Conservative councillor quits party during Aberdeenshire budget meeting
- Published
Ann Ross resigned her party membership during the budget meeting
A Scottish Conservative councillor has resigned her party membership during Aberdeenshire Council's budget meeting.
The meeting was paused after Ann Ross of Banchory and Mid Deeside announced her resignation from the Tories.
She said she would be abstaining from the vote and recording her dissent against the recommendations.
"I regret that I cannot support a budget whose priorities will be so fundamentally detrimental to the constituents of my ward," she added.
In a statement published after the meeting, Ms Ross criticised the local Conservative party and claimed "it is racked with bullying and infighting".
The Scottish Conservatives said the councillor had not submitted any complaints of bullying.
A spokesman told BBC Scotland News that the party was investigating complaints of inappropriate behaviour by Ms Ross at meetings last week and this week.
During the budget debate the administration - made up of Conservatives, Lib Dems and independents - passed its spending plans by 38 votes to 23.
The council backed a Scottish government funded council tax freeze equivalent to a 5% rise.
However, cuts to education psychology services, school crossing patrollers and speech and language therapy were also passed.
Council leader Gillian Owen said difficult decisions had to be taken, but claimed some changes would be minimal.
Meanwhile, councillors in Shetland have also voted to freeze council tax.
The council's budget meeting also backed a proposal to increase council house rents by 5%, and to double council tax on second homes.