SNP councillors are attempting to forge new alliances to keep control of Angus Council.
An approach has been made to the two Liberal Democrats councillors for talks over the weekend and the SNP believe there is still a way they can reach the required numbers, with the additional help of some Independents.
There are 28 councillors in Angus with the SNP and Independents each holding nine seats, the Conservatives with eight posts and Liberal Democrats with two positions.
A Provost has to be elected at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting and if there is a scenario where votes are tied at 14 each then, under the council’s standing orders, the role will be decided by cutting cards.
The SNP’s Forfar councillor Lynne Devine and Montrose councillor Bill Duff are leading the negotiations on behalf of their group.
Mr Duff said: “From what we can see it is still a very fluid situation.
“There is clearly a SNP group of nine, there is a Conservative group of eight and there are a whole plethora of Independents who are moving, shifting, swirling.
“We are not completely clear where they all are at the moment. Nothing is certain.
“Perhaps some new alliances could be made. For me it comes down a little bit to personalities.
“There is a time pressure now because the statutory meeting is on Tuesday at 2pm.
“I think the only thing that has to be done at that meeting is the election of a provost and then the meeting could technically be adjourned.”
Ms Devine added: “We are still hopeful that we could get an administration together to continue some of the bigger things that are on the go like the Tay Cities Deal and important projects in Angus we want to take forward.”
Conservatives and some Independents have held several meetings this week in a bid to form an alliance and have agreed names for some of the positions, namely Brechin and Edzell councillor Bob Myles for leader and Kirriemuir and Dean member Ronnie Proctor for Provost.
However, the two newly elected Lib Dem councillors Richard Moore and Ben Lawrie will inform this group and the SNP that they have several conditions to joining an administration.
Arbroath West, Letham and Friockheim councillor Mr Moore said: “We have said that we are willing to talk to anybody about the good of the council.
“There are things we are looking for commitments on to enter any sort of agreement because we have campaigned on the doorsteps on certain items and it would be wrong of us to then abandon them.
“We are concerned about the fact the council is withdrawing recycling facilities. We have campaigned nationally and locally on mental health issues and we are concerned about the problems with parking around schools.”
Mr Lawrie, who represents the Monifieth and Sidlaw ward, added: “We have a ‘shopping list’ of demands and don’t plan on going home hungry.”
