Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Kathryn Anderson

SNP councillor Grant Laing looks set to become new leader of Perth and Kinross Council

SNP Strathtay councillor Grant Laing looks set to officially become leader of Perth and Kinross Council this week.

Councillors will meet on Wednesday (May 25) for the first time since the local elections to determine the political structure of Perth and Kinross Council.

Following the May 5 elections the SNP has overtaken the Conservatives to hold the largest share of councillors in Perth and Kinross but does not have a majority.

The SNP group - which comprises 16 of PKC's 40 councillors - has not made any coalition arrangements but is preparing to form a minority administration. The SNP group has already announced it has secured the support needed for this to be rubber stamped on Wednesday.

The four Independents have said they will not stand in the way of the SNP proceeding with a minority administration - as the largest political group - and PKC's two Labour councillors have said they will remain neutral and abstain from the vote. This would then make it arithmetically impossible for the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives to secure enough votes for an alternative administration arrangement.

Cllr Laing told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I'm looking forward to Wednesday and hopefully will be confirmed as leader of the council. And then the real work will start. Tackling the cost of living crisis will be the number one priority for the SNP."

SNP councillor Eric Drysdale (Perthshire Advertiser)

SNP Perth City Centre councillor Eric Drysdale is expected to become the deputy leader of Perth and Kinross Council.

However the public will have to wait until Wednesday to find out who is being proposed as the new Provost.

As well as allocating roles, councillors will also review PKC's model of decision-making and consider other options such as adopting a cabinet structure. A cabinet structure would see the majority of decisions devolved to a cabinet rather than through the traditional committee structure currently in place.

Or councillors might choose to streamline the number of committees and have the full council meet on a monthly basis with designated portfolio holders for areas such as education, housing and climate change

All 40 councillors are scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 25 at 1pm to decide on how the council proceeds for this next five-year term.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.