Aberdeenshire Council

Aberdeenshire Council is the elected local authority for the Aberdeenshire council area. The first election to the council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 1 April 1996. The council is the fifth largest Scottish council having 70 members.[4]

Aberdeenshire Council
Council logo
Leadership
Judy Whyte,
Independent
since 19 May 2022[1]
Gillian Owen,
Conservative
since 29 June 2023[2]
Jim Savege
since February 2015[3]
Structure
Seats70 councillors
Political groups
Administration (46)
  Conservative (24)
  Liberal Democrats (14)
  Independent (8)
Other parties (24)
  SNP (21)
  Independent (3)
Elections
Single transferable vote
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
2027
Meeting place
Woodhill House, Westburn Road, Aberdeen, AB16 5GB
Website
www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk

The council has devolved power to six area committees: Banff and Buchan; Buchan; Formartine; Garioch; Marr; and Kincardine and Mearns. Each area committee takes decisions on local issues such as planning applications, and the split is meant to reflect the diverse circumstances of each area.[5]

In the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, 60.36% of voters in Aberdeenshire voted for the Union, while 39.64% opted for independence.[6]

Political control

Aberdeenshire Council has been under no overall control since its creation:[7]

Party in controlYears
No overall control1996–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1996 have been:[8]

CouncillorPartyFromToNotes
Audrey Findlay[9]Liberal Democrats1 Apr 19963 May 2007
Anne Robertson[10]Liberal Democrats17 May 20072 May 2012
Jim GiffordConservative17 May 20128 Jun 2015
Richard ThomsonSNP8 Jun 201531 Aug 2016Co-leaders
Martin Kitts-Hayes[11]Independent
Richard ThomsonSNP29 Sep 201618 May 2017Co-leaders
Alison EvisonLabour
Jim GiffordConservative18 May 2017May 2020
IndependentMay 202019 Nov 2020
Andy KilleConservative19 Nov 20205 May 2022
Mark FindlatterConservative19 May 202228 Jun 2023
Gillian OwenConservative29 Jun 2023

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to June 2023, the composition of the council was:

Party Councillors
Conservative24
SNP21
Liberal Democrats14
Independent11
Total 70

Of the independent councillors, eight form the "Administration Independents" group, which forms part the council's administration in coalition with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Two of the independents form the "Democratic Independent Group" which sits with the SNP as the "Opposition Coalition". The remaining independent councillor does not belong to any group.[12] The next election is due in 2027.

Premises

The council is based at Woodhill House in Aberdeen, outside the council's own territory. The building was completed in 1977 for the former Grampian Regional Council.[13]

Elections

Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the single transferable vote system, introduced by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Election results since 1995 have been as follows:[7]

Year Seats Conservative SNP Liberal Democrats Labour Green Independent / Other Notes
199547415150013[14]
199968723280010New ward boundaries.[15]
2003681118280011[16]
200768142224008
2012681428122111
2017702321141110
202270262114009

Wards
Map of the area's ward (2017 configuration).

The council has 70 councillors, elected by single transferable vote in 19 multi-member wards:

Ward number Ward Members
1 Banff and District 3
2 Troup 3
3 Fraserburgh and District 4
4 Central Buchan 4
5 Peterhead North and Rattray 4
6 Peterhead South and Cruden 3
7 Turriff and District 4
8 Mid Formartine 4
9 Ellon and District 4
10 West Garioch 3
11 Inverurie and District 4
12 East Garioch 4
13 Westhill and District 4
14 Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford 4
15 Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside 3
16 Banchory and Mid Deeside 3
17 North Kincardine 4
18 Stonehaven and Lower Deeside 4
19 Mearns 4

References
  1. "Council minutes, 19 May 2022" (PDF). Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  2. Renton, Dawn (29 June 2023). "Change in leadership at Aberdeenshire Council". The Scotsman. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  3. "Jim Savege named new Aberdeenshire Council chief executive". BBC News. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  4. "Aberdeenshire Council, Elections and voting, Who represents you". Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  5. "Aberdeenshire Council - Statistics by Area". 2007-06-07. Archived from the original on 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  6. "Scottish independence referendum - Results - BBC News". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  7. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  8. "Council minutes". Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  9. "North east locals receive honours". BBC News. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  10. Hind, Sally (3 April 2012). "Lib Dem steps down as leader of Aberdeenshire Council". Daily Record. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  11. Gall, Charlie (1 September 2016). "Listen to Legogate laughing stock Martin Kitts-Hayes slam holiday chalet in Denmark as a 'shed'". Daily Record. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  12. "Council report, 29 June 2023" (PDF). Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  13. "Council Offices". Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  14. Bochel, H. M.; Denver, D. T. (1995). Scottish Council Elections 1995: Results and Statistics (PDF) (Report). Election Studies. p. 95. ISBN 1-869820-35-5. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  15. "The Aberdeenshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1998", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1998/3239, retrieved 2024-04-11
  16. Local Election Results 2003: Aberdeenshire
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