West Dunbartonshire Council’s new leader will be confirmed at a crunch meeting this week.
The cash-strapped local authority was thrown into chaos last month when the ruling Labour group resigned the administration after two councillors quit the party.
Clydebank members Danny Lennie and June McKay supported SNP group leader Karen Murray Conaghan’s bid to become Provost – and then helped defeat the administration in a vote on Christmas holiday working.
After formally stepping down from his role as leader of the council last month, veteran Lomond ward Labour member Martin Rooney has challenged the SNP, Community Party and four independent councillors to form an administration – and accused the rival parties of “playing games.”
He said: “Our communities elected each of us to serve and we remain committed to delivering for our residents.
“We have high ambition for the people here and promise to deliver for them in the most challenging of financial times.
“However our opponents must stop playing games and instead focus on delivering for our constituents.
“We will always put the interests of the people of West Dunbartonshire first and it is vital that we don’t allow the uncertainty over the political direction of the council to continue.”
A crunch meeting at Church Street this Wednesday (September 25) will see members vote to select a new leader of the council, as well as convenors of committee – including education and infrastructure, regeneration and economic development.
All the committees were previously chaired by Labour members.
It could also see a new ruling administration formed – if the SNP, independent members – including councillors Lennie and McKay as well as former SNP members Jonathan McColl and Diane Docherty – and Community Party’s Jim Bollan can reach an arrangement then they could seize control from Labour.
However councils can operate without an administration in control.
Currently Labour have 10 councillors, with the SNP on seven, four members sitting as independents and Councillor Bollan representing the Community Party. 12 members are needed for a majority.