The two Liberal Democrat councillors in Angus have decided to join Conservatives and independent councillors in forming a new administration for Angus Council.
Their decision ends any hope that the SNP group had that they would be able to keep power in Angus ahead of the first meeting of the new council this afternoon.
It is understood that the next Angus provost will be Kirriemuir and Dean Conservative councillor Ronnie Proctor with Forfar Independent Colin Brown as depute provost.
Brechin and Edzell councillor Bob Myles, who previously led the council from 2007 to 2012, is expected to return as leader with Arbroath Independent David Fairweather as depute leader.
The Liberal Democrats have held meetings with the Conservatives / Independent group and also SNP councillors in the past few days, presenting a ‘shopping list’ of demands.
Arbroath West, Letham & Friockheim councillor Richard Moore and Monifieth and Sidlaw councillor Ben Lawrie said they had reached agreement with the new administration to review areas of concerns, which include looking at the recycling and waste collection arrangements in the county.
Mr Moore said: “We have discussed the future of the council with the other parties and independents and have decided the interests of the people of Angus are best served by a fresh administration.
“We have reached agreement with independent and Conservative councillors to review the areas of concern which we have campaigned on.
“These include the recycling centre closures and charges for garden waste collection that were initiated by the previous administration.”
Mr Lawrie said they were now looking forward to working with the new administration to achieve “positive results for Angus”.
He said: “We have managed to obtain a commitment from independent and Conservative councillors to give serious consideration to our proposals for recycling, health services and mobile phone and internet coverage.
“There was broad agreement between out groups on the issues we outlined.
“The clear message we received from the electorate during our campaign was that it’s time for a change in the way Angus is run.
“We believe this new administration is the way to deliver that change.”
