Latest news with #Wann
The Courier
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
Spanish sunshine break delays new Angus Council power meeting
The meeting to firm up Angus Council's new power coalition is on hold while one of its main protagonists holidays in the Mediterranean. A special full council meeting must be called to set the new administration structure after an opposition vote of no confidence secured the overthrow of the SNP ruling group last week. Former SNP group deputy leader George Meechan will head the Conservative-dominated coalition. He assumes the top post from former nationalist colleague Bill Duff. The council coup came just three weeks after a 17% wage rise took the council leader's salary past £50,000. Arbroath councillor Derek Wann has already been confirmed as the deputy leader of the Tory/Independent/Labour alliance. However, Mr Wann is currently holidaying in Tenerife. He jetted off to the Mediterranean just a few days after the no confidence vote. The Courier understands his absence is one of the reasons behind the delay in the special full council meeting taking place. Mr Meechan and Mr Wann did not respond to a request for comment on the matter. An Angus Council spokesperson said: 'We are looking to confirm the date for the special meeting to set the new administration roles as soon as diaries allow. 'A date will be confirmed this week.' The special full council will decide who will take charge of council committees. It is likely that all 13 members of the new administration will find themselves in a convener or vice-convener role. Also up for grabs is the £32,540 role of Provost. Former Provost Ronnie Proctor and one-time depute Craig Fotheringham are considered likely contenders for the post. The new administration also declined to comment on its nomination for the role of civic figurehead. The change of power has already hit the council meetings calendar. A housing committee scheduled for April 24 – two days after the no confidence vote – was dropped. It was due to consider an options report into Raac-affected housing in Monifieth behind closed doors. The April 29 policy and resources committee will also be rescheduled. The next programmed meeting is a full Angus Council on May 8.
The Courier
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
Angus Council SNP administration toppled in no confidence motion
Angus Council is to be led by a new coalition after rebels won a vote of no confidence in the SNP administration. A special meeting of the full council on Tuesday voted 14-13 to remove the nationalist group from power. Kirriemuir and Dean councillor George Meechan will be the new £50,000-a-year council leader. It was his resignation as deputy SNP group leader which triggered the successful coup. Mr Meechan said the 'complexities of various working relationships' in the ruling group had become 'too significant to overcome.' It led to the requisition request for the special meeting. A 13-strong Independent/Conservative/Labour coalition will now form the new administration. Arbroath Conservative Derek Wann will be the council's deputy leader. He said the people of Angus were 'crying out for change'. Mr Wann accused the administration of failing to tackle priority issues including Brechin's recovery from Storm Babet and coastal erosion threatening Montrose. He said: 'Today is not a day we are celebrating. 'From the outset we felt this administration was faltering, focussing on the wrong priorities,' he said. He said a change of SNP group leadership which saw Montrose councillor Bill Duff installed as figurehead following last summer's sudden resignation of predecessor Beth Whiteside had 'accelerated the decline.' Mr Wann added: 'Council priorities based solely on party political affiliation can no longer be the norm, especially when so much is going wrong. 'There will be no more hectoring from the administration,' he said. 'Together I believe we can build a better future for Angus.' But in his final act as council leader, Bill Duff warned his opponents over their 'high risk strategy'. He defended the administration's record, citing the new £66.5 million Monifieth High School campus and Arbroath's Places for Everyone project as major initiatives which are on time and on budget. And he pointed towards an SNP budget infrastructure fund which aims to deliver £20m of Angus investment. 'This administration took responsible, financially competent action,' he said. 'The 13 on the requisition didn't address this at all in their budget. 'Members must be really clear that the decision to vote is only part one of the journey. 'We'll have another special council to negotiate that will give us a mixed administration that may not deliver sound government for Angus.' The crunch meeting took less than half an hour to decide on the change of administration. Another special council meeting will now be set to decide on convenerships and other senior councillor posts. The new administration will comprise:
