Hard-up Highland Council wasted time and thousands of pounds of precious money yesterday by delaying a decision to finalise a new manifesto, according to opposition leaders.
After several hours debate about what was deemed to be absent from the draft manifesto drawn up by the independent group, councillors voted 45-18 to back it.
But it is likely to be radically rewritten in the next month because most councillors want to strengthen the list of pledges.
More than three-quarters of the 80 councillors travelled to Inverness from all corners of the region, some requiring overnight accommodation at public expense in order to attend and many more submitting travel expenses.
A council spokeswoman put the cost of expenses for the meeting at about £2,000.
A new policy programme for the remaining 20 months of this council is needed because of the recent switch of power at Glenurquhart Road.
A minority independent administration – that inherited a projected £46.3million three-year budget deficit – replaced an SNP-led alliance with the Liberal Democrats and Labour.
Although no-one objected to the content of the policy document, all opposition groups wanted to strengthen it.
After three hours of contemplation, rival groups complained that the sole purpose of the Inverness meeting was not accomplished.
Private cross-party discussion on broadening the manifesto will follow and a revised “Highland First” document will be put to next month’s routine full council meeting for approval.
SNP group deputy leader Richard Laird described the event as “entirely unnecessary”.
There was cross-party backing for the 60-plus pledges outlined by the independents but criticism from some that it was a “fluffy and lightweight” programme lacking in ambition.
Council leader Margaret Davidson promised to look at the various wish-lists.
She said: “We’ve got to consider the budgetary implications, but I’m very pleased. I suspect that we’ll accept if not all, then almost all of the ideas because they’re good suggestions, but I need to work through them.”