Glenrothes’ leading councillor could lose his position following his party’s defeat in a crucial by-election.
Labour councillor Altany Craik, chairman of the town’s area committee, has requested that his position be discussed after the SNP seized control of the group.
Craig Walker’s victory in last Thursday’s poll in Glenrothes West and Kinglassie has given the SNP the muscle to remove Mr Craik from the post, should they choose to.
However, he has pre-empted this, requesting that the position of chairman be discussed by town councillors when they meet in May.
In a notice to the committee, Mr Craik writes: “We note that following the sad death of Councillor Betty Campbell and the subsequent by-election for the Glenrothes West and Kinglassie ward, the political balance of the area committee has changed.
“We now give notice in accordance with the council’s standing orders relating to the early removal of a committee chair, that in order to allow the area committee to consider future chairing arrangements, an item to allow a decision to be taken on early removal of the chair and vice-chair should be placed on the agenda for the discussion at the next meeting on 13 May 2015.”
Prior to Thursday’s vote Labour and the SNP had five members each on the area committee, following the death of Labour councillor Betty Campbell in January.
SNP candidate Craig Walker defeated Labour’s Alan Seath by a convincing 896 votes, giving his party a sixth and decisive vote in the group, which controls much of the town’s council affairs.
The swing in power means the committee is now in a position to attack the Labour-led council administration.
However, the SNP’s John Beare believes the matter could be resolved at a meeting of the committee next week if Mr Craik were to resign.
He said: “I understand Councillor Craik to be a decent man and I’m astonished that he hasn’t taken the simple and honourable decision and just resigned as area chair.
“The SNP group will have to consider what options are available to us to ensure the orderly election of a chair, who has the confidence of the majority area committee, at the earliest possible juncture.”