Cutting playing cards could determine new council leader
Getty ImagesThe appointment of the new leader of South Lanarkshire Council could be decided by a pack of playing cards.
The local authority is seeking a replacement for Labour councillor Joe Fagan, who is stepping down after being elected as an MSP in the recent Holyrood election.
A vote involving elected members will take place at a full council meeting on 27 May, but it is still unclear which candidates will be put forward.
A council report prepared ahead of the meeting states that in the case of a tie the new leader could "be determined by a pack of cards being cut", with the the highest value card being successful.
Turning to the deck of cards is a highly unlikely scenario, as a preferred candidate is expected to emerge through a vote, but the process has been outlined just in case.
It would see the jokers removed by the committee clerk and the pack shuffled, with aces treated as "high" and all suits having equal value.
Each candidate's nominated representative would cut the deck in turn, with the person revealing the highest card winning the vote.
The whole process would be filmed and a council clerk would call out each card for the record.
If two cards of equal value are drawn, the process would be repeated until one card comes out higher than the other.
Labour group members have said they intend to elect a new group leader before the upcoming council meeting.
However, discussions will be taking place among all the council's political groups to find the best person to lead the local authority.
Fagan led South Lanarkshire Council for four years and won a regional list seat for Labour in the South Scotland region at the Holyrood election on 7 May.
He will remain as a councillor for East Kilbride Central North for the remainder of his term.
