Independents to run Highland Council
The Independents have taken power at Highland Council.
The group said days ago they were seeking a deal with the Liberal Democrats and Labour - with the SNP frozen out.
But negotiations were still going on this morning.
And it has now emerged the Independents will run the admnistration alone.
Independent group leader Councillor Margaret Davidson said the aim was to create a stable council.
Consequently, the SNP will now form the largest group in Opposition with the Liberal Democrats and Labour also out of power.SNP Group Leader Cllr Maxine Smith said: “We look forward to working with the new Administration in order to do what is best for the Highlands. We will support the Administration when we believe it is right and we will oppose it when we believe it is wrong. As Leader of the Opposition, I will work constructively with the Independents and my SNP colleagues all feel the same.”SNP Group Depute Leader Cllr Richard Laird added: “The last week has been frustrating for the Council, its staff, and Highland residents. What is important now is that the Council has stable leadership for the next two years and we will ensure that happens. The SNP will form a constructive Opposition to the Independent Administration and will continue to put the good of the Highlands front and centre of everything we do.”
The move comes after the Liberal Democrats unexpectedly quit the SNP-led coalition administration last week, saying they could no longer work with the nationalists.
Carolyn Caddick, Lib-Dem councillor for Inverness South who was at the forefront of the coalition talks, said much of the joint working with the SNP and Labour had been positive but the Lib-Dems had reached a point of no return.
She cited under-funding of Highland NHS, armed police and the SNP’s refusal to back down over its council tax freeze as the main problems.
The move appeared to catch the SNP unawares with new group leader Maxine Smith saying she felt "let down and betrayed" by Lib-Dem group leader David Alston.
The situation left the Independents, the largest group on the council with 31 members compared to the SNP’s 21, 11 Lib-Dems and eight Labour.
However, they have splits of their own, with Margaret Davidson’s defeat of joint leader Jaci Douglas in a leadership vote last week prompting the resignation of both Cllr Douglas and fellow joint leader Carolyn Wilson. And earlier this week, Jim Crawford, councillor for Inverness South quit the Independent group saying he could not do a deal with the Lib-Dems.
