Betty accepts temporary chair

SHETLAND Central councillor and former NHS Shetland chairwoman Betty Fullerton has been appointed acting chair of the council’s services committee, following the shock resignation of Gussie Angus this month.

Shetland West member Gary Robinson only found one supporter in fellow west side councillor Frank Robertson when he called for a fresh appointment, pointing out that Mrs Fullerton had voted against council policy on school closures recently.

Mr Robinson said: “My own belief is that when you are a committee chair you need to stand by the decisions of your committee and on several notable occasions this has not happened.”

Mrs Fullerton said that she had been “disappointed” when Mr Angus resigned and had “absolutely no wish to take on additional responsibilities as chairman”, but accepted the overwhelming vote for her to become acting chairman.

It is unlikely her role will last very long as the council is likely to dismantle the services committee in April, creating separate committees to deal with education, housing and social care.