allan could remain with the group because he voted not to support its appointments.
“And if someone in the administration goes against that there is no other alternative but to leave.”
Mr Cree said he rejected any suggestion that the local authority was in crisis.
“If it was such a thing, and I do not think it is, it is of our opponents own making,” he added.
“We will move on and there is always ways to make things work, somebody said politics is the art of the possible and we are working on that basis.”
Mr Cree said the local authority had “very clear objectives” and a 10 year plan to drive forward.