THE political future of Highland Council was in doubt yesterday, following the collapse of the ruling coalition between SNP and independent councillors.
The coalition made history after May 2007's Scottish Parliament elections by forming the region's first political administration.
Sandy Park, the veteran independent councillor, was voted in as convener, with Jean Urquhart from the SNP as vice-co
nvener in the new-look council, which ended years of officer-led administration.
However, Nationalists this week pulled out of the deal after frictions between the two parties came to a head. Both now say they are looking for new partners to form a ruling body.
The next meeting of the authority is due to take place on 26 June.
The latest row centred on SNP demands to have Isobel McCallum, an independent councillor, removed as the vice-chairwoman of the planning committee.
She had caused unrest after calling to replace Pauline Munro, an SNP councillor, with a member of the farming community as a local-authority ambassador on European agricultural matters.
John Finnie, the SNP group leader, said: "There are some very fine people in the independent group, but there are clearly individuals in there who, right from the outset, sought to undermine the SNP's involvement in that coalition.
"It's disappointing and we sought to address that, but we have to admit defeat. We are now looking for other people to put together a coalition to push forward the exciting programme we have."
The situation leaves the council with 33 members in the independent group, 21 Liberal Democrats, 17 SNP, seven Labour and two non-aligned councillors. It leaves the way open for the Lib Dems to share power with either of the previous coalition parties.
John Laing, the leader of the independents, said the group would continue to operate as a minority single group in the meantime.
He said: "One of the strengths of the independent party is exactly that – they are independent members.
"We will continue to run Highland Council and will have to wait to see how things develop. We are in contact with other people."
A council spokesman yesterday confirmed that the SNP group has notified Alistair Dodds, the chief executive, that they have withdrawn from the administration. SNP office-bearers will remain in post in the meantime.
Mr Dodds said: "Staff have been advised that it is business as usual, and my guidance to them is to continue dealing with councillors and office-bearers with the usual courtesy.
"I will be providing councillors with the necessary procedural advice over the coming days and ensuring that the important day-to-day business of the council is delivered.
"We have a council meeting on 26 June. This will go ahead as scheduled."
The full article contains 459 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
