Lib Dems refute losing Highland Council power gamble
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THE Independents have taken power at Highland Council.
The group had been seeking to do a deal with the Liberal Democrats and Labour but talks broke down on Friday.
It has now been confirmed the Independents will run the council alone, as a minority administration.
The SNP has pledged to give their support to the Independent group in return for this outcome.
Independent group leader Councillor Margaret Davidson said the aim was to create a stable council.
She said: "I’m delighted, truly delighted to be able to say that we have a new administration for Highland Council and it is being led by Independent councillors. Leading any council is not an easy ride. Finding how we balance the budget is going to be the most difficult job over the next two years. I hope we can avoid cutting front line services."
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 Lib Dems 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.
Speaking moments after the decision was made public, she denied that the Lib Dems had taken a gamble to quit the administration and they and lost.
She said: "I do not see it as a gamble. I think the most important this for me personally it that we no longer are in a coalition with the SNP.
"And it will be better for the SNP too as they will be able to follow the Scottish Government line more easily in opposition."
David Alston, Liberal Democrat leader, said it was clear that the Independents had jumped into bed with the SNP.
He said: "We believed we had reached an agreement in principle to try to form an administration but obviously what’s been happening is other talks have been going on with the SNP and these went on right up until Friday morning when the Independent group announced that they were going to form a minority administration. They’ve got the confidence to do that because they have the tacit support of the SNP to keep them in position. As a minority administration they now have no option but to dance to the SNP tune. I think that will be something that will dismay some of the Independent group members as the realisation dawns."
Jimmy Gray, Labour Group leader, said he was "disappointed with the outcome, but not surprised".
He said: "I wish the Independent group well. I just hope they can hold together and make sensible and informed decisions. I have been involved with the administration for seven or eight years and I’ve had a good crack at it, I’d have preferred this didn’t happen but it has. So be it."
