A Scottish Conservative councillor has resigned her party membership during a budget meeting at Aberdeenshire Council, after saying plans would be “fundamentally detrimental” to her constituents.
The meeting was paused after Ann Ross of Banchory and Mid Deeside announced her resignation from the Tories.
She said she would be abstaining from the vote and recording her dissent against the recommendations.
READ MORE: MSPs back Scottish Government plans to create new tax bracket for higher earners
"I regret that I cannot support a budget whose priorities will be so fundamentally detrimental to the constituents of my ward," she added.
In a statement published after the meeting, Ross (below) criticised the local Conservative party and claimed "it is racked with bullying and infighting".
The Scottish Conservatives said the councillor had not submitted any complaints of bullying, but that the party was investigating complaints of inappropriate behaviour by Ross at meetings over the last two weeks.
During the budget debate the administration - made up of Conservatives, Lib Dems and independents - passed its spending plans by 38 votes to 23.
The council backed a Scottish government funded council tax freeze equivalent to a 5% rise.
However, cuts to education psychology services and speech and language therapy were also passed.
The council also voted to cut all school patrol positions across its region in a bid to save more than £400,000.
Council leader Gillian Owen said difficult decisions had to be taken, but claimed some changes would be minimal.
It comes as Edinburgh council voted to keep council tax at the same level for the next year, while city centre parking charges will rise by 20%.
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