Elections to Argyll and Bute Council were held on 3 May 2012 on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the eleven wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 , with 36 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system .
After the 2007 Local Election a coalition was formed between the Alliance for Independents group and the Scottish National Party . This arrangement subsequently broke up and the Independent group formed a minority administration with the support of the Scottish Liberal Democrats .
The 2012 election saw Independent Councillors remain the largest grouping on the Council while the Scottish National Party increased their representation again by 3 seats, chiefly at the expense of the Lib Dems. The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party gained an additional seat and replaced the Lib Dems in third place according to vote share.
Following the election an administration was formed between the Scottish National Party and the Argyll First Group of Independent Councilors. However, this coalition subsequently broke down, and after the SNP National Executive prevented the SNP group forming a coalition with the Scottish Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, 4 members of the SNP group including Roddy McCuish, Mary Jean Devon, Michael Breslin and Robert MacIntyre left the SNP, and a coalition of Independents, Scottish Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats was subsequently formed in October 2013, led by Dick Walsh. Another member of the SNP Group, Fred Hall, had previously left the SNP in April 2013, and now sits as an independent.
Election result [ ]
Argyll and Bute Local Election Result 2012
Party
Seats
Gains
Losses
Net gain/loss
Seats %
Votes %
Votes
+/−
Independent
15
1
2
-1
41.67
38.40
11,922
-0.7
SNP
13
3
0
+3
36.1
29.74
9,234
+7.54
Conservative
4
1
0
+1
11.1
15.50
4,811
-0.2
Liberal Democrats
4
0
3
-3
11.1
11.40
3,540
-7.8
Labour
0
0
0
-
-
4.60
1,422
+0.9
Green
0
-
-
-
-
0.24
73
New
Scottish Christian
0
-
-
-
-
0.14
45
New
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.
Ward results [ ]
South Kintyre [ ]
2007: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem
2012: 1xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: No change
South Kintyre - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Conservative
Donald Kelly (incumbent )
45.87%
1,133
SNP
John Donald Semple (incumbent ) ††††
16.80%
415
507.3
517.5
551.5
696.7
Liberal Democrats
Rory Colville (incumbent )
14.21%
351
519.2
535.1
570.3
595.7
613.7
728.3
SNP
Anne Baird
8.22%
203
216.6
224.4
234.2
Independent
Robert Graham
6.72%
167
221.9
246.9
315.9
338.7
354.9
Independent
George Rahman
5.59%
138
192.5
205.5
Independent
Deirdre Henderson
2.55%
63
85.3
Electorate: 5,278 Valid: 2,470 Spoilt: 40 Quota: 618 Turnout: 2,510 (46.8%)
Kintyre and the Islands [ ]
2007: 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent; 1xSNP
2012: 1xSNP; 1xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Kintyre and the Islands - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
SNP
Anne Horn (incumbent )
23.43%
610
613
630
694
Independent
John McAlpine (incumbent )
22.43%
584
587
603
653
Conservative
Alastair John Redman
21.24%
553
553
559
579
586.2
586.4
Liberal Democrats
Robin Currie (incumbent )
20.74%
540
541
548
623
635.9
636.2
884.3
Labour
Bob Chicken
8.64%
225
232
247
Green
Ed Tyler
2.8%
73
74
Arthur McFarlane
0.73%
19
Electorate: 5,144 Valid: 2,604 Spoilt: 29 Quota: 652 Turnout: 2,633 (50.62%)
Mid Argyll [ ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
Mid Argyll - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
Independent
Douglas Trevor Philand (incumbent )
38.42%
1,111
SNP
Sandy Taylor
24.62%
712
811.6
Independent
Donnie MacMillan (incumbent )
14.14%
409
518.7
543.6
598.7
677.9
Liberal Democrats
Alison Jean Hay (incumbent )
10.79%
312
387.2
401.1
483.4
528.5
Conservative
Charlotte Hanbury
6.02%
174
190.7
193.6
Labour
Wendy Reynolds
6.02%
174
209.1
222.9
231.9
Electorate: 5,999 Valid: 2,892 Spoilt: 24 Quota: 724 Turnout: 2,916 (48.21%)
Oban South and the Isles [ ]
2007: 2xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2012: 3xSNP; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Lib Dem
Oban South and the Isles - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
SNP
Mary-Jean Devon (incumbent ) (Subsequently left the SNP)
24.67%
830
SNP
Roddy McCuish (incumbent ) (Subsequently left the SNP)
22.79%
767
SNP
Fred Hall † (Subsequently left the SNP)
10.37%
349
408.6
461.6
475.2
489.6
523.2
569
632.6
Independent
Alistair MacDougall
8.35%
281
305.4
307.9
333.8
373.4
406
580.9
701.5
Independent
Gordon Chalmers (incumbent )
7.99%
269
305.1
307.1
329.7
370.5
386.2
Independent
Neil MacKinnon MacIntyre
7.64%
257
260.4
273.9
291.1
327.4
442.7
483.7
Independent
Sean MacIntyre
7.04%
237
239.8
248.4
266.7
283.9
Conservative
Michael Hawke
5.68%
191
194
196.4
252.2
Liberal Democrats
Graham Kanes
5.47%
184
189.5
191.6
Electorate: 7,615 Valid: 3,365 Spoilt: 51 Quota: 674 Turnout: 3,416 (44.19%)
Oban North and Lorn [ ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP
2012: 3xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: Independent gain one seat from Lib Dem
Oban North and Lorn - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Independent
Elaine Robertson (incumbent )
22.23%
807
SNP
Louise Anne Glen-Lee †† (incumbent )
19.47%
707
715.6
721.9
732
Independent
Duncan MacIntyre (incumbent )††††††
11.59%
421
436.2
443.7
471.9
472.2
509.6
611.3
726.7
811.4
SNP
Donald Melville
11.29%
410
415.9
420
445.1
448.8
471
517.2
541.9
Independent
Iain Angus MacDonald †††††
9.94%
361
372.7
379.9
410.8
411.1
437.8
476.8
542.6
645.3
Conservative
Roy Rutherford
9.14%
332
340.1
343.3
353.5
353.6
384.4
409.2
Independent
Neil MacKay (incumbent )
6.11%
222
231.3
239
243.1
243.3
264.3
Liberal Democrats
Gwyneth Neal
5.17%
188
196.7
201.1
206.3
206.5
Independent
George Doyle
3.44%
125
126.9
136.1
Independent
Wilma McIntosh
1.60%
58
61.3
Electorate: 7,524 Valid: 3,631 Spoilt: 46 Quota: 727 Turnout: 3,677 (48.26%)
Cowal [ ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: No change
Cowal - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SNP
William Gordon Blair
19.57%
570
575
585
613
653
942
Independent
Alex McNaughton (incumbent )
18.65%
543
564
593
628
713
744
Independent
Bruce Marshall (incumbent )
12.88%
375
391
410
452
514
542
572.5
577.4
742.7
SNP
Ron Simon (incumbent )
12.12%
353
359
367
378
405
Conservative
Lewis Macdonald
11.78%
343
356
388
407
433
454
480
481.9
Independent
Stephen Johnstone
9.68%
282
295
312
341
Independent
Chris Talbot
5.8%
169
182
201
Independent
Russell Weir
5.19%
151
173
Independent
Chris Lambert
4.33%
126
Electorate: 5,840 Valid: 2,912 Spoilt: 40 Quota: 729 Turnout: 2,952 (49.86%)
Dunoon [ ]
2007: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xSNP
2007-2012 Change: No change
Dunoon - 3 seats *
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
Independent
Dick Walsh (incumbent )
32.83
777
SNP
Michael Breslin (Subsequently left the SNP)
28.01
663
Independent
Jimmy McQueen (incumbent )
18.25
432
527.5
544.8
590.7
638
Labour
Mick Rice
12.51
296
315.5
324.7
337.8
381.4
Liberal Democrats
Tony Miles
4.44
105
128.1
137.3
160.1
Conservative
William Green
3.97
94
106.9
111.1
Electorate: 5,715 Valid: 2,367 Spoilt: 38 Quota: 592 Turnout: 2,405 (41.42%)
Elections to the Dunoon Ward were suspended following the death of SNP candidate Alister MacAlister. Polling took place on 10 May 2012.
Isle of Bute [ ]
2007: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent
2012: 2xSNP; 1xIndependent
2007-2012 Change: No change
Isle of Bute - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Independent
Len Scoullar (incumbent )
30.91%
707
SNP
Robert MacIntyre (incumbent ) (Subsequently left the SNP)
26.63%
609
SNP
Isobel Strong (incumbent )
15.7%
359
409.6
440.7
450.8
515.1
673.8
Labour
Adam Bellshaw
15.34%
351
372.6
374.8
385.4
440.8
Conservative
Peter Wallace
9.44%
216
244.5
245.2
264.6
Scottish Christian
Hugh Cole
1.97%
45
48.6
49
Electorate: 5,078 Valid: 2,287 Spoilt: 39 Quota: 572 Turnout: 2,326 (45.04%)
Lomond North [ ]
2007: 3xIndependent
2012: 2xIndependent; 1xCon
2007-2012 Change: Con gain one seat from Independent
Lomond North - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Independent
George Freeman (incumbent )
29.24%
847
Conservative
Maurice Corry
18.78%
544
560.3
565.7
607.6
672.1
716.3
SNP
Kenneth Smith
14.01%
406
417.1
433.1
463.4
542.1
Labour
Fiona Howard
12.98%
376
386.4
412.1
453.4
Independent
Robert Graham MacIntyre
12.36%
358
373.8
407.2
531.7
650.9
816.1
Independent
Danny Kelly (incumbent )
8.18%
237
272.1
307.5
Independent
Susie Will
4.45%
129
143.5
Electorate: 6,117 Valid: 2,897 Spoilt: 22 Quota: 725 Turnout: 2,919 (47.36%)
Helensburgh Central [ ]
2007: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2012: 1xIndependent; 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLib Dem
2007-2012 Change: No change
Helensburgh Central - 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
Independent
Vivien Dance (incumbent )
22.8%
749
SNP
James Alexander Robb (incumbent )
20.91%
687
Conservative
Gary Mulvaney (incumbent )
20.49%
673
Liberal Democrats
Aileen Morton
20.24%
665
Independent
David Alastair Allan
11.63%
382
Richard William Humphrey
3.93%
129
Electorate: 7,377 Valid: 3,285 Spoilt: 32 Quota: 658 Turnout: 3,317 (44.53%)
Helensburgh and Lomond South [ ]
2007: 1xCon; 1xLib Dem; 1xIndependent
2012: 1xLib Dem; 1xSNP; 1xCon
2007-2012 Change: SNP gain one seat from Independent
Helensburgh and Lomond South - 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
Liberal Democrats
Ellen Morton (incumbent )
38.30%
895
SNP
Richard MacDonald Trail
24.99%
584
603.7
Conservative
David Fairbairn Kinniburgh (incumbent )
23.88%
558
582.2
584.6
877.2
Liberal Democrats
Andrew Nisbet (incumbent )
12.84%
300
548.3
555.8
Electorate: 5,395 Valid: 2,337 Spoilt: 35 Quota: 585 Turnout: 2,372 (43.32%)
Changes since 2012 [ ]
† Independent Oban South and the Isles Cllr Fred Hall resigned his seat on 14 March 2014. A by-election was held on 23 May 2014 and was won by the Labour Party's Neil MacIntyre.[1]
†† SNP Oban North and Lorn Cllr Louise Glen-Lee resigned on 30 April 2014 for personal reasons. A by-election was held on 17 July 2014 and was won by the Independent John MacGregor.[2]
††† Independent Oban North and Lorn Cllr John MacGregor died on 28 July 2014.[3] A by-election was held to fill the vacancy and was won by the SNP's Iain MacLean on 23 October 2014. He resigned from the SNP and became an Independent on 15 March 2016.[4]
†††† SNP South Kintyre Cllr John Semple resigned on 19 September 2014 for personal reasons.[5] A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 11 December 2014 and was won by the SNP's John Armour.
††††† Independent Oban North and Lorn Cllr Iain Angus MacDonald joined the SNP and ceased to be an Independent on 24 September 2014.[6] He resigned his seat on 11 March 2016.[7] The by-election was held on 2 June 2016 and was won by the Independent Kieron Green
†††††† Independent Oban North and Lorn Cllr Duncan McIntyre resigned due to ill health in December 2015. A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 18 February 2016 which was won by the SNP's Julie McKenzie.[8]
By-elections [ ]
Oban South and the Isles By-election (23 May 2014) - 1 Seat[9]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
Labour
Neil MacIntyre
26.27
918
946
1,134
1,413
2,001
SNP
Iain MacLean
28.05
980
988
1,102
1,260
Liberal Democrats
David Pollard
18.17
635
742
865
Independent
John MacGregor
17.63
616
688
Conservative
Andrew Vennard
9.87
345
Electorate: 8,023 Valid: 3,494 Spoilt: 31 Quota: 1,748 Turnout: 3,525 (43.55%)
Oban North and Lorn By-election (17 July 2014) - 1 Seat[10]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
SNP
Gerry Fisher
24.6
595
635
658
Independent
John MacGregor †††
22.7
548
614
771
920
1,293
Labour
Kieron Green
21.8
526
572
681
874
Conservative
Andrew Vennard
18.4
445
493
Independent
Marri Molloy
12.5
301
Electorate: 7,821 Valid: 2,415 Spoilt: 28 Quota: 1,208 Turnout: 2,443 (30.88%)
Oban North and Lorn By-election (23 October 2014) - 1 Seat[11]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
SNP
Iain MacLean
40.9%
1,090
1,102
1,199
1,635
Independent
Stephanie Irvine
23.6%
629
812
1,080
Labour
Kieron Green
19.9%
530
621
Conservative
Andrew Vennard
15.6%
415
Electorate: 8,056 Valid: 2,664 Spoilt: 25 Quota: 1,333 Turnout: 2,689 (33.07%)
South Kintyre By-election (11 December 2014) - 1 Seat[12]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
SNP
John Armour
62.2%
942
Liberal Democrats
Joyce Oxborrow
14.1%
214
Conservative
Charlotte Hanbury
13.4%
203
Labour
Michael Kelly
10.3%
156
Oban and North Lorn By-election (18 February 2016) - 1 Seat[13]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
SNP
Julie McKenzie
42.3%
1,113
1,186
1,241
1,656
Conservative
Andrew Ross Vennard
23.2%
609
640
Independent
Kieron Green
23.1%
608
721
1,048
Green
Pat Tyrell
11.4%
300
Electorate: 7,772 Valid: 2,630 Spoilt: 9 Quota: 1,316 Turnout: 2,639 (33.84%)
Oban and North Lorn By-election (2 June 2016) - 1 Seat[14] [15]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
SNP
Breege Smyth
39.8
1055
1097
1138
Independent
Kieron Green
26.8
711
821
1160
1617
Conservative
Andrew Ross Vennard
22.3
591
668
Liberal Democrats
David Pollard
11.1
294
References [ ]
External links [ ]