A TORY council chief has been saved from a no-confidence vote after Labour councillors withdrew their names from a letter demanding action against him.
Moray Council convener Marc Macrae no longer faces pressure to refer himself to the Ethics and Standards Committee or the risk of a vote of no confidence on June 29.
All parties but the Tories had signed the letter, citing concerns over him leading the council and the “reputationally damaging” impact complaints over his behaviour towards council employees could have on the local authority.
Previously the leader of the Labour group John Divers had aired strong reservations about Macrae’s suitability for the job.
He said: “I raised concerns prior to the council meeting when the administration was formed with the co-leaders, and I’ve raised it since.
“They’ve not listened.
“It gives me great concern that we have a convener that has this behind them.”
Under council rules, the withdrawal of the three Labour councillor signatures now means that no action will be taken by the Ethics and Standards Committee or trigger a vote of no-confidence.
The Labour group was asked to give an explanation for its withdrawal, but did not respond to The National's request for comment.
The open letter was first sent to Macrae with eight SNP councillors, three Labour and two independent signatures. It said “numerous warnings” were given by political groups and individual councillors to Conservative group co-leaders, Neil McLennan and Kathleen Robertson, about Macrae’s conduct.
Frank Brown, a Tory Councillor serving until May this year, claimed that the new convener was not a “fit and proper person” to hold the position.
Brown stated further that several complaints were made regarding the behaviour of Macrae - with one incident in 2019 prompting an apology from Macrae after reports that he had used strong swear words while talking to a council employee.
Complaints about Macrae’s behaviour had previously been the reason for his rumoured removal, however, it was publicly stated he was standing down as chairman of the local authority’s Audit and Scrutiny Committee three years ago due to health reasons. Brown said that Macrae had received a warning from the Conservative Party.
The Conservative Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor was recently accused of “several” complaints and Alan Tissiman, the former vice-chairman of the Moray Conservative Association, confirmed he had been asked to interview Macrae after previous complaints had been received.
