Latest news with #DumfriesandGallowayCouncil
Daily Record
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Date set for special meeting of Dumfries and Galloway Council after leadership challenge
The proposal from the SNP group has been 'supported by a sufficient number of councillors from across political parties'. The date has been set for a special meeting of Dumfries and Galloway Council ahead of a leadership challenge. The SNP group has tabled a vote of no confidence in the Conservative administration after seven councillors quit the group. And the local authority has confirmed that proposal has been 'supported by a sufficient number of councillors from across political parties'. As a result, a special meeting will take place at the council headquarters in Dumfries on Monday, June 16. A council spokesman said: 'The purpose of the meeting is to consider a potential change in political leadership (the administration) of Dumfries and Galloway Council. 'The agenda and full papers for the meeting will be published, in accordance with statutory requirements, on the council's website. 'Dumfries and Galloway Council will be making no further comment at this time.' Four Conservative councillors – Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh – have quit the Tory administration to form a new group called Novantae. Three more – Ian Carruthers, Karen Carruthers and Andrew Wood – have also resigned and are now in the Dumfries and Galloway Independent Group. As a result, the Tory group has just nine councillors, with the SNP group consisting of 11. And as the SNP budget has been voted through for the past two years, even though they are not in power, they have pushed for a fresh vote on council leadership. Tory councillor Gail Macgregor is currently leader, with party colleague Malcolm Johnstone the convener.
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
No confidence vote at Scottish council after 7 Tory councillors quit
On Monday, Dumfries and Galloway Council confirmed that seven councillors had quit the Scottish Tory group, which runs the council, in a row over the administration's direction. Four of the councillors who quit – Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh – have now gone on to form a new group called Novantae, while the remaining three – Ian Carruthers, Karen Carruthers and Andrew Wood – have formed a separate independent group. The move means that the Scottish Conservative group has shrunk to just nine members, while there are 11 SNP members, eight Scottish Labour, one Scottish LibDem and 14 independent/other. READ MORE: Labour minister in 'jaw-dropping' U-turn on Glasgow drug consumption room A vote of no confidence in the administration has been confirmed for June 16 at 2pm. The SNP group, now the largest group at the council, submitted the motion and said the current leadership was "weakened, rudderless, and unable to govern". Councillor Katie Hagmann, the SNP group's business manager, said: 'The Tories no longer have the confidence of this chamber, and more importantly, they no longer have the confidence of the people of Dumfries and Galloway. 'The resignation of several administration members has laid bare the dysfunction and instability at the heart of this Conservative administration. Hagmann described the vote of no confidence as 'a moment of accountability'. She added: 'The Conservative administration is collapsing under the weight of its own failures. It's time for a fresh start and a leadership that will put the needs of our communities first.' The party said that their motion had received backing from other groups at the council. READ MORE: What do the SNP want to talk about in Hamilton by-election? The council's current leader, Gail MacGregor, said she would "love to continue in the role". The Scottish Conservatives councillor told ITV Border News: 'Under my leadership for the past two years I've managed to steer a very steady ship with support from across the parties and having to make some compromises. 'Going forward in the next two weeks I don't know what will happen. 'I would like to assure people that my heart is always in delivering for the region and creating that stability." "This is a chink in the road that I didn't expect.'
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Opposition parties claim Dumfries and Galloway Council has descended into 'chaos'
The SNP group has submitted a vote of no confidence in the Conservative administration after seven councillors quit the group. Opposition parties claim Dumfries and Galloway Council has descended into 'chaos'. The SNP group has submitted a vote of no confidence in the Conservative administration after seven councillors quit the group. And as the SNP budget has been voted through for the past two years – despite them not being in power – the party is pushing for a fresh vote on council leadership. An emergency full council meeting is expected to be held within the next fortnight Depute group leader, Katie Hagmann, said: 'We have submitted a motion of no confidence in the current administration. 'The SNP group are the biggest group. The council is operating on an SNP budget. 'We've got business to do, we've got to delivery for the people of Dumfries and Galloway – and we're determined to do that.' The minority Conservative administration has been in control of the council since leader Stephen Thompson quit as leader following his SNP group's budget being defeated. The past two years have seen an SNP budget voted through but the Tories remain in administration. Group leader, Gail Macgregor, told ITV Border: It will be for full council to decide the future of the administration and myself. Clearly, it's been really disappointing that we've had members leave the group and there's been various reasons for that. 'I'm not going to kneejerk at the moment. We have had some immense successes over the past two years under my leadership. "Going forward in the next two weeks I don't know what will happen. I would like to assure people that my heart is always in delivering for the region and creating that stability. This is a chink in the road that I didn't expect. "We're here to represent the region. There's 43 members on that council and it's absolutely incumbent on us to work together for the betterment of the region and the services we provide." The situation has been slammed by the Labour group, which has eight members. Depute group leader, Carolyne Wilson, said: 'When the Conservatives took control of the council, they promised stability, but instead they've delivered chaos. Years of in-fighting in their group left the council paralysed and incapable of delivering for local people. 'While the attainment gap in our schools grows, social care is on its knees, the bus network is in crisis and the local economy is being held back by council decisions, the Tory leadership has been missing in action – too busy putting their party before the needs of our region. 'Councillors are elected to serve our communities. But those communities across Dumfries and Galloway will look on this mess with dismay – but sadly, not with surprise. 'The Conservatives have a track record of falling apart, but even they have surpassed themselves by splitting into not two, but three separate groups.' Four councillors in the west of Dumfries and Galloway – Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh – have quit the Tory administration to form a new group called Novantae. Three more – Ian Carruthers, Karen Carruthers and Andrew Wood – have also resigned and are now in the Dumfries and Galloway Independent Group. Both Ian and Karen Carruthers were among seven councillors who quit the Conservative group in 2013, with Ian Carruthers becoming the then Tory group leader following the elections in 2017. A council spokesman said: 'Dumfries and Galloway Council can confirm that seven councillors have resigned from the Conservative group. The council's website has been updated. 'Four of the councillors have formed a new political group called Novantae – councillors Richard Marsh, Chrissie Hill, Andrew Giusti and David Inglis. 'Three of the councillors have informed council officers that they have set up a separate group and they intend to call it The Dumfries and Galloway Independent Group. These are councillors Ian Carruthers, Karen Carruthers and Andrew Wood. 'The council will not be commenting further at this time.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Councillors who quit Dumfries and Galloway Tory group want decisions 'made closer to home'
Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh all resigned from the Tory group over the weekend. Four of the Conservative councillors who quit Dumfries and Galloway Council's administration want vital decisions 'made closer to home'. Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh all resigned from the Tory group over the weekend. They have set up the new Novantae independent group. Councillor Giusti, who will lead the group, said: 'Our decision to leave the Conservative group is driven by a strong desire to pursue a political agenda that is truly reflective of the needs and aspirations of our local communities. 'We were elected to serve our communities, but increasingly we have found that vital decisions affecting our region are being made without sufficient local input. 'We believe that critical decisions impacting our residents are best made closer to home, with direct input from those they affect most.' The decision to quit the Tory group came just days after the Scottish Government announced it would not be progressing with plans for a Galloway National Park as it didn't feel there was enough local support. Earlier this year, Dumfries and Galloway councillors were undecided on the matter. However, at the meeting three of the councillors who have formed the new Novantae group backed a motion that the stance should be 'tend to support'. Councillor Marsh said: The lack of genuine support for the Galloway National Park – an opportunity that could potentially transform our economy, tourism, and environment – is just one example of a broader failure to listen to the west of the region. 'This isn't about political point-scoring; it's about standing up for the people we were elected to represent.' Councillor Hill added they had 'no ill will' towards the Conservatives. A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: 'We wish these councillors well. 'The Scottish Conservatives are the only party delivering for people in Wigtownshire – and that will remain the case. 'Under Scottish Conservative control of the council, we've seen significant investment in the area, including in the George Hotel, the watersport centre, the Marina extension 5G project, the sustainable transport hub, Whithorn and the Wigtown local place plan.'
ITV News
3 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
SNP group on D&G Council say they have officially called for a vote of no confidence
The SNP group on Dumfries and Galloway Council say they have officially called for a vote of no confidence in the leadership. It comes after seven Conservative councillors left the party, making the SNP the biggest group. Councillor Gail MacGregor has been the leader of the Conservative administration since 2023, when an SNP-led rainbow coalition collapsed. SNP group business manager Councillor Katie Hagmann told ITV Border her party had submitted a no confidence motion that has received cross party support. The vote is expected to take place at a special full council meeting in the coming days. In February, councillors voted through the opposition SNP budget. Councillor Katie Hagmann said the administration was in 'disarray.' She added: 'We have submitted a motion of no confidence in the current administration. There is likely to be an announcement of a full council meeting and we are calling for the removal of the convener and the deputy convener, which is also the leader of Dumfries and Galloway council. "It is not acceptable the way that the administration is acting and the SNP group are the biggest group within the whole of the council and this is an snp budget that's been passed. "We've got business to do, we've got to deliver for the people of Dumfries and Galloway and we're determined to do that." The Conservative rebels have formed two separate groups. Councillors Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh have formed a new group called Novantae. The three other councillors Ian Carruthers, Karen Carruthers and Andrew Wood, have formed a separate independent group. A spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives said: 'We wish them well.' The rebellion means that the Conservative group shrinks from 16 to nine and raises questions over the viability of the current administration. The political make-up of the council is now: 11 SNP members; nine Scottish Conservatives; eight Scottish Labour; one Scottish Liberal Democrat; 14 independent / other. A spokesperson for Dumfries and Galloway Council said: 'Dumfries and Galloway Council can confirm that seven councillors have resigned from the Conservative group. The council's website has been updated. 'Four of the councillors have formed a new political group called Novantae – councillors Richard Marsh, Chrissie Hill, Andrew Giusti and David Inglis. 'Three of the councillors have informed council officers that they have set up a separate group and they intend to call it The Dumfries and Galloway Independent Group. These are councillors Ian Carruthers, Karen Carruthers and Andrew Wood. 'The council will not be commenting further at this time.'
