'It's time to clear the decks'

Outrage at County Hall as council is accused of failing to tackle damage to its reputation

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"I'm going to make a point here in terms of integrity and the fact that this is purported to be an independent administration.

"It is anything but. If you look at yourself, [Provost]. You resigned from the Conservative Party, become an independent and are voting with the administration.

"You have a deputy provost, who resigned from the Conservative party, I understand, and is still voting with the administration.

"You have Councillor Gavin Scott, who resigned from the Conservative party, and is voting with the administration.

"Make no doubt, this is exactly as it has been described.

"This is a rearranging of the chairs on the Titanic. And this council has stopped as a result of the fact that people will not face up to their consequences of what they were doing."

Labour group leader Townson made it clear that both his party and the SNP were of a view that change was vital to restore the council's reputation as he nominated SNP leader Julie Dettbarn for the Leader's post.

He said: "What I see before me is the preferred candidate of the former leader of the council, whose actions sparked the debacle we're in today.

"If we do not vote for a definitive change today, we're telling the people of South Ayrshire that we believe there are no consequences to bringing the council into disrepute.

"If we do not vote for that change, we're continuing what has come before.