The SNP and Liberal Democrats voted to reduce the number of councillors on a committee after no volunteers came forward to fill two vacancies
Perth and Kinross Council's Conservative group leader John Duff has accused the SNP and Liberal Democrat groups of "a dereliction of their duty".
On Wednesday, December 4, councillors voted to reduced the membership of the Planning and Placemaking Committee from 13 to 11 members. The move was supported by 22 SNP and Liberal Democrat councillors but opposed by 11 Conservative councillors. The four Independent councillors abstained; three councillors were absent including the local authority's only Labour councillor.
Councillor Ian James - who sits on the Planning and Placemaking Committee - said the decision was "disrespectful" and "unacceptable", putting more pressure on existing members to take their turn on the Local Review Body. Both committees meet monthly and have lengthy detailed papers on the various planning applications which can, by nature, be quite controversial. Not all council committees meet as regularly or have such lengthy agendas.
Planning and Placemaking Committee convener Ian Massie is confident "even with a reduced membership of 11 the current group of members will continue to provide the required level of scrutiny and debate to allow the right decisions to be made".
Conservative Party Labour Party Liberal Democrat Party Perth And Kinross Council Scottish National Party Scottish Government
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Scottish Crannog Centre bailed out with £50k by Perth and Kinross CouncilThe Loch Tay heritage centre needed financially shored up in the face of potential cashflow challenges beyond its control
Read more »
Job losses as Culture Perth and Kinross cuts its library and museum servicesAs well as library closures, Alyth Museum will close and Perth Art Gallery looks set to move to seasonal opening from next October
Read more »
Perth and Kinross records no homeless deaths in 2023 as new report publishedFigures published by the National Records of Scotland show that Perth and Kinross did not record a single homeless death in 2023 - down from two the previous year.
Read more »
Rising number of deaths on Perth and Kinross roadsSix people were killed and 57 seriously injured over a six-month period this year
Read more »
Shock 10 per cent council tax rise could be in the pipeline in Perth and KinrossPKC leader Grant Laing said: “The increasing demands and rising costs of providing vital services for those most in need requires a bold solution.'
Read more »
Perth and Kinross councillors vote for 10 per cent council tax increaseElected members have approved a medium-term financial strategy based on an annual council tax increase of 10 per cent over the next two years
Read more »