South Lanarkshire Council’s new administration has shared its plans for the future.

Last week, Councillor Joe Fagan was appointed as the new council leader, with the administration now Labour-led in partnership with the Liberal Democrats.

The group received 35 votes from councillors, with the SNP group receiving 28.

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And the new administration has pledged to work together with policy making decisions where possible, and be “respectful” about their differences.

Councillor Fagan said: “The administration is Labour-led but our partnership agreement means we work with Liberal Democrats in good faith, taking the best from each other’s manifestos and developing a joint policy programme. We also have Independent support from the Provost.

New council leader, Councillor Joe Fagan

“Where we do not agree, we will be respectful about our differences and allow them to be resolved democratically in the council chamber. I think that is a mature approach given no party has come close to a majority on the council.

“This arrangement stops short of a formal coalition but Labour and the Lib Dems can work well together with Independents in a new kind of progressive alliance.”

He continued: “The partners agree that the under-funding of Scotland’s councils has go to stop. Expect the council to be much more vocal about South Lanarkshire getting its fair share than it was under SNP leadership.

“Both the SNP and the Tories are formally recognised as opposition parties under this arrangement. I said no coalitions with the SNP or the Tories and I meant it. What we will do is offer to work with opposition parties issue-by-issue, vote-by-vote to get the best for South Lanarkshire.

“Hopefully what we bring is a more collaborative kind of politics, without losing a strategic focus on frontline services.”

The new administration has set out key issues it will address and how it plans to do so.

Councillor Fagan explained: “We have to ramp up the council’s response to the climate emergency, with a strengthened Climate Change Committee and a greener capital spending programme.

“We need to help people facing a cost of living crisis by retrofitting homes and helping families with bills. I am keen to see the School Clothing Grant extended to three- and four-year-olds. I also think we need stronger, more visible leadership on the economic crisis locally.”

He continued: “Everywhere I go in South Lanarkshire people feel like their town or their village has seen its best days already. That’s a damning indictment of austerity and the state of politics right now.

"Councils can’t do everything, especially not when budgets have been slashed, but we have to do everything we can to tackle that sense of decline and turn our communities around. That means finding the resources to inject into frontline and using council spending power to back local jobs and town centres.

“We will also agitate for better bus services under public control through Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.”

He added: “ We have to turn around years of decline while battling a funding crisis, rising inflation and a climate emergency.

“I hope this administration goes the distance and that we grow our numbers. We will look to win over progressive councillors who did not support us and aim to win any by-elections that might occur in this term.

“But we need to govern as if this could all end tomorrow. We have to throw ourselves into the job and make as much of a difference as we can while this lasts.

“I would rather lead a radical, reforming council for five months than preside over the drift and decline of the past five years. We have a chance to make a difference and we’ve got to make the most of it.”

Independent councillor Margaret Cooper was appointed as Provost on Wednesday, with councillor Bert Thomson (Labour) being chosen to be Deputy Provost and councillor Gerry Convery (Labour) was elected as deputy council leader.

Anas Sarwar, leader of the Scottish Labour Party, came to the council headquarters in Hamilton on Friday to meet with the new Labour administration .

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar with South Lanarkshire's Labour councillors

He said: “Taking control of South Lanarkshire Council is a great step forward for Scottish Labour.

“Our Labour- Liberal Democrat- Independent partnership has kicked a cynical SNP regime out of office, and into opposition with the Tories.

“Our campaign focused on the biggest issue in people’s day to day lives- the rising cost of living. This Scottish Labour administration will put the cost of living crisis at the centre of everything they do, reversing council cuts and boosting funding for local services.

“I look forward to seeing what Joe and his team deliver for the people of South Lanarkshire.”

Cllr Fagan said: “It was great to have Anas Sarwar come to South Lanarkshire to meet some of the new administration. Labour increased our vote share and our numbers on the council in this month’s election and that gave us the confidence to put ourselves forward as an alternative to the SNP-run council.

“We are now working with a progressive alliance of Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors to turn around the council and bring fresh leadership to South Lanarkshire.

“We have hit the ground running and we will shortly set out our joint programme to bring change to South Lanarkshire.”

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