South Lanarkshire Council sees a new partnership taking charge as of today (May 18).
Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors formed a minority administration that will also have support from the Independent Group.
All parties will help to deliver on progressive manifesto commitments from each other and pursue their shared priorities for the area. However, each group will be free to take its own policy positions on matters not covered by the partnership agreement.
The SNP and Conservatives will now be recognised as opposition parties, changing the political control at the council where the SNP held power for the last five years.
At the meeting today (May 18) ,councillors voted for Independent Group leader Margaret Cooper and Labour councillor Bert Thomson to become provost and deputy provost.
And Labour councillors Joe Fagan and Gerry Convery became leader of the council and deputy leader of the council.
The newly elected Labour and Liberal Democrat partnership set out plans for the new direction of South Lanarkshire.
It announced it would bring forward new policies and initiatives to help overcome the challenges facing residents and the council, with a clear focus on improving life and services for people.
Councillor Joe Fagan, Leader of the Council, and Leader of the Labour Group, said: “South Lanarkshire needs new leadership and that is what this agreement delivers. A progressive alliance of councillors have chosen to co-operate, to do politics better and find common ground.
“It’s time to build our local services back after Covid, to crack down on graffiti and fly-tipping, to stand by the frontline workers who sweep the streets, fix our pavements and care for those in need.
“It’s time to get our economy moving again. And it’s time to stand up to the Scottish Government, after years of under-funding, and demand our area’s fair share of public spending.
“Our people have come through a pandemic, they are in the grip of a cost of living crisis and our public services have been stretched to breaking point.
“I look forward to working with our new partners and councillors of all parties to make our council work better for the people of South Lanarkshire.”
Councillor Robert Brown, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “This is a new development in council administration in Scotland which I believe will work well for South Lanarkshire.
“It recognises that all parties on the council are in a minority and that there has to be a high degree of constructive and inclusive working across the Council.
“Liberal Democrats are delighted to have the opportunity to set some new directions on economic revival, climate change community and democratic renewal and pavement improvement amongst others.
“This will be a strong administration that works for the benefit of residents.”
The Liberal Democrats’ Robert Brown is the new chair of community and enterprise, with his party colleague Mark McGeever appointed chair of climate change.
The partnership administration will also include chairs of finance and corporate resources, education resources, housing and technical resources, and social work resources.
The partnership administration hopes to maintain constructive relationships and ongoing dialogue with the opposition SNP, Conservative and Green councillors.
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