The woman set to be appointed as next leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council this week is determined to bring stability to the region.
Annandale North Councillor Gail Macgregor, leader of the Conservatives Group, insisted that “now is the time for calm heads”.
This comes after weeks of uncertainty and political in-fighting with the fragile SNP/Labour/Independent administration, which ultimately led to it falling apart at Tuesday’s budget meeting.
Councillor Macgregor, who has served as an elected member in Dumfries and Galloway for 16 years, is expected to be officially named as council leader today after the Conservatives’ budget plan for 2023/24 was voted through.
She said: “I am pleased our budget has been approved. The administration has been in disarray for some time now and the events of today with two budgets being tabled by administration partners magnified this. They couldn’t even agree on their collective priorities or which way to vote.
“By contrast, our balanced budget offered prudence and a sustained vision for the region: a comprehensive roads improvement programme, continued support for individuals, families and households to assist with cost of living pressures and protecting education, which is pivotal as pupils continue to catch up post-Covid and in the wake of recent strikes.
“We also agreed an ambitious council plan for the next five years. Delivering on that plan must now be our precision focus, the residents of Dumfries and Galloway deserve and expect nothing less of us.”
“I intend to offer an invigorated approach which will put our council, its staff, service users, residents, businesses, delivery partners and the region at the heart of everything we do.”
