Aug 31 2007
STV politics (2)
Fife
SNP Councillor George Leslie has stepped down as chairman of the housing and communities committee without chairing a single meeting, and will now continue as an independent for his Kirkcaldy East ward. Cllr Leslie said he had been forced to resign following a witch-hunt by other party members, who he claimed had behaved “abysmally” towards him after he nominated independent councillor Andrew Rodger as licensing board chairman against the wishes of certain SNP councillors. (Fife Today, 22 August)
Dundee
Nationalist MSP Nigel Don has stepped down as a councillor for the Lochee ward. He said that he had decided to quit Dundee City Council after he was appointed liason officer for the cabinet secretary for justice (BBC, 23 August)
Highland
The escalating cost of the Eden Court theatre project led to the resignation of Independent Councillor Roddy Balfour as chairman of the education, culture and sport committee - and SNP councillor David Bremner was ordered to attend a disciplinary meeting for having supported him. (Inverness Courier, 21 August)
Edinburgh
Liberal Democrat and SNP councillors have vowed to stand up for the schools which their party wants to close - but none has promised to vote against the plans. The Evening News contacted all 24 councillors who have schools and community centres threatened with the axe in their own areas. Of those who responded, many promised to lobby colleagues to keep facilities open. Not one councillor, however, would commit to voting against the administration if their local school remains on the hit list. If the Labour, Tory and Green groups vote together in opposition to the council cuts after the consultation, it will only take one Liberal Democrat or SNP member to go against their party for the administration to suffer a defeat. (Evening News, 27 August)
Also under threat are four community centres - see Stop the Council Cuts for more information about the cuts and the campaign against them.
But at least Edinburgh Council won’t have to have any more comfort breaks while Stefan Tymkewycz goes to vote in the Scottish Parliament (Scotsman, 20 August)
