Moray Council leadership shake-up sees John Cowe named Civic Leader
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INDEPENDENT Councillor John Cowe said it was a "privilege and an honour" to be named Moray Council's very first Civic Leader in a leadership shake-up today.
Changes to the leadership structure of the council were approved at the council's first full meeting since the summer recess with Councillor Kathleen Robertson named Council Leader and Councillor Donald Gatt appointed Deputy Leader.
The appointments signal a change for the council which had previously been led by two co-leaders - Cllr Robertson and Cllr Neil McLennan.
The Civic Leader replaces the convener role after Councillor Marc Macrae stepped down last week ahead of a no confidence vote.
Moray Council is still led by a Conservative minority administration of 10 members.
Cllr Cowe, a member for Heldon and Laich and one of three Independents on the council, thanked his fellow councillors for their support following his appointment and urged the council to move forward following a disruptive few weeks.
He said: "It will be a privilege and an honour to serve the people of Moray as a Civic Leader.
"I am deeply humbled by the faith that you have placed in me and the support that has been clearly evident today and I hope this is an acknowledgement of a new era for Moray and its people.
"I take this responsibility very seriously and commit to serving the people of Moray to the very best of my ability.
"We are all well aware of the responsibilities we are having to face as Moray councillors but it is only by working together that we can be united and strong instead of divided and weak.
"Let us move forward together and let us work together for the people we represent."
Cllr Robertson said that the re-structure would allow the council to create the necessary stability to move forward effectively.
She said: “I appreciate the understanding of fellow councillors across the chamber during this time of re-structuring of the leadership roles.
“We must move forward as a local authority and I look forward to working with all colleagues to lead that progression on behalf of the people of Moray, who, rightly, expect a high standard of professionalism from us as an official body.”
Cllr Gatt added: “I appreciate this role is a change from what we’ve previously been used to in Moray and I look forward to developing it over time. I see this as an opportunity to support the Council Leader and work with colleagues to move a progressive Moray Council forward.”
While Cllr Cowe's appointment as Civic Leader was widely welcomed by councillors the Conservative administration was branded a "shambles" by others following the removal of Cllr McLennan from the Conservative leadership group and Cllr Macrae's resignation as convener recently.
SNP councillor and former council leader Graham Leadbitter called on the Conservative administration to get their "act together" and address the issues facing Moray.
He said: "Firstly, the consequence of this instability and infighting is literally many hours spent by ourselves in the SNP group and by all of the other non-administration councillors trying to keep a handle on what exactly is going on and how that impacts on the functioning of the council.
"Secondly and most importantly is the diversion of all that time and the absolute distraction from the critical issues facing people in Moray.
"I think it is a disgrace that we are in this position just three months after an election, all because of poor behaviours and conduct both past and present of elected councillors.
"We need the administration to get its act together and get on with the job."
Labour councillor Sandy Keith agreed with his political rival, adding: "This has been a shambles. Make no mistake about that. This has all been manufactured and delivered by the Moray Tory party.
"I would like to have seen a non-administration Convener of the council but I understand that Councillor Cowe does not want to serve the political side of the role.
"I think that would build up a fair discussion and it would have stressed the importance of collective leadership of the council but that wasn't on offer today.
"This proposal, albeit an improvement on the current proposal, focuses too much power in the hands of a politically weakened leader and administration."
