A vote of no confidence in Labour council could happen
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Those with the greatest regrets should be the Lib Dem councillors who were keenest for Cllr Meagher to take over, but it's a situation entirely resulting from their refusal to take over the administration when the opportunity presented itself, as this column explored last week. Remorseful or reluctant, it is the cause of much frustration amongst the Conservative group which can only watch helplessly as the Lib Dems are able to dictate budget priorities but then accept no responsibility for the outcomes, and Labour continuing to return reasonable levels of local support locally despite humiliation in Westminster and what they see as incompetence in delivering basic council services, particularly education and street maintenance.
There is also what's been described as a ticking timebomb in social care, particularly residential care for young people, the subject of a damning report in 2022, and allegations that few, if any of its recommendations have been acted upon.
Push is now coming to shove, and as the 14-strong Lib Dem group takes the summer to consider whether they will pull the plug on Labour's tenuous control, senior Conservatives are considering whether to force the issue by either tabling a motion of no confidence in the Labour administration or supporting a similar motion if proposed by either the SNP or Green parties.
A plan to have Cammy Day voted in as planning convener could be the catalyst for change. (Image: Gordon Terris)
The catalyst could be Labour's plan to have Cammy Day voted in as planning convener at the first council meeting after the summer recess, a move which does not command unanimous support in either the Labour group, never mind the Lib Dems or Tories. But even if the nomination is withdrawn, just the proposal could be enough to persuade enough councillors across the chamber that time should be called.
Some in the Conservative group remain to be convinced, but after last week's column, one councillor spoke of fears that at current polling levels the group could be reduced from its current ten to as few as four or five at the 2027 elections. Whether it's because of a sense that something must be done, or there's nothing to left to lose, a Conservative-led vote of no confidence in the Labour administration is now a real possibility, and as it would almost certainly be supported by the SNP and Green groups, the administration would fall.
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The parties would then have until the next meeting in September to sort out new positions they could support, and if the Lib Dems insisted on refusing to take over, or Labour rejected a Lib Dem administration, the blame for letting in the SNP-Greens could not be laid at the Tories door, as some fear it might, forgetting that voters seem happy to support the Lib Dems despite facilitating the SNP budget at Holyrood.
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