New Administration talks continue
Talks are continuing between Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent groups on Highland Council to set up a new coalition to run the authority following the collapse of the Independent/SNP administration set up in May 2007. This ended in acrimony when the SNP quit just 13 months later.
While formal agreement has not yet been reached, hopes are high that the more broadly-based adminsitration will be agreed soon. The Council is currently in recess and the next cycle of meetings is scheduled to start in early August, by which time arrangements will require to be in place.
Meantime, allegiences continue to shift, with the number of Non-aligned councillors rising to five or possibly even six, mainly at the expense of the Independent group. As at 4th July the Council composition was as follows:
Independent 31 (or possibly 30)
Liberal Democrat 20
SNP 17
Labour 7
Non-aligned 5 (or possibly 6)
Total number of councillors = 80