Perth and Kinross Council is believed to have this week appointed its youngest ever provost.
On Wednesday councillors narrowly voted for Independent Highland Perthshire councillor Xander McDade to become Perth and Kinross Provost.
Aged just 28 Provost McDade has pledged to "modernise certain aspects of the role" whilst "respecting many of our great traditions".
Taking on the role he thanked his predecessor Provost Dennis Melloy for his service to the council for the past five years.
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service they "believe" Provost McDade will be the council's youngest ever provost.
Provost McDade added: "We think it makes me the youngest Perth and Kinross Provost ever and the youngest in Scotland since the end of World War II."
Provost McDade will be aided by bailies from each of PKC's political groups and by depute provost SNP councillor Andrew Parrott - who was unanimously approved as depute.
The Highland Perthshire Independent councillor was voted through as provost by 20 votes to 18 at the first meeting of Perth and Kinross Council since the May 5 elections.
At Wednesday's (May 25) meeting Provost McDade received 20 votes from the four Independent and 16 SNP councillors. All 14 Conservative and four Lib Dem councillors cast their vote for Blairgowrie and Glens Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers. Labour's two councillors abstained.
The newly appointed Provost McDade thanked councillors for voting for him and told the chamber: "As councillors who were here the previous term will be aware I strongly believe in upholding standing orders and intend to do so without fear or favour.
"As you might expect I intend to modernise some aspects of the role and ensure it's what our citizens expect of a modern local government whilst also respecting many of our great traditions.
"I hope to run the civic office in a very collegiate manner and wish to involve all elected members in the civic life of the council."
Provost McDade also expressed his condolences to the family of former provost Alex Murray who died last week.
Provost McDade will be aided by bailies from each political group.
Councillors Alasdair Bailey (Labour), Rhona Brock (Independent), Andy Chan (Conservative) and Mike Williamson (SNP) will serve as bailies.
The Liberal Democrats did not submit a bailie nomination for their group with their leader having only been informed of the move on Monday night. The motion to reintroduce bailies did not appear on the meeting's public agenda.
Lib Dem group leader Peter Barrett said: "The Scottish Liberal Democrat group has no objection in principle to the creation and appointing of bailies to assist with representing the council and conducting its civic duties."
However he called for a decision on the appointment of bailies to be deferred until "further detail" on what the role entails be brought before councillors at the June meeting of Perth and Kinross Council.
He added: "I think 48 hours' notice does not meet with the new standards I was expecting.
"As the council has managed since the reform of local government without bailies - and we haven't had any for the 19 years I've been a councillor - I don't think there's a specific urgency that we have to nominate those today or have it as an urgent item."
He called for councillors to be "furnished with a job description and duties so there is clarity in that role".
Conservative group leader John Duff agreed and supported Cllr Barrett's call to defer.
Cllr Duff said: "We only this morning had the opportunity to discuss and agree we would put forward Andy Chan as our nomination."
The SNP, Independents and Labour voted to proceed with the motion for the appointment of bailies while the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats voted to defer. The motion was carried by 22 votes to 18.
The Liberal Democrats - as the only group not to put forward a nomination - will submit theirs at a later date.
Cllr Peter Barrett told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "We will look at how diversity is reflected in the spread of bailies appointed today, as well as geographic and gender balance."
