THERE was an embarrassing ten-minute stand-off during Friday’s meeting of the Scottish Borders Licensing Board as members clashed over who should take over as temporary chair.

It came after board convener Councillor Willie Archibald (SNP) declared an interest in two licensing applications from pub giants J. D. Wetherspoon.

As he was leaving the chamber, Mr Archibald, a vocal supporter of the company’s recent move to Peebles, nodded to Councillor Bill White (Ind, Galashiels & District) to take over the presiding role.

“What’s going on?” asked Councillor Gavin Logan (Tweeddale East), one of three Conservative members on the board.

“Councillor Archibald had a word with Councillor White before the meeting and he [Mr White] has agreed to take the chair,” said the board’s legal adviser Anne Isles.

“It is not the prerogative of Mr Archibald to decide who will chair the meeting in his absence,” blasted Mr Logan.

Mrs Isles concurred, reminding members that the board was answerable to the Scottish Government in applying licensing legislation and was not governed by council protocol.

“There is no provision for this board to have a vice-chair so it will now require a vote,” she explained to the six remaining councillors after Mr Archibald’s departure.

Although the board is quasi-judicial and supposed to be strictly apolitical, Mr White was nominated for the temporary takeover by two fellow members of SBC’s ruling administration – David Paterson (Ind) and Jim Torrance (SNP). And Mr Logan was nominated by his Conservative opposition colleagues Tom Weatherston and John Greenwell.

The subsequent division, played out in front of public, police and press representatives in the Newtown chamber, inevitably ended 3-3.

“With no chairman to make a casting vote, it will require a cut of cards,” said Mrs Isles.

But as the board’s minute taker was sent off in search of a deck, a clearly irked Mr Logan withdrew his nomination, averring: “I think I’ve made my point.” The procedural anomaly resolved and with Mr White in the chair, Wetherspoon was granted an extension to the licence of its Hunters Hall pub in Galashiels which will now be able to serve alcohol from 11am every Sunday.

The same extension will apply at the chain’s Hawick outlet in Bourtree Place where punters will also now be able to drink until 1am on Thursdays.