Aberdeenshire Council leader ousted as head of Conservative party group
- Published
Mark Findlater's party role will be taken over by Gillian Owen
The leader of Aberdeenshire Council has been ousted as the head of the local authority's Conservative party group.
Mark Findlater took over as leader of the Tory group shortly before last year's elections.
He took the helm of the authority as part of a coalition with Lib Dem and independent councillors.
At the group's annual general meeting (AGM) at the weekend, councillor Gillian Owen won a vote to take over the leadership.
She will now face a vote of the full council to take on the leadership of the local authority.
In a statement from the party, Troup councillor Mr Findlater said leading the council had been an "honour and a privilege" during "challenging" times.
'These things happen'
"I wish Gillian all the best in her new role," he said.
His replacement, the councillor for Ellon and district, told BBC Scotland that "these things happen".
She said: "We always have an AGM. People asked me to put my name forward, we made speeches, and I won the ballot.
"I think, to be fair, this last 12 months has been really hard. To try and find £66m worth of savings is incredibly difficult because ultimately you're going to hit frontline, which is what none of us were elected to do.
"He was nominated, I was nominated. He could have won. We still work together."
On the coalition with Lib Dem and independent councillors, she added: "I'm sure our partnership will continue."
Aberdeenshire Council said Mr Findlater was currently still leader of the local authority, and that changes in leadership must be agreed at full council which next meets on 29 June.
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- Published9 February 2023
