THE SNP is on the brink of retaking power at Clackmannanshire Council.

The Advertiser understands that the Nationalists will have enough votes to form a minority administration tomorrow (Thursday).

Independent councillor Archie Drummond is expected to give the deciding vote in the SNP's favour.

It follows the hung council election result which saw Labour and SNP get eight out of 18 council seats each.

The remaining two places went to Conservative Alastair Campbell and Mr Drummond.

Mr Campbell has always maintained that he will sit on his hands and abstain from voting in a party to power.

The Advertiser understands that a deal has now been struck in which Mr Drummond will give the SNP the all important ninth vote - one more than Labour.

But the Independent councillor, who has previously been a member of both the SNP and Labour, remained tight-lipped when approached about his forthcoming decision.

However, unlike Mr Campbell, he told the Advertiser he would be voting but would not form a coalition - instead voting on an issue by issue basis.

He said, "It would be an abdication of my responsibilities to sit on my hands and not vote but I won't be handcuffed to a party.

"Following my election I was approached by, and I have met with, both Labour and SNP group leadership as you might reasonably expect. Each of them presented their case for why I should vote to support them and each of them got the same answer which I am happy to repeat.

"Every time I am called on to cast a vote in the course of council business I will seek to reflect the views of those who supported my election, those who voted for me and the expressed view of the people of Clackmannanshire North."

The first appointment to be decided at tomorrow's full council meeting will be the position of Provost. Following that appointment councillors will vote in the depute provost and then the council leader and depute leader. If Mr Drummond does abstain, with both main parties tied on seats, the future of Clackmannanshire Council could come down to the cut of a deck of cards.

The Labour group expressed concern that Mr Drummond would be deciding the council's fate.

In contrast it heaped praise on Mr Campbell for his decision to not vote at all. Labour leader Bobby McGill said that abstaining would be the "honest and honourable thing to do".

He said, "Alastair Campbell is a man of integrity and he deserves praise for abstaining from the Provost's vote and acting according to his principles.

"However, this leaves Archie Drummond holding the balance of power. It is very concerning that the elected member for Clackmannanshire North will now decide the council administration for the whole of Clackmannanshire.

"Archie, who has had many harsh words for the Labour Party in the past, is reported as saying that he will seek to reflect the views of his supporters - well let's hope he does just that and reflects the views of all his supporters by abstaining from the vote and remaining 'independent'."

SNP leader Gary Womersley refrained from attacking Mr Drummond but would not confirm whether a deal with the Independent councillor had been struck.

He said, "Whether or not the SNP lead, or any other administration grouping, I hope that all elected members will use their vote and make a decision on Thursday.

"That all elected members will use their vote based on the commitment given in the local manifesto, the track record of the main parties to date and whom they think will be best placed to deliver this commitment to the people of Clackmannanshire."