A Conservative councillor has quit the party during Aberdeenshire Council’s budget meeting.
Ann Ross, the member for Banchory and Mid Deeside, announced her resignation during the meeting on Thursday.
She abstained from voting on the budget which was then set for the year ahead seeing cuts to services and staff but winter gritting saved. One councillor described the meeting as the “annual salami slicing fest”.
In a statement released after the meeting, Ross claimed she had seen “bullying and toxicity” in the local Conservative party .
A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said Ross had not submitted any complaints of bullying to the party.
However, the party said it was investigating “complaints of inappropriate behaviour” by councillor Ross at meetings last week and this week.
Ross said she refuted the allegations.
“I am aware this is a well used tactic – turning the tables on those who call out bullying and wrongdoing,” she said.
“Many sit by, watching and accepting unacceptable behaviour and crass cultures. I could no longer do it.”
Aberdeenshire Council considered several cuts needed to plug the local authority’s £35.45m black hole.
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