Inverclyde Council to appoint new leader at meeting

Councillor McCabe resigned as leader on November 15 after pleading not guilty to charges of domestic assault and threatening abusive behaviour at Greenock Sheriff Court that same day.

The ward one councillor remains a member of Inverclyde Council but has been administratively suspended from the Labour party pending the outcome of any investigations into the allegations against him, meaning he sits on the local authority as an independent at present.

READ MORE: Councillor David Wilson responds to SNP's McCabe comments

Elected members are set to decide who should replace Councillor McCabe as council leader at a meeting this Thursday and will also make a number of key decisions regarding the political balance on the council’s various committees, boards and panels.

(Image: Newsquest) While Inverclyde Council’s Labour group does not currently include Councillor McCabe, their numbers have been bolstered by the election of Councillor Ian Hellyer, who won last month’s Gourock by-election.

This means that currently Labour hold eight council seats, the SNP hold six and the Conservatives hold two, with six independent councillors.

Independent Councillor Innes Nelson is part of an affiliation with Inverclyde’s two Tory councillors, Graeme Brooks and David Wilson, while two independents - Councillor Tommy McVey and Provost Drew McKenzie – are in an alliance.

According to a report produced by council officers ahead of this Thursday’s meeting, the three remaining independent councillors – Councillor McCabe, Councillor Lynne Quinn and Councillor Kirsty Law – are not part of any alliances, coalitions or affiliations.

Council officers state in their report that in addition to the changes to the make-up of the council’s committees, sub-committees, board and outside bodies which are required to ensure appropriate political balance, there are also unrelated changes that have been requested by members of the council.