Labour agree to run West Dunbartonshire council with minority just weeks after quitting
West Dunbartonshire’s Labour group has formed a minority administration just four weeks after their members stepped down from their senior roles.
A special meeting was held at the council’s headquarters this afternoon to discuss the future of the council, and who would take on political leadership for the foreseeable future.
As neither a Labour coalition nor SNP coalition was forthcoming an agreement was reached that Labour would form an administration with its remaining nine councillors until December’s full council meeting.
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A motion from the SNP with a Labour addendum was presented to elected members which “recognised” there was no SNP Alliance and that almost every Scottish council operates by minority administration.
In the short term the Labour Group of councillors will continue to take on responsibility for the political leadership until the December full council meeting while working arrangements are put in place that demonstrate the new minority administration can cooperate with members to “deliver vital services and financial sustainability” that the council requires.
SNP leader councillor Gordon Scanlon said: “The reality is that we don’t have the numbers to form an administration. Labour have put their position forward and we feel that the Labour group has the largest number of members and are in a better position to form the administration.”
Council leader Martin Rooney added: “We need to remove the uncertainty and recognise that no political group has a majority and that going forward we need to work together.”
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