A TEENAGER with less than a fortnight’s experience as a councillor is set to take up a prestigious civic post in Aberdeen amid a shake-up of the city’s political elite.

John West (18), who is Scotland’s youngest councillor, is in line to become deputy lord provost after a pact was signed yesterday between the Liberal Democrats and the SNP on Aberdeen City Council which should see the two parties formally assume control of the administration tomorrow.

The deal also paves the way for some of Scotland’s youngest politicians to secure highly-influential positions. Under the plans outlined yesterday, committees such as licensing and appeals will be led by councillors in their 20s who were elected to office for the first time earlier this month.

The administration that will lead the city council for the next four years has decided Mr West should take one of the top jobs. Unless his nomination is opposed, the first-year Aberdeen University law student will effectively become the deputy civic leader tomorrow.

Mr West, member for Hazelhead/Ashley/Queens Cross, said he was “ecstatic, delighted and overwhelmed” about his nomination to the role that will include chairing full council meetings in the absence of the lord provost and attending civic functions.

At a town house press conference yesterday announcing the new administration, Lib Dem councillor Peter Stephen, who represents Kingswells, was named lord provost, replacing John Reynolds.

New SNP councillor Callum McCaig (22) was named convener of the licensing committee, which allocates taxi licenses and his colleague Mark McDonald (26) is the new convener of the appeals committee. Kirsty West (21), the deputy lord-provost-in-waiting’s sister, will be the council’s new education spokeswoman.

Given the new administration is made up of 12 SNP and 15 Lib Dem councillors, it is unlikely any nominations will be opposed at a full council meeting tomorrow.

It emerged yesterday that Lib Dem Kate Dean will lead the administration and chair the policy and strategy committee. The SNP’s Kevin Stewart has been elected deputy leader and convener of the powerful resources management committee.

The other committees will be chaired by experienced councillors from both parties, however.

Scott Cassie (Lib Dem) will once again head up planning, Muriel Jaffrey (SNP) will chair the licensing board and John Stewart (Lib Dem) will lead the performance and standards committee.

The committee structure on the council has been altered to include three new area committees to represent the north, central and south areas of the city.

They will be respectively chaired by John Reynolds (Lib Dem), Andy May (SNP) and Jim Kiddie (SNP).

Lib Dem councillor Gordon Leslie will be the administration's health and care spokesman.

His party colleagues Aileen Malone and Ron Clark will comment on housing and transport and environment issues respectively.

Kevin Stewart will be community regeneration spokesman, but the sports and culture spokesman has yet to be confirmed. Both Mrs Dean and Mr Stewart said the new committee leadership structure represented a broad mix of youth and experience, which was a “good reflection” of the city.

Mr Stewart (Northfield) said, “With this council we are reflecting society. It’s a pity there are not more women and ethnic minority representatives on the council, but we have a much more balanced representation of society.”

Commenting on the youth of some councillors, Conservative MSP David Davidson said, “I wish them well but I would like to think that the key people have some experience to bring to the table.”

The decision to form a Lib Dem/ SNP coalition, which gives the Nationalists a semblance of power in the city for the first time, followed 10 days of crunch talks.