Local government in Scotland

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Local government in Scotland is organised through 32 unitary authorities[1] designated as councils[2] which consist of councillors elected every five years by registered voters in each of the council areas.

Councils receive the majority of their funding from the Scottish Government,[3] through (AEF). AEF consists of three parts: Revenue support grants, non-domestic rates, and income and specific grants.[4] The level of central government support for each authority is determined by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution, currently Kate Forbes MSP, and is distributed by the Finance and Central Services Department of the Scottish Government. Councils obtain additional income through the Council Tax, that the council itself sets.

Scottish councils co-operate through, and are represented collectively by, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

History[]

Main article: History of local government in Scotland

Origins[]

The history of Scottish local government mainly surrounds involves the counties of Scotland. The counties have their origins in the sheriffdoms or shires over which a sheriff (a contraction of shire reeve) exercised jurisdiction.

Malcolm III appears to have introduced sheriffs as part of a policy of replacing native "Celtic" forms of government with Anglo Saxon and French feudal structures.[5] This was continued by his sons Edgar, Alexander I and in particular David I. David completed the division of the country into sheriffdoms by the conversion of existing thanedoms.[6][7]

From the seventeenth century the shires started to be used for local administration apart from judicial functions. In 1667 Commissioners of Supply were appointed in each sheriffdom to collect the land tax.[8] The commissioners eventually assumed other duties in the county. In 1858, police forces were established in each county under the Police (Scotland) Act 1857.

As a result of the dual system of local government, burghs (of which there were various types) often had a high degree of autonomy.

Modern history[]

Between 1890 and 1975 local government in Scotland was organised with county councils (including four counties of cities) and various lower-level units. Between 1890 and 1929, there were parish councils and town councils, but with the passing of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929, the functions of parish councils were passed to larger district councils and a distinction was made between large burghs (i.e. those with a population of 20,000 or more) and small burghs. This system was further refined by the passing of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947.

Effective from 1975, the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 passed by the Conservative government of Edward Heath introduced a system of two-tier local government in Scotland (see Local government areas of Scotland 1973 to 1996), divided between large regional councils and smaller district councils. The only exceptions to this were the three island councils, Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney which had the combined powers of regions and districts. The Conservative government of John Major (1990–1997) decided to abolish this system and merge their powers into new unitary authorities. The new councils vary wildly in size – some are the same as counties, such as Clackmannanshire, some are the same as former districts, such as Inverclyde, and some are the same as the former regions, such as Highland. The changes took effect in 1996 with shadow councillors elected in 1995 to oversee the smooth transition of control.

In 2007, council elections moved to the single transferable vote system, with wards represented by either three or four councillors. The transition has resulted in no uncontested seats and has ended single-party controlled councils.[9]

In 2016 there were ward boundary changes in 25 local authority areas, following the Scottish Government accepting some of the recommendations of Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland.[10]

Responsibilities[]

  • Council Tax
  • Non-domestic rates collection
  • Maintenance of all roads and pavements (except trunk roads which are the responsibility of Transport Scotland)
  • Primary and secondary schooling
  • The Planning System, and Section 75
  • Parking
  • Bus stops
  • Supporting non-commercial bus services
  • Provides some Community Transport
  • Nurseries
  • Care of the elderly,
  • Protection of vulnerable children and adults
  • Refuse collection and disposal
  • Licensing of hours of sale for alcohol
  • Licensing of cultural music parades
  • Licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles
  • Licensing of window cleaners, market traders, scrap metal merchants, and street hawkers
  • Licensing of sexual entertainment venues[11]
  • Food Hygiene inspections
  • Regulation of landlords[12]
  • Arm's Length Council leisure centres and swimming baths
  • Public parks
  • Administering the Scottish Welfare Fund

Map[]

ScotlandLabelled.png
  1. Inverclyde
  2. Renfrewshire
  3. West Dunbartonshire
  4. East Dunbartonshire
  5. Glasgow
  6. East Renfrewshire
  7. North Lanarkshire
  8. Falkirk
  9. West Lothian
  10. Edinburgh
  11. Midlothian
  12. East Lothian
  13. Clackmannanshire
  14. Fife
  15. Dundee
  16. Angus
  17. Aberdeenshire
  18. Aberdeen
  19. Moray
  20. Highland
  21. Na h-Eileanan Siar
  22. Argyll and Bute
  23. Perth and Kinross
  24. Stirling
  25. North Ayrshire
  26. East Ayrshire
  27. South Ayrshire
  28. Dumfries and Galloway
  29. South Lanarkshire
  30. Scottish Borders
  31. Orkney
  32. Shetland

Governance and administration[]

See also: Category:Wards of Scotland

The power vested in local authorities is administered by elected councillors. There are currently 1,227 councillors,[10] each paid a part-time salary for the undertaking of their duties. In total, there are 32 unitary authorities, the largest being the City of Glasgow with more than 600,000 inhabitants, the smallest, Orkney, with just over 20,000 people living there (population of 21,670 in 2015).[13]

Councillors are subject to a Code of Conduct instituted by the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 and enforced by the Standards Commission for Scotland.[14] If a person believes that a councillor has broken the code of conduct they make a complaint to the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland (CESPLS). The Commissioner makes a determination on whether there is a need for an investigation, and then whether or not to refer the matter to the Standards Commission.[15]

Convener (Provost)[]

Each council elects a convener from among the members of the council to chair meetings and to act as a figurehead for the area.[16] A council may also elect a depute convener, though this is not required. In the four city councils in Scotland – Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee – the convener is called a Lord Provost, whilst in other councils the council may choose another title for their conveners.[16] Most councils use the term 'provost'.

The office of provost or convener is roughly equivalent to that of a mayor in other parts of the United Kingdom. Traditionally these roles are ceremonial and have no significant administrative functions. Lord provosts in the four city councils have the additional duty of acting as Lord Lieutenant for their respective city.

Leader of the Council[]

The Leader of the Council is elected as the leader of the largest political grouping of councillors. The Leader of the Council has no executive or administrative powers designated by statute, but the position is salaried.[17] There is also a Depute Leader of the Council appointed.

Each political group within the council typically appoints a leader, with the largest grouping's leader becoming 'Leader of the Council', and being the central figure of de facto political authority.

Officers[]

Officers of a council are administrative, non-political staff of the council. Generally the composition of the council's officers are a matter for the council, but there are a number of statutory officers whose roles are defined by the central government.

The most significant of these officers is the Head of Paid Service, usually titled the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive is similar in function to a city manager, though certain councillors have executive authority and there is no clear division of powers.[18]

There is also a statutory Monitoring Officer, who usually heads the Legal Services division of the council, as well as a Chief Financial Officer.[18]

2017 election results[]

Main article: 2017 Scottish local elections

Following boundary changes:

Summary of the 3 May 2017 Scottish council election results[19]
Party First-preference votes Councils +/- 2012 seats 2017 seats Seat change
Seats won Notional Seats won Seat % vs Notional
Scottish National Party 610,454 32.3% Steady0.0 0 Decrease1 425 438 431 35.1% Decrease7
Conservative 478,073 25.3% Increase12.0% 0 Steady 115 112 276 22.5% Increase164
Labour 380,957 20.2% Decrease11.4% 0 Decrease3 394 395 262 21.4% Decrease133
Independents 199,261 10.5% Decrease1.3% 3 Steady 196 198 172 14.1% Decrease26
Liberal Democrats 128,821 6.8% Increase0.2% 0 Steady 71 70 67 5.5% Decrease3
Scottish Greens 77,682 4.1% Increase1.8% 0 Steady 14 14 19 1.6% Increase5
No Overall Control — — — 29 Increase4 — — — — —
Total 1,889,658 100.0 ±0.0 32 Steady 1,223 1,227 1,227 100.00 Steady


Note: There were boundary changes in many of these councils. Notional seats and seat change are based on a notional 2012 result calculated by the BBC.[20] The methodology was officially revealed on 9 May 2017. The relevant explanation is available on the BBC Website. Comparisons with the actual results from 2012 are inconsistent, as the number of seats and seat changes will be different because of an increase in council seats across the country from 1,223 to 1,227 and the different boundaries.

The BBC notional calculation is as follows:[21]
Party 2012 seats 2012 notional
Scottish National Party 425 438
Conservative 115 112
Labour 394 395
Liberal Democrats 71 70
Scottish Greens 14 14
Others 204 198
Total 1,223 1,227

Council control[]

Further information: Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom § Scotland

Political control may be held by minority governments (min), coalitions (co), joint leadership arrangements (j.l.) or partnership working arrangements (p.w.).[22]

Last update 13 February 2022.[23][24]

Council Control Web Total SNP CON LAB LD SGP Alba Other Vacant Upcoming by-elections
Aberdeen NOC CON+ALAB[s 1]+IND co URL 45 19 10 9[s 1] 3 4
Aberdeenshire NOC CON+LD+IND co URL 70 19 20 1 13 1 3 16
Angus NOC CON+IND+LD co URL 28 9 8 1 10
Argyll & Bute NOC CON+LD+IND+ISP co[25] URL 36 11 8 5 11 1
Clackmannanshire NOC SNP min[26] URL 18 7 5 4 1 1
Dumfries & Galloway NOC LAB+SNP co URL 43 10 16 10 1 6
Dundee NOC SNP min URL 29 13 3 8 2 3
East Ayrshire NOC SNP min URL 32 14 6 9 3
East Dunbartonshire NOC LD+CON co[27] URL 22 7 5 2 6 1 1
East Lothian NOC LAB min URL 22 6 7 9
East Renfrewshire NOC SNP+LAB co URL 18 5 5 4 4
Edinburgh NOC SNP+LAB co[28] URL 63 16 17 11 6 7 5 1
Falkirk NOC SNP+IND co[29] URL 30 13 7 7 3
Fife NOC SNP+LAB j.l.[30] URL 75 29 13 23 7 2 1
Glasgow NOC SNP min[31] URL 85 35 7 30 6 2 5
Highland NOC IND+LD+LAB co URL 74 19 10 3 11 1 29 1
Inverclyde NOC LAB min URL 22 5 2 8 1 2 4
Midlothian NOC LAB min URL 18 7 5 6
Moray NOC SNP min URL 26 7 9 1 8 1
Na h-Eileanan Siar IND IND URL 31 6 1 1 1 22
North Ayrshire NOC LAB min URL 33 9 8 11 5
North Lanarkshire NOC LAB min URL 77 26 8 31 3 9
Orkney IND IND URL 21 2 19
Perth & Kinross NOC CON min URL 40 13 18 1 5 3
Renfrewshire NOC SNP min URL 43 19 8 13 1 2
Scottish Borders NOC CON+IND co URL 34 8 15 2 9
Shetland IND IND URL 22 1 21
South Ayrshire NOC SNP+LAB+IND p.w. URL 28 9 12 5 2
South Lanarkshire NOC SNP min URL 64 25 11 17 3 8
Stirling NOC SNP+LAB URL 23 7 9 4 1 1 1
West Dunbartonshire NOC SNP+IND URL 22 9 2 8 1 2
West Lothian NOC LAB min URL 33 14 7 11 1
  1. ^ a b 9 Aberdeen Labour (Councillors suspended by Labour from party for their coalition with Conservatives).

2012 election results[]

Main article: 2012 Scottish local elections

Council control[]

Further information: Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom § Scotland

The 32 unitary authorities were controlled as follows. The figures incorporate the results from the 2012 local government election, plus gains and losses from subsequent local by-elections, and party defections.

Council area Political control [32] Lab SNP LD Con Grn Ind/Oth Total
City of Aberdeen Lab-Con-Ind 17 16 5 2 0 3 43
Aberdeenshire[33] Conservative/Liberal Coalition 2 26 10 16 1 13 68
Angus SNP (minority) 1 14 1 4 0 9 29
Argyll and Bute Ind-LD-Con 1 8 4 3 0 20 36
Clackmannanshire Lab (minority) 8 9 0 1 0 0 18
Dumfries and Galloway Lab-Ind (minority) 13 9 1 9 0 15 47
City of Dundee SNP 10 16 1 1 0 1 29
East Ayrshire SNP-Con 14 15 0 2 0 1 32
East Dunbartonshire Lab-Con-LD 9 8 3 2 0 2 24
East Lothian Lab-Con-Ind 10 8 0 3 0 2 23
East Renfrewshire Lab-SNP 8 4 0 6 0 2 20
City of Edinburgh Lab-SNP 21 17 2 11 5 2 58
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Outer Hebrides) Ind 2 4 0 0 0 25 31
Falkirk Lab-Ind-Con 14 13 0 2 0 3 32
Fife Lab (minority) 33 26 10 3 0 6 78
City of Glasgow Lab 40 30 1 1 4 2 78
Highland SNP-Lab 7 17 13 0 0 42 80
Inverclyde Lab (minority) 9 6 2 1 0 2 20
Midlothian SNP-Ind (minority) 8 8 0 0 1 1 18
Moray Ind-Con 2 11 0 3 0 10 26
North Ayrshire Lab (minority) 12 11 0 1 0 6 30
North Lanarkshire Lab (minority) 31 22 0 0 0 17 70
Orkney Ind 0 0 0 0 0 21 21
Perth and Kinross SNP (minority) 4 18 5 11 0 3 41
Renfrewshire Lab 20 16 1 1 0 2 40
Scottish Borders Ind-SNP-LD 0 8 6 9 0 11 34
Shetland Ind 0 0 0 0 0 22 22
South Ayrshire Con-Lab 9 9 0 10 0 2 30
South Lanarkshire Lab 38 21 1 3 0 4 67
Stirling Lab-Con 8 9 0 4 1 0 22
West Dunbartonshire Lab 38 21 1 3 0 4 22
West Lothian Lab (minority) 16 15 0 1 0 1 32
TOTAL - 379 401 66 110 12 254 1222

2007 election results[]

Main article: 2007 Scottish local elections

Following the introduction of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 local elections are held using the single transferable vote, with this taking place for the first time in 2007. This change in voting system saw all but five councils end up with no one party in control. Labour retained control of the City of Glasgow and North Lanarkshire, while Orkney, Shetland and Na h-Eileanan Siar continue to be controlled by Independent councillors.

Council control[]

Further information: Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom § Scotland

The 32 unitary authorities are controlled as follows. The figures incorporate the results from the 2007 local government election, plus gains and losses from subsequent local by-elections, and party defections.

Council area Political control [32] Lab SNP LD Con Grn Oth Total
City of Aberdeen LD-SNP 10 13 15 4 0 1 43
Aberdeenshire[33] SNP 2 28 12 14 1 11 68
Angus Con-LD-Lab-Oth 2 13 3 5 0 6 29
Argyll and Bute Oth-LD-Con 0 10 8 3 0 15 36
Clackmannanshire Lab (minority) 8 8 0 1 0 1 18
Dumfries and Galloway Con-LD (minority) 14 10 3 18 0 2 47
City of Dundee SNP (minority) 8 14 2 3 0 2 29
East Ayrshire SNP (minority) 14 14 0 3 0 1 32
East Dunbartonshire Con-Lab (minority) 6 8 3 5 0 2 24
East Lothian SNP-LD 7 7 6 2 0 1 23
East Renfrewshire Lab-SNP-Oth-LD 7 3 1 7 0 2 20
City of Edinburgh LD-SNP 15 12 17 11 3 0 58
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Outer Hebrides) Ind 2 4 0 0 0 25 31
Falkirk Lab-Oth-Con 14 13 0 2 0 3 32
Fife SNP-LD 24 23 21 5 0 5 78
City of Glasgow Lab 46 22 5 1 5 0 79
Highland Oth-LD-Lab 7 18 21 0 0 34 80
Inverclyde Lab-Con-Oth 9 5 4 1 0 1 20
Midlothian Lab (minority) 9 6 3 0 0 0 18
Moray Oth-Con 2 9 0 3 0 12 26
North Ayrshire Lab (minority) 12 8 2 3 0 5 30
North Lanarkshire Lab 40 23 1 1 0 5 70
Orkney Oth 0 0 0 0 0 21 21
Perth and Kinross SNP-LD 3 18 8 12 0 0 41
Renfrewshire SNP-LD 17 17 4 2 0 0 40
Scottish Borders Oth-Con-LD 0 6 10 11 0 7 34
Shetland Oth 0 0 0 0 0 22 22
South Ayrshire Con (minority) 9 8 0 12 0 1 30
South Lanarkshire Lab-Con-LD 30 24 2 8 0 3 67
Stirling Lab-Con 8 9 0 4 0 1 22
West Dunbartonshire SNP-Oth 10 9 0 0 0 3 22
West Lothian SNP-Oth 14 13 0 1 0 4 32
TOTAL - 348 363 166 143 8 194 1222

Community councils[]

Main article: List of community council areas in Scotland
See also: Community council § Scotland

Community councils represent the interests of local people. Local authorities have a statutory duty to consult community councils on planning, development and other issues directly affecting that local community. However, the community council has no direct say in the delivery of services. In many areas they do not function at all, but some work very effectively at improving their local area. Elections for community councils are determined by the local authority but the law does state that candidates cannot stand on a party-political ticket.

See also[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ^ In this context the phrase is descriptive, not prescriptive; "unitary authority" does not have the specific legal meaning that it has in England.
  2. ^ s.2 Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994.
  3. ^ Local Government Overview Report 2009 (Exhibit 1, Page 7), Audit Scotland.
  4. ^ Core Revenue Funding, Scottish Executive website, accessed 28 April 2007.
  5. ^ John of Fordun wrote that Malcolm II introduced the shire to Scotland and also the thane class. Shires are certainly mentioned in charters by the reign of King Malcolm III, for instance that to the Church of Dunfermline, AD 1070–1093.
  6. ^ Wallace, James (1890). The Sheriffdom of Clackmannan. A sketch of its history with a list of its sheriffs and excerpts from the records of court compiled from public documents and other authorities with preparatory notes on the office of Sheriff in Scotland, his powers and duties. Edinburgh: James Thin. pp. 7–19.
  7. ^ The earliest sheriffdom south of the Forth which we know of for certain is Haddingtonshire, which is named in a charters of 1139 as "Hadintunschira" (Charter by King David to the church of St. Andrews of the church of St. Mary at Haddington) and of 1141 as "Hadintunshire" (Charter by King David granting Clerchetune to the church of St. Mary of Haddington). In 1150 a charter refers to Stirlingshire ("Striuelinschire"). (Charter by King David granting the church of Clackmannan, etc., to the Abbey of Stirling.)
  8. ^ The sheriffdoms listed were Edinburgh (i.e. Midlothian), Hadingtoun (i.e. East Lothian), Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Peebles, Lanerk, Dumfreize, "the sherifdome of Wigtoun and stewartrie of Kirkcudbright", Air, Dumbartan, Bute, Renfrew, Striviling (i.e. Stirlingshire), Linlithgow (i.e. West Lothian), Perth, Kincairdine, Aberdene, Inverness and Ross, Nairne, Cromarty, Argyle, Fyfe and Kinross, Forfar (i.e. Angus), Bamf (i.e. Banff), Sutherland, Caithnes, Elgine (i.e. Moray), Orkney and Zetland (i.e. Shetland), Clakmannan. "Act of the convention of estates of the kingdome of Scotland etc. for ane new and voluntar offer to his majestie of seventie two thousand pounds monethlie for the space of twelve moneths". Records of the Parliaments of Scotland. University of St Andrews. 23 January 1667. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  9. ^ Adopting the Single Transferable Votefor local elections in England Briefing of the Electoral Reform Society on the website electoral-reform.org.uk, May 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  10. ^ a b Davidson, Jenni (14 September 2016). "Council ward boundaries to be changed across Scotland". Holyrood. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  11. ^ Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Overview on the website legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  12. ^ Renting your property out - Your responsibilities Overview on mygov.scot, 15 July 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Orkney Islands Council Area - Demographic Factsheet" (PDF). National Records of Scotland. September 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  14. ^ Ethical Standards in Public Life framework: "Ethical Standards in Public Life". The Scottish Government. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  15. ^ Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland "Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland". Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  16. ^ a b s.4, Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.
  17. ^ "The Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Regulations 2007". www.oqps.gov.uk.
  18. ^ a b http://www.gov.scot/library/documents3/ethic-07.htm[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "BBC News :: Full Scottish council election results published". BBC News. 8 May 2017.
  20. ^ "Scotland Results". BBC News.
  21. ^ "How the BBC calculates local election results". 9 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  22. ^ "Political control | COSLA". www.cosla.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  23. ^ "Councils". 24 January 2020.
  24. ^ "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections".
  25. ^ Campbell, Rita (19 May 2017). "Economic growth and education priorities in Argyll". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  26. ^ "Cooperation and collaboration on the agenda at Clacks Council". Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Protests as new Lib Dem/Tory coalition takes control at East Dunbartonshire Council". Kirkintilloch Herald. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  28. ^ Gordon, Rebecca (15 June 2017). "Leaders sign coalition agreement to run the Capital". edinburgh.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  29. ^ "Council control - Falkirk". Falkirk Council. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  30. ^ "Fife Council agree to SNP and Labour joint partnership". Dunfermline Press. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  31. ^ Glasgow Young Scot, 20 Trongate (18 May 2017). "Councillor Eva Bolander chosen as Glasgow's Lord Provost". Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  32. ^ a b "COSLA". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
  33. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

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