South Ayrshire’s SNP leader has expressed disappointment after the Conservatives took control of the council.
Councillor Peter Henderson announced that the SNP would seek a minority administration days after this month’s council election.
He said that the Conservatives had agreed not to oppose the move, despite being the largest party.
He said he only found out that the Conservatives were planning to take the administration two days ago.
Cllr Henderson said: “Informal talks with all groups had indicated that the Conservatives and others would work with the SNP who had received the highest percentage of the vote, in a collaborative way to form a minority administration.
“They stated that they would support this and I spent a week of talks arranging committees, chairmen etc in a fair representative manner.
“On Tuesday afternoon the Conservatives informed me they were going to seek the administration as Labour and the Independents had agree to abstain and they would have a slim majority.
“The Labour Party were under direction from the NEC [National Executive Committee] as I understand matters, so abstained on all votes.
“While disappointed the SNP group are willing to seek collaboration and mutual working by all for the benefit of all constituents.
“We will as a group continue to seek to represent constituents to the best of our ability and are committed to work hard to do this.
“As the second largest party the SNP will be a robust opposition and play a constructive and active role in council, at a time of economic crisis I hope others will collaborate to protect the electorate of South Ayrshire to the best of our ability.”
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