A councillor who has resigned from his seat after 22 years has vowed to ‘push from the other side of the fence’ in a bid to force change at Argyll and Bute Council.
Donald Kelly, previously a Conservative councillor and latterly an independent, had represented the South Kintyre ward since 2001 – originally in his own right after a by-election and, since 2007, as one of three councillors in a multi-member ward.
But he gave up his seat last week, and told the Local Democracy Reporting Service of his annoyance at how the council operated.
Mr Kelly had been the authority’s second longest-serving incumbent councillor, behind only its leader Robin Currie.
He said that in recent years he had been trying to change things from within, including the frequency of area committee meetings, which he said should have more input on roads spending.
“Basically, the wider thing is that members are getting total disrespect from the council as to when they get answers for their constituents,” he said.
“I got a question last week and was basically told I could not speak to a council officer to get an answer. I was told nothing could be given within a day or so because it was an ongoing situation.
“I put this through the members’ [online] portal, but it seems like that takes two to three weeks or six months before anybody gets back to you. It is totally ineffective in the role of an elected member.
“I have been a councillor for 22 years. On some occasions when I have tried to get things changed I have been told I am overstepping the mark and would be subject to the councillors’ code of conduct.
“I do not want that on my record, so I have taken the stance to resign from the council.
“I have reluctantly given up my seat. It might seem a bit extreme, but I cannot go another three or four years [until the next election] sitting hoping that things will change.
“When I stood at the last election [in 2022] I swithered about standing, but decided to see if I could do something.
“People have said ‘happy retirement’, and it is in a way, but I will start pushing from the other side of the fence.
“I fully understand the financial constraints and the way the council has been streamlined, but it needs a right shake-up.”
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: “Donald Kelly has resigned from the council after many years of service to his community.
“We very much value and respect the role of locally elected members and all their hard work in representing local communities.”
The South Kintyre seat is also represented by independent Tommy Macpherson – who was elected as a Conservative in May 2022, but was suspended by the party in December after voicing ‘serious misgivings’ about the operation of the authority’s ruling group of Conservatives, independents and Liberal Democrats – and by John Armour for the SNP.
No date has yet been set for a by-election to fill the vacant seat.
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