STEWART PATERSON and GERRY BRAIDEN
SNP councillors have agreed to form an administration with a group of Independents in one of the first coalition deals since the election.
Argyll and Bute Council will be run by a joint Independent and SNP group led by Independent councillor Dick Walsh.
Previously, the area, which includes Helensburgh, Oban and Dunoon, was dominated by Independents, who have together formed the administration without mainstream political party support.
In Thursday's election the Independents won 16 seats, the SNP 10, LibDems 7, and Conservatives 3.
Fourteen of the Independents formed the Alliance of Independent Councillors and after talks with the SNP yesterday a deal was reached.
Councillor Walsh said: "I feel both proud and privileged to have won the support of my Alliance and SNP colleagues and to be placed in the position of leader-elect.
"I am looking forward to our working together over the next four-year term of office and although I know that there will be many tough decisions to take I am confident that we will find the solutions that are best for Argyll and Bute."
SNP group leader Robert Macintyre is proposed as deputy leader, and both positions will be ratified at the first council meeting, on May 17.
Councillor Macintyre said: "I am determined that, through working together with the Alliance, we will have a positive impact on the quality of life in Argyll."
Councillors in other authorities are engaged in talks to decide who takes control after most areas were left with no party in overall control.
In Renfrewshire, the LibDems, with four members, hold the balance of power between the SNP and Labour who have 14 seats each.
In East Dunbartonshire the SNP is talking to other groups as the biggest party with eight seats, five short of a majority.
On Falkirk Council, Labour is the biggest party on 14 seats, followed by the SNP on 13. Both parties may need the support of the two Conservatives and three Independents who make up the rest of the council, but last night there appeared to be little progress. An administration must be in place by May 24.
In Edinburgh, where Labour lost overall control, coalition talks are proceeding slowly. The LibDems are the biggest party with 17 seats and Labour has 15. A senior Labour councillor said the talks had so far been "hard work".
Labour also lost overall control in East Lothian, where the SNP and LibDems were last night trying to strike a coalition deal.
However, it is understood that Labour, who are the joint-biggest party with the SNP on seven seats, were hoping to agree a deal with the LibDems first.
West Lothian Council is understood to be heading towards a coalition led by the SNP. It had 13 seats, with Labour on 14, but three councillors were elected on a ticket of saving St John's Hospital, and they are natural allies of the SNP.
The sole Tory, Tom Kerr, is sufficient to swing things to the Nationalists, and he is thought to be willing to play a non-political role as civic head.
Steven Purcell, the former leader of Glasgow City Council, will tomorrow be re-elected unopposed.
There had been talk in Labour circles of a possible challenge but The Herald understands those mentioned have no intention of running against Mr Purcell. His majority has dropped from 59 to 11 since the introduction of proportional representation in local elections.
With 22 SNP councillors and 12 other opposition members - the first time in a generation Labour in Glasgow has had sizeable competition in the city chambers - Mr Purcell has been talking to his political opponents about their positions.
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