Argyll and Bute Council finally froze council tax for this year and put off a seven per cent rise next year for now - but the vote gave clues to the shape of the new SNP administration.
Two policy leads in the former Tory and Lib Dem led TALIG administration, independent councillors Kieron Green and Andrew Kain, switched sides to vote for the motion proposed by the SNP Council Leader Jim Lynch, securing its passage 20 votes to 16.
Oban North and Lorn Councillor Green told The Oban Times: "Once the vote had been lost earlier this month by TALIG, even by a cut of the cards, it proved that a TALIG administration was no longer an option. I felt a duty to do what I could to ensure that an alternative administration had the best chance of forming, normal council functions could be resumed and policy direction be provided to officers quickly. As a result, I left TALIG and subsequently joined the Strategic Partnership."
The Oban Times understands some of the five Lib Dem councillors are considering joining too. We asked Dunoon Councillor Ross Moreland if any were, and he told us: "Any decision that is made should be made as a group and not as individual councillors, as sticking together as a group is important to maintain a functional council given the tight numbers and lack of co-operation between the two largest parties."
The ousted former leader, Kintyre and the Islands Councillor Robin Currie, did not rule out joining, saying: "There are many different scenarios to look at."
Meanwhile there are unaligned independents to woo too - or not. Independent Unionist Councillor Tommy Macpherson posts many controversial personal views on his social media page, ’Cllr Tommy Macpherson - South Kintyre Ward, Maki Area Committee’.
After abstaining in a vote calling for a Middle East ceasefire, Councillor Macpherson posted on December 12: "It is my belief Islam has at its core a fanatical hatred of Jews and Western society and we are through our weak woke political correctness, which is absolute blind stupidity on our part, willingly importing it."
We asked Argyll and Bute’s SNP MP Brendan O’Hara and SNP MSP Jenni Minto, who both called for the SNP to take control of Argyll and Bute Council, if the SNP should go into a coalition with Councillor Macpherson, and if the SNP, or they, tolerate his view.
Mr O’Hara, the SNP spokesperson for foreign affairs in Westminster, replied: "Councillor Macpherson made the decision to vote as he did in the “no confidence” motion because, along with 50 per cent of the serving councillors, he had lost confidence in the administration following their decision to raise the council tax by 10 per cent.
"The new SNP-led administration have had no discussions whatsoever with Mr Macpherson about him being part of any future coalition, nor will they have. Councillor Macpherson, I have been assured, will not have any role in the new SNP-led coalition in Argyll and Bute Council.”
Ms Minto, a Scottish Government minister under First Minister Humza Yousaf, at first declined to comment on any "speculation" at this stage, saying the administration is yet to be formed and the membership is therefore currently unknown.
When pressed again, she said: “The make-up of the council administration is a matter for the new council leader."
The new leader, SNP Councillor for Oban South and the Isles Jim Lynch, told us: "Inevitably a group of 36 councillors makes for a very diverse range of views. Councillor Macpherson is an independent councillor who is not attached to any group within the council and we have no plans to approach him. I don’t personally share [Mr Macpherson’s] opinions that you have quoted in your email."
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