Hopes of a "new era" for Moray Council after leadership shake-up
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INDEPENDENT Councillor John Cowe said he is hopeful of a "new era" for Moray Council after being named as the local authority's very first Civic Leader on Wednesday.
Cllr Cowe's appointment as civic head, which replaces the role of convener, follows a tumultuous few weeks for the minority Conservative administration which culminated in Cllr Marc Macrae stepping down as council convener ahead of a no confidence vote.
Cllr Neil McLennan had been ousted from his role as Conservative co-leader following a vote of no confidence by the group prior to Cllr Macrae's resignation.
He now serves as an Independent leaving the Conservatives with 10 councillors.
Conservative councillor Kathleen Robertson will assume the role of sole council leader, chairing meetings of the full council and attending Cosla.
Meanwhile, fellow Conservative councillor Donald Gatt will become deputy leader.
That means Cllr McLennan is no longer council co-leader.
Cllr Cowe, a member for Heldon and Laich and one of three Independents on the council, thanked his fellow councillors for their support following his appointment and urged the council to move forward following a disruptive few weeks.
He said: "I am deeply humbled by the faith that you have placed in me and the support that has been clearly evident today and I hope this is an acknowledgement of a new era for Moray and its people.
"I take this responsibility very seriously and commit to serving the people of Moray to the very best of my ability.
"We are all well aware of the responsibilities we are having to face as Moray councillors but it is only by working together that we can be united and strong instead of divided and weak.
"Let us move forward together and let us work together for the people we represent."
Cllr Robertson, who was previously council co-leader alongside Cllr McLennan, said that the leadership re-structure would allow the council to create the necessary stability to move forward.
She said: “I appreciate the understanding of fellow councillors across the chamber during this time of re-structuring of the leadership roles.
“We must move forward as a local authority and I look forward to working with all colleagues to lead that progression on behalf of the people of Moray, who, rightly, expect a high standard of professionalism from us as an official body.”
Cllr Gatt added: “I appreciate this role is a change from what we’ve previously been used to in Moray and I look forward to developing it over time. I see this as an opportunity to support the Council Leader and work with colleagues to move a progressive Moray Council forward.”
While Cllr Cowe's appointment as Civic Leader was unanimously supported, the Conservative administration was branded a "shambles" by some councillors.
That included SNP councillor and former council leader Graham Leadbitter who said that the disruption over the last few weeks has distracted the administration from addressing the issues facing Moray.
He said: "The consequence of this instability and infighting is literally many hours spent by ourselves in the SNP group and by all of the other non-administration councillors trying to keep a handle on what exactly is going on and how that impacts on the functioning of the council.
"Secondly and most importantly is the diversion of all that time and the absolute distraction from the critical issues facing people in Moray.
"I think it is a disgrace that we are in this position just three months after an election, all because of poor behaviours and conduct both past and present of elected councillors.
"We need the administration to get its act together and get on with the job."
Labour councillor Sandy Keith agreed with his political rival, adding: "This has been a shambles. Make no mistake about that. This has all been manufactured and delivered by the Moray Tory party.
"I would like to have seen a non-administration convener of the council but I understand that Councillor Cowe does not want to serve the political side of the role.
"This proposal, albeit an improvement on the current proposal, focuses too much power in the hands of a politically weakened leader and administration."
