RENFREWSHIRE Council’s new leader has pledged to accommodate all parties as the SNP operates a minority administration.

Councillor Iain Nicolson was chosen as leader, with Cllr Jim Paterson as deputy, during the new-look council’s first meeting last week and they immediately said the local authority should abandon “tribal politics.”

The new Provost is Cllr Lorraine Cameron, with Cllr Cathy McEwan chosen as Deputy Provost.

The Labour group, which had run the previous council administration, slammed the Nationalists for accepting Tory amendments during the meeting and accused them of forming a coalition “by any other name.”

But Cllr Nicolson said he hopes Labour would engage with the SNP in future as he aims to work with every group.

He added: “We have to try and accommodate everyone as much as possible. The Tories spoke to us about all the places they wanted on boards and we took note and we did the same with the Lib Dem Eileen McCartin and the Independents.

“The only people that did not engage with us were Labour but I do hope we can have a reasonable relationship going forward.”

The council also voted to rejoin the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) and leave rival organisation the Scottish Local Government Partnership.

In 2015, Renfrewshire left Cosla following a row over how funding was being distributed.

The number of decision-making boards has also been reduced from six to four.

Cllr Paterson said Renfrewshire residents would soon see the benefits of a minority administration.

He added: “We will have to convince members to back our decisions but I think the people of Renfrewshire will be the ones to benefit from this set-up.

“The onus is on us to seek compromise. Minority might be the best thing that has ever happened to this council because it’s going to get rid of the tribal politics.”