School clusters could split coalition, councillor warns

The council's controversial plan to put 'executive head teachers' in charge of school clusters could fracture its 'fragile' ruling coalition, if councillors are forced to choose between election pledges and party guidelines in a vote, a councillor has warned.

 

Lomond North independent councillor Mark Irvine, in a letter to Tracy Mayo of the campaign group Wise4All, wrote: 'Like many of my 17 colleagues in ‘opposition’, I see the fragility of this current administration of 19 councillors, and controversial policies like the Empowering Educators proposal will add to the strain and pressure they are under already.'

 

Following local elections on May 5, the Argyll, Lomond and Islands (TALIG) coalition,  composed of 10 Conservatives, five Liberal Democrats, and four independents, was able to form an administration with a majority of only two.

 

The TALIG group faces 17 councillors in 'opposition', Mr Irvine said, in which he included himself, plus two other independents, a councillor each from the Greens and Labour, and 12 SNP councillors, who form the largest single party group in the Kilmory Castle chamber.

 

'I very much look forward to seeing all of those councillors who campaigned in April and May 2022, regardless of their political party, sticking to their election promises,' councillor Irvine continued in his letter.

 

'Many of them stated publicly they would oppose the Empowering Educators proposal, as it was a major election issue for many residents across Argyll and Bute. I would hope that their consciences will remind them of their pledges to the electorate.

 

'I know that some members of the newly formed coalition were not happy when they found out, within minutes after the election results, that they were being forced to join the new administration (without prior consultation), and would be made to follow the ‘party’ guidelines when it came to voting on key issues.

 

'I can only hope they are starting to realise this is not in the best interests of their reputations, and their communities, and that they will have to look into the eyes of the electorate and explain themselves.

 

'They also have to be able to face themselves each day when they look in the mirror and know that they have (or haven’t) upheld their promise to truly represent the local residents of their wards.

 

'To those members of the coalition that are beginning to feel uncomfortable about what is being asked of them, I urge them to reconsider their position. The electorate will not forget if you get this wrong.'

 

Councillor Irvine's letter was supported by independent Mid Argyll councillor Douglas Philand, and SNP Helensburgh Central councillor Ian J MacQuire.

 

The Oban Times put councillor Irvine's claims to council leader Robin Currie and depute leader Gary Mulvaney, and asked if there was a TALIG party line to vote in favour of the Empowering Educators proposal, but we did not receive a response by our deadline.