A row over the leadership of Dumfries and Galloway Council has resulted in the largest political party withdrawing from several key joint working groups.
Shortly after the SNP-Labour-Lib Dems-Independent rainbow coalition took control of the council last summer, the new administration set up a leaders’ panel, a business bureau, and budget panel.
While the new coalition was keeping the Conservatives out of power, the idea behind the panels was to keep them involved and foster collaborative working, despite political differences.
However, Conservatives’ group leader Gail Macgregor wrote to SNP group leader – and council leader – Stephen Thompson to complain about the running of these panels and officially withdraw from them.
This comes following a controversial reshuffle of senior positions at a specially-convened council meeting last Friday.
Mrs Macgregor wrote: “As you are aware, I and colleagues have engaged in these forums over recent months, in good faith and in the spirit of being constructive.
“Whilst the administration and co-leaders have made much of ‘collaboration and inclusion’ this is clearly only on the administration’s terms as has been made evident by three months of secret renegotiation of senior council roles which yet again excluded myself and my group.”
She went on: “I continue to be disappointed that the role of vice chair of audit, risk and scrutiny is not recognised as a senior role, this is not only an insult to the deputy leader of our group, Councillor Malcolm Johnstone, but an indicator that the administration do not regard the role of the audit, risk and scrutiny committee as important or a key central committee.
“I take some comfort that during my short time on the leaders’ panel I was able to influence the prioritisation and development of the cost of living pressures and roads improvement plans, two important pieces of work which the administration were reluctant to progress as a matter of urgency, preferring to develop the not yet finalised council plan.
“I am also aware that our representatives on the budget panel and business bureau have made valued contributions at every turn.
“As such, I assure you this decision has not been made lightly, however, the events of recent days make our group’s further involvement untenable.”
Council leader Stephen Thompson said: “I have replied to Cllr Gail Macgregor’s letter directly acknowledging and thanking the members of her group for their participation and contributions up to now.
“While I fully respect their decision, I would like to think that we can still find constructive ways to work together in future.
“The panels that were agreed by council in June 2022 remain established and although participation is encouraged and welcomed, it is also voluntary.
“Information for the panel meetings will continue to be shared to all groups inclusively whether members choose to attend or not.”
