Lib Dem is depute leader in SNP-led Argyll and Bute Council

Argyll and Bute Council’s former leader has taken up a depute leader role with the authority’s new administration – which unseated him three weeks before.

Liberal Democrat Robin Currie was council leader since September 2020 before being ousted earlier this month by the SNP’s Jim Lynch.

But he will now share the office of depute leader with SNP councillor Audrey Forrest after the two were elected unopposed at a full council meeting.

The SNP’s councillor Jan Brown will be depute to independent Dougie Philand as provost.

The group of councillors now known as the Administration Partnership gained control of the council at a special meeting on Thursday, April 4.

Liberal Democrat councillors have now joined the coalition, which already consisted of SNP, Labour, Green and some independent councillors.

Chairs and vice-chairs of the council’s core committees were also decided at a scheduled full council meeting today.

The four area committees will be chaired by  Gordon Blair (SNP – Bute and Cowal); Mark Irvine (independent – Helensburgh and Lomond); John Armour (SNP – Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands) and Julie McKenzie (SNP – Oban Lorn and the Isles).

Opposition councillors proposed Councillors Liz McCabe (Independent, Isle of Bute); Gemma Penfold (Conservative, Helensburgh and Lomond South); Alastair Redman (Independent, Kintyre and the Islands Amanda Hampsey (Conservative, Oban South and the Isles) for those roles respectively.

However, after a roll call vote, the Administration Partnership’s nominees were named area committee chairs by a result of 24-11, with one abstention from Independent Tommy MacPherson.

Cllr Lynch will chair the council’s policy and resources committee while Cll Forrest is in charge of the community services committee.

The environment, development and infrastructure committee will have Cllr Armour in the chair, while independent Kieron Green returns to the chair of the planning, protective services and licensing committee after switching his support from the TALIG coalition which previously ran the council.