Latest news with #Novantae
Daily Record
6 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.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Who can lead Dumfries and Galloway Council?
A special meeting of Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) is to be held after a number of councillors quit the Conservative group which leads the local authority. It left them with just nine members of the 43-strong council in the south-west of Scotland. Now a request has been received to hold a special full council meeting within the next 14 days. If it leads to a change of control it would be the third administration to try running the authority in the space of three years. More stories from South Scotland Listen to news from Dumfries and Galloway on BBC Sounds The Conservatives previously formed the biggest single political group on the council with 16 members. Seven of them have now left - four to form a group called Novantae and three to create the Dumfries and Galloway Independent Group. It means their numbers have now fallen behind those of the SNP, which has 11. DGC confirmed it had received a call for a special meeting on Tuesday which will have to be held within a fortnight. It could see the current administration replaced after a little more than two years in charge. Following the decision by a number of Conservative councillors to leave the group there are now nine different groupings or individuals on the authority. The SNP has 11 councillors followed by the Conservatives with nine and Labour on eight. Newly-formed Novantae has four, the Democratic Alliance three, Dumfries and Galloway Independents three, Independents three and one each for the Lib Dems and "not-specified". It means that no coalition of just two groups could achieve an outright majority. After elections in May 2022, an alliance was formed between the SNP, Labour, Lib Dems and independents to run the council. They said they hoped to serve the region while working together in the name of "mutual trust and understanding". However, that coalition fell apart after less than a year and the Conservatives took over to lead an administration without an overall majority. Earlier this year they were unable to take forward their own budget plans but remained in control. Now a block of councillors has quit the group - some of them citing concerns about how the west of the region was being represented. It has swiftly been followed by the submission of the request for a special meeting of the council which could pave the way for another change. Four councillors quit Conservatives to form new party However, the other two biggest political groups on the council have already been involved in an administration which folded after less than 12 months in charge. It would take at least three groups - and potentially as many as seven - to form an outright majority. It will also be some time before the composition of the council is likely to change significantly. The next local authority elections are not scheduled until May 2027. The rainbow coalition that fell apart in 280 days
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Who can lead Dumfries and Galloway Council?
A special meeting of Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) is to be held after a number of councillors quit the Conservative group which leads the local left them with just nine members of the 43-strong council in the south-west of a request has been received to hold a special full council meeting within the next 14 it leads to a change of control it would be the third administration to try running the authority in the space of three years. The Conservatives previously formed the biggest single political group on the council with 16 of them have now left - four to form a group called Novantae and three to create the Dumfries and Galloway Independent means their numbers have now fallen behind those of the SNP, which has confirmed it had received a call for a special meeting on Tuesday which will have to be held within a could see the current administration replaced after a little more than two years in charge. What is the political make up of the council? Following the decision by a number of Conservative councillors to leave the group there are now nine different groupings or individuals on the SNP has 11 councillors followed by the Conservatives with nine and Labour on Novantae has four, the Democratic Alliance three, Dumfries and Galloway Independents three, Independents three and one each for the Lib Dems and "not-specified".It means that no coalition of just two groups could achieve an outright majority. How did we get here? After elections in May 2022, an alliance was formed between the SNP, Labour, Lib Dems and independents to run the said they hoped to serve the region while working together in the name of "mutual trust and understanding".However, that coalition fell apart after less than a year and the Conservatives took over to lead an administration without an overall this year they were unable to take forward their own budget plans but remained in a block of councillors has quit the group - some of them citing concerns about how the west of the region was being has swiftly been followed by the submission of the request for a special meeting of the council which could pave the way for another change. However, the other two biggest political groups on the council have already been involved in an administration which folded after less than 12 months in would take at least three groups - and potentially as many as seven - to form an outright will also be some time before the composition of the council is likely to change next local authority elections are not scheduled until May 2027.
ITV News
7 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.'
ITV News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Seven Conservative councillors in Dumfries and Galloway quit party amid row
Seven conservative councillors in Dumfries and Galloway have quit the party amid a row over the direction of the administration. The local authority has been led by the Conservative Councillor Gail Macgregor since 2023. She took over after a rainbow coalition fronted by the SNP fell a year after the election. The rebels have formed two separate groups. Councillors Andrew Giusti, Chrissie Hill, David Inglis and Richard Marsh have formed a new group called Novantae. In a statement, Councillor Giusti 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." Councillor Richard Marsh added: "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." 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."
