A meeting of the South Ayrshire Council held at County Buildings in Ayr on Thursday morning descended into disorder, culminating in the unexpected resignation of Provost Iain Campbell following a moment of chaotic disruption.
The session was particularly tense as council members voted on a motion to remove depute leader Bob Pollock. During the voting process, an individual participating remotely appeared to inadvertently disrupt proceedings by speaking over the public address system. This led to a significant interjection when another voice was heard saying "that wee c***," which elicited shocked reactions from those present in the room.
In response to the outburst, Chief Governance Officer Catriona Caves stated that IT officers would work to identify the individual responsible for the remarks. Despite the chaos, the vote was eventually completed, resulting in a narrow decision of 14-13 in favour of Councillor Pollock’s removal.
Following the vote, Provost Campbell ordered an adjournment to address the inappropriate comment. Upon his return, he announced his immediate resignation and declared the meeting indefinitely suspended. "I have had the misfortune to work amongst some despicable people in this place," Campbell conveyed, expressing his discontent with the council's internal dynamics. He added, "I've had to deal with people whose egos are better than their ability. I didn't sign up for this; I got into this to serve the people of South Ayrshire. I'm disgusted by the backstabbing and fighting - people who use twisted means to get into positions."
Iain Campbell confirmed that, whilst he resigned from his position as Provost, he would remain a council member until the end of the current term. His resignation marks a notable moment in the local governance landscape, particularly amidst reports of tensions within the council. The Daily Record is reporting on this unexpected turn of events and its implications for the South Ayrshire Council moving forward.
Source: Noah Wire Services