Angus Council’s former SNP administration leader has been given a dressing down by a top official in a political row over committee representation.
Bill Duff was rebuked by education director Kelly McIntosh during a meeting of the council’s Family, Education and Justice committee.
It is the latest flare-up over committee posts since the SNP was dumped from Angus power in April.
The latest situation arose as councillors clashed over an appointment to the Angus Integrated Children’s Services Group.
It has three elected representatives. Those are the convener and vice-convener of the education committee and one non-administration councillor.
Mr Duff proposed Forfar SNP colleague and former education convener Lynne Devine for the position.
Arbroath independent councillor Lois Speed put herself forward for the role.
Mr Duff said: “I think we need political balance here.
“My nominee is representing a group of 12. If it’s two from the administration, it would be one from the opposition group.
“Is Councillor Speed a member of the administration or not?”
He claimed she had voted “exclusively with the administration” in two previous meetings since the new administration took control.
One was an ill-tempered special full council meeting on May 8 to sort out committee roles.
Vote on committee post
“I think it’s unacceptable frankly,” said Mr Duff.
“We’ve raised this issue with senior officers that this was not done very well at the meeting on May 8.
“We should have political balance on these committees. That’s a fundamental principle and this goes against it.
“There’s an important democratic point that the convener and vice-convener represent the 13 members of the administration.
“Councillor Devine would represent 12 members of the opposition.
“Councillor Speed is only representing herself.”
It led Ms McIntosh to tackle Montrose councillor Mr Duff on the issue.
The education director responded: “Councillor Duff, thanks for your comments.
“But I would just like to clarify that whoever becomes a member of the board is there to represent the children and young people of Angus.
“They are not there to represent any group.”
Councillor Speed secured selection by 10 votes to 6.
The first full council meeting under the new administration on May 8 saw Mr Duff accuse the coalition group of “blatant gerrymandering” over committee structures.
The seven-hour marathon meeting was punctuated by political point-scoring.
Councillors had to resort to cutting a pack of cards to determine some committee roles.
The recent education committee also sparked criticism of a pre-meeting buffet for councillors, officials and head teachers.
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