The Tory group on Perth and Kinross Council was accused of ”selling its soul” for plum positions as the first meeting of the new administration turned bitter.
The claim came from the Liberal Democrats ousted from power after the recent local authority elections as they sought to block a series of Conservative appointments to committees.
The SNP is running a minority administration, but will be supported by the Conservatives on a case-by-case basis.
It emerged during Wednesday’s meeting that four of the 10 Tory members will have ”senior councillor” status, leading to claims from the Lib Dems of underhandedness.
Senior councillors receive £5,621 on top of the basic £16,234 councillor allowance.
These traditionally include the leader of the largest opposition party Tory head Councillor Mac Roberts in this case. Councillor Murray Lyle also steps up to the convenership of the local review body.
An extra payment for the vice-convener of the scrutiny committee, which will go to Councillor Barbara Vaughan, and the installation of fellow Tory Alexander Stewart as convener of that committee provoked outrage.
Since the horse-trading to form a council ended, the Lib Dems claim they have been watching to see why the Tories have agreed to back the SNP.
Lib Dem leader Peter Barrett said: ”In a blatant political fix the SNP have bulldozed through the creation of paid posts for their Conservative and Unionist placemen without the proper scrutiny a formal review would have afforded.
”We fought to ensure that any changes to councillors’ remunerations were fully and forensically examined by all parties, not rushed through in the interest of political expediency.
”For the past nine years the council benefitted from truly independent scrutiny and accountability provided by genuine opposition councillors nominated by the opposition, but as of today the Conservative convener and vice-convener of the scrutiny committee owe their positions to the patronage of their SNP administration colleagues.”
Kinross-shire councillor Willie Robertson accused the Tories of ”selling their souls for a pot of gold,” but his attempt to have independent councillor Dave Cuthbert installed in the role failed.
Mr Stewart declined to comment, but fellow Tory councillor Caroline Shiers said: ”At the recent elections we saw the Liberal Democrats return just five councillors who were elected by 4,615 first preference votes.
”The Scottish Conservative Group returned 10 councillors with 10,260 first preferences, so we are operating with a mandate from the people of Perth and Kinross to form the official opposition on the council.
”In the protracted discussions following the election we agreed not to enter any form of coalition because we want to ensure the best results are delivered for Perth and Kinross. It is quite simple we will support the SNP minority administration when we agree with them and we will work to ensure policies are delivered that benefit everyone across Perth and Kinross.
”What we saw today from the Liberal Democrats was a failure to accept that new political reality.”
Council leader Ian Miller said no extra cash is being spent on senior councillors.Liz Grant elected provostThere was a more convivial atmosphere at the beginning of the meeting when Liz Grant was elected provost of Perth and Kinross.
Mrs Grant, from Blairgowrie, was previously convener of lifelong learning, seeing in the £132 million Investment in Learning schools building programme.
Her depute provost will be Councillor Bob Band from Perth.
Other conveners installed were Bob Band (lifelong learning), Dave Doogan (housing and health), Douglas Pover (community safety), John Kellas (enterprise and infrastructure), Alan Grant (environment), Tom Gray (development management), Jack Coburn (licensing), Ian Miller (strategic policy and resources) and Henry Anderson (licensing board).