Angus Council SNP administration toppled in no-confidence vote

Angus Council’s SNP ruling administration has been toppled following a motion of no-confidence.

A special meeting of the full council held on Tuesday saw councillors vote 14-13 to remove the SNP from power.

A new Conservative, Labour and Independent coalition administration –  totalling 13 councillors – will now take control of the 28-member local authority.

Former SNP deputy leader George Meechan, who stepped down from the post and became an independent councillor earlier this month, is set to become the leader of the new administration.

Conservative councillor Derek Wann will serve as deputy leader.

Another special council meeting will be set to decide other senior posts.

Until then, all scheduled committee meetings are to be delayed.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Councillor Wann accused the administration of “faltering” and focusing on the wrong priorities.

He also criticised Councillor Bill Duff of “accelerating” its decline.

However, Mr Duff defended the SNP administration and cited the new £66.5m Monifieth High School campus and Arbroath’s Places for Everyone project as major achievements.

Following the decision, Mr Meechan said: “Today went as well as to be expected.

“It’s not something we were looking forward to, but something we think was needed.

“We hope moving forward we will be more aligned to what the people of Angus want.”

Reporting by local democracy journalist Liam Rutherford.