New Roles at City Chambers

Today was the first meeting of the City council since the elections. Traditionally the first duty  is to appoint a Lord Provost and Deputy convenor. 

Gorgie/Dalry councillor Donald Wilson was  unanimously elected to succeed George Grubb.  Donald was a popular choice on all sides of the Chamber. 

Hailing from Selkirk where his late father, a baker, made the famous Selkirk bannocks in his bakery.  

Coming from Selkirk has meant that Donald has a very powerful sense of history this being a town which was decimated with all but one of it's male population falling at Flodden.  Borders generally get the civic side of local government more than the rest of us and Donald certainly does. he will be an excellent Lord provost and I am pleased for him. He has always conducted himself like a perfect gentleman even in tense times in opposition. 

The Deputy Lord Provost was also unanimously agreed. My good friend Deirdre Brock of the SNP was elected. Deirdre hails from Perth Western Australia and was an actress in her previous life. I can't wait for her first "actress said to the bishop!" moment  which will come in due course. Deirdre will be a great successor to Rob Munn who was a victim of the SNP success the other week. 

Leadership

Tuesday saw a change in my role in the council also. I was unanimously elected as leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the Council. There is a big job to do rebuilding the party in the city and holding a large and emboldened council administration to account. A big job indeed but I am up for the challenge!