A new “collaborative leadership group” for the council has been agreed.
With the unusual make-up of the council this term, the panel will involve co-leaders Stephen Thompson (SNP) and Linda Dorward (Labour) holding regular meetings with Gail Macgregor (Conservatives) and Richard Brodie (independents) to discuss important issues.
Topics such as how to combat the cost of living crisis and road maintenance are some examples of what they could discuss.
The group was confirmed at the full council meeting last week.
Annandale North councillor Macgregor said: “I think it’s important to stress under these arrangements we do have an administration and an opposition and we’d like to think these arrangements will enable an effective opposition within the structures that respects political and individual integrity.
“I think it’s really important that, whilst we have the discussion groups to develop the council’s way of moving forward and I think we work very well together, we still need to be able to hold you to account as an administration.
“I think we should add in an element (to the paper) about effective opposition and scrutiny.
”Because while I like the principle that we’re all going to sit in a room and sing Kumbaya and hug, there will be days where I have to hold you to account and there will be days where you disagree with me as well.
“The wording of this is a wee bit too flowery at the moment. We need to mention something around effective opposition and appropriate scrutiny.”
The working principles of the group include the recognition that all sides won’t agree on everything but will be constructive and collaborate and the forums are not decision-making.
Mr Thompson replied: “Your point about playing the role of opposition is key.
“I don’t even know the words to Kumbaya but I suspect what you’re getting at is that it won’t always be a happy place all the time.
“We expect meetings to be fully challenged because that’s how the best decisions are made.”
Councillors then agreed to the establishment of the leadership panel.
