Aberdeen City Council
Encyclopedia
Aberdeen City Council represents the Aberdeen City council area of Scotland
.
The council area
was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
. However, a sense of Aberdeen as a city
, with its own city council, can be traced back to 1900, when the city of county
of Aberdeen was created.
In 1975, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
, the county of city was combined with Bucksburn
, Newhills, Old Machar, Stoneywood, Dyce
and Peterculter
areas of the county of Aberdeen and a Nigg area of the county of Kincardine (including Cove Bay
) to form the Aberdeen district of the Grampian
region
. This district became the now existing unitary council area in 1996.
On 9 May 1995 by resolution under section 23 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
The City of Aberdeen Council changed the name of the local government area of "City of Aberdeen" to "Aberdeen City".
Aberdeen City Council comprises forty-three councillors who represent the city's wards and is headed by the Lord Provost who is currently Lord Provost Peter Stephen.
Current political composition: (+/- by election or change of party/resignation changes since May 2007 election)
Chief Officials:
system of election and multi-member wards, each ward electing three or four councillors. The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland
completed its final recommendations for new wards for all the council areas of Scotland and for Aberdeen there will be 13 multi-member wards with a total of 43 councillors. This system was introduced as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004
, and is designed to produce a form of proportional representation
.
The composition of wards have changed to:
3 councillors:
4 councillors:
The most recent results from this election were as followed:
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The council area
Council Area
A Council Area is one of the areas defined in Schedule 1 of the Local Government etc. Act 1994 and is under the control of one of the local authorities in Scotland created by that Act.-Legislation :1889...
was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
The Local Government etc. Act 1994 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which created the current local government structure of 32 unitary authorities covering the whole of Scotland....
. However, a sense of Aberdeen as a city
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
, with its own city council, can be traced back to 1900, when the city of county
Counties of Scotland
The counties of Scotland were the principal local government divisions of Scotland until 1975. Scotland's current lieutenancy areas and registration counties are largely based on them. They are often referred to as historic counties....
of Aberdeen was created.
In 1975, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
The Local Government Act 1973 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, that reformed local government in Scotland, on May 16, 1975....
, the county of city was combined with Bucksburn
Bucksburn
Bucksburn is an area of the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, named after the stream that flows through it. Bucksburn was formerly a market village before being swallowed up by the spread of the city. It is now categorised as a "Neighbourhood" by Aberdeen City Council...
, Newhills, Old Machar, Stoneywood, Dyce
Dyce
Dyce is a civil parish and suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland, about north west of Aberdeen city centre, and best known as the location of the city's airport. It is on the River Don.- History :...
and Peterculter
Peterculter
Peterculter , also known as Culter, is a suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland approximately eight miles inland from Aberdeen city centre. Peterculter is situated along the northern banks of the River Dee in the vicinity of the confluences with Crynoch Burn and Leuchar Burn...
areas of the county of Aberdeen and a Nigg area of the county of Kincardine (including Cove Bay
Cove Bay
Cove Bay is a suburb on the south-east edge of Aberdeen, Scotland. The 2001 Census showed the population as 7,157 .Today Cove is a popular residential location owing to its village-like status and the nearby Altens and Tullos Industrial Estates, affording ample employment opportunities...
) to form the Aberdeen district of the Grampian
Grampian
Grampian was a local government region of Scotland from 1975 to 1996. It is now divided into the unitary council areas of:*Moray*Aberdeenshire*City of AberdeenThe region had five districts:*Aberdeen*Banff and Buchan...
region
Regions and districts of Scotland
The local government areas of Scotland were redefined by the Local Government Act 1973 and redefined again by the Local Government etc Act 1994....
. This district became the now existing unitary council area in 1996.
On 9 May 1995 by resolution under section 23 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
The Local Government Act 1973 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, that reformed local government in Scotland, on May 16, 1975....
The City of Aberdeen Council changed the name of the local government area of "City of Aberdeen" to "Aberdeen City".
Composition
Between 2003 and 2007 the council was under the control of a Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition, holding 23 of the 43 seats on the council. Prior to the 2003 election, the council had been considered a Labour stronghold. Following the May 2007 election, contested for the first time using a system of proportional representation, the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party (SNP) formed a coalition to run the council, holding 27 of the 43 seats (following an SNP by election gain from the Conservatives on 16 August 2007, the Lib Dem/SNP coalition held 28 of the 43 seats). In August 2009 a councillor resigned from the Liberal Democrats and became an independent. The Conservative Group split in August 2010 with two councillors forming the Aberdeen Conservatives. All four Conservatives remain recognised as Conservatives by the party nationally.Aberdeen City Council comprises forty-three councillors who represent the city's wards and is headed by the Lord Provost who is currently Lord Provost Peter Stephen.
Current political composition: (+/- by election or change of party/resignation changes since May 2007 election)
- Scottish National PartyScottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
- 15 councillors (+2) - Liberal DemocratScottish Liberal DemocratsThe Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
- 13 councillors (-2) - LabourScottish Labour PartyThe Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....
- 10 councillors - Conservative - 2 councillors (-3)
- Aberdeen Conservative - 2 councillors (+2)
- IndependentIndependent (politician)In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
- 1 councillor
Chief Officials:
- Chief Executive - Valerie Watt
- Head of Legal & Democratic Services - Jane MacEachran
New wards from May 2007
Before May 2007, councillors represented 43 single-member wards, but since then,all seats were contested by a different electoral system. On May 5, 2007, it was the first election to use the single transferable voteSingle transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
system of election and multi-member wards, each ward electing three or four councillors. The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland
Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland
The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland is an independent body in Scotland created under the Local Government Act 1973...
completed its final recommendations for new wards for all the council areas of Scotland and for Aberdeen there will be 13 multi-member wards with a total of 43 councillors. This system was introduced as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004
Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004
The Local Governance Act 2004 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament which provided, inter alia, for the election of Councillors to the local authorities in Scotland by the Single Transferable Vote system....
, and is designed to produce a form of proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
.
The composition of wards have changed to:
3 councillors:
- (11) Airyhall/BroomhillBroomhill, AberdeenBroomhill is an affluent, middle class area of Aberdeen, Scotland. It is situated in the west end and is accessible by the A90 South Anderson Drive....
/Garthdee - (8) George Street/Harbour
- (5) Hilton/Stockethill
- (13) Kincorth/Loirston
- (3) KingswellsKingswellsKingswells is a suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland, situated west of the city centre, east of Westhill, north of Cults and south of Dyce.Kingswells has existed as a village for centuries, but only in the 1980s did it expand greatly as a result of the boom in the oil industry...
/Sheddocksley - (9) Lower Deeside
- (7) Midstocket/RosemountRosemount, AberdeenRosemount is an area of Aberdeen, Scotland. When referring to Rosemount, the area is generally taken to include Rosemount Place and the surrounding streets. It is situated to the north west of the city centre and is bounded by Mid Stocket, Queens Cross and Berryden.The area is largely Victorian...
- (4) Northfield
- (6) TillydroneTillydroneTillydrone is an area of the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. Lying north of the city centre and slightly north-west of Old Aberdeen, it is roughly bounded by the River Don, St Machar Drive, and the main Aberdeen-Inverness railway line...
/Seaton/Old AberdeenOld AberdeenOld Aberdeen is part of the city of Aberdeen in Scotland. Old Aberdeen was originally a separate burgh, which was erected into a burgh of barony on 26 December 1489. It was incorporated into adjacent Aberdeen by Act of Parliament in 1891...
4 councillors:
- (2) Bridge of Don
- (1) DyceDyceDyce is a civil parish and suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland, about north west of Aberdeen city centre, and best known as the location of the city's airport. It is on the River Don.- History :...
/BucksburnBucksburnBucksburn is an area of the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, named after the stream that flows through it. Bucksburn was formerly a market village before being swallowed up by the spread of the city. It is now categorised as a "Neighbourhood" by Aberdeen City Council...
/Danestone - (10) Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross
- (12) Torry/Ferryhill
The most recent results from this election were as followed:
| Ward | Councillors | Party | |||||||||||
| Dyce / Bucksburn / Danestone | Ron Clark | Liberal Democrat | |||||||||||
| Barney Crockett | Labour | ||||||||||||
| Mark McDonald Mark McDonald Mark McDonald is a Scottish National Party politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament for the North East Scotland region. -Education and Early Career:... |
Scottish National Party | ||||||||||||
| George Penny | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| Bridge of Don | Muriel Jaffrey | Scottish National Party | |||||||||||
| Gordon Leslie | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| John Reynolds | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| Willie Young | Labour | ||||||||||||
| Kingswells / Sheddocksley | Len Ironside | Labour | |||||||||||
| Peter Stephen | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| Wendy Stuart | Scottish National Party | ||||||||||||
| Northfield | Jackie Dunbar | Scottish National Party | |||||||||||
| Gordon Graham | Labour | ||||||||||||
| Kevin Stewart Kevin Stewart (Scottish politician) Kevin Stewart is a Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament, representing Aberdeen Central since the 2011 election.Before his election to the Scottish Parliament, he had served as a local councillor for over eleven years and served as Depute Leader of Aberdeen City Council... |
Scottish National Party | ||||||||||||
| Hilton / Stockethill | George Adam | Labour | |||||||||||
| Neil Fletcher | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| Kirsty West | Scottish National Party | ||||||||||||
| Tillydrone / Seaton / Old Aberdeen | Norman Collie | Labour | |||||||||||
| Jim Noble | Scottish National Party | ||||||||||||
| Richard Robertson | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| Midstocket / Rosemount | Bill Cormie | Scottish National Party | |||||||||||
| Jenny Laing | Labour | ||||||||||||
| John Corral | Scottish National Party | ||||||||||||
| George Street / Harbour | Jim Hunter | Labour | |||||||||||
| Andy May | Scottish National Party | ||||||||||||
| John Stewart | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| Lower Deeside | Mary Boulton | Independent | |||||||||||
| Aileen Malone | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| Alan Milne | Conservative | ||||||||||||
| Hazlehead / Ashley / Queen's Cross | Jim Farquharson | Conservative | |||||||||||
| Martin Greig | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| Jennifer Stewart | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| John West John West (politician) John West was Depute Provost of the City of Aberdeen from May 2007 until July 2009. He became the youngest person elected as a Local Authority councillor in Scotland on the 3rd of May, 2007 at the age of eighteen with the Scottish National Party... |
Scottish National Party | ||||||||||||
| Airyhall / Broomhill / Garthdee | Scott Cassie | Liberal Democrat | |||||||||||
| Jillian Wisely | Conservative | ||||||||||||
| Ian Yuill | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| Torry / Ferryhill | Yvonne Allan | Labour | |||||||||||
| Irene Cormack | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| Alan Donnelly | Conservative | ||||||||||||
| Jim Kiddle | Scottish National Party | ||||||||||||
| Kincorth / Loirston | Neil Cooney | Labour | |||||||||||
| Katherine Dean | Liberal Democrat | ||||||||||||
| Callum McCaig | Scottish National Party | ||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ACCI/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=9433&sID=4858 | |||||||||||||
Composition (before May 2007)
The previous composition of 43 wards while using the standard First Past the Post voting system. Their representative councillors and political parties were:| Party | Ward | Councillor | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (34) Ashley | Martin Greig | |||||||||||
| Scottish National Party | (9) Auchmill | Kevin Stewart | |||||||||||
| Labour | (2) Bankhead and Stoneywood | Brian Rattary | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (21) Berryden | John Stewart | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (6) Bridge of Don Bridge of Don Bridge of Don is a suburb in the north of Aberdeen, Scotland. It has an estimated population of over 22,000.Bridge of Don is split into smaller areas... |
Millicent McLeod | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (35) Broomhill | Ian Yuill | |||||||||||
| Labour | (28) Castlehill | James Hunter | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (32) Cults | Aileen Malone | |||||||||||
| Labour | (10) Cummings Park | Gordon Graham | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (3) Danestone Danestone Danestone is a small, village-like area of Aberdeen, Scotland and is actually part of one of Europe's biggest suburbs, Bridge of Don.Located north-west of Aberdeen City Centre, Danestone is a relatively new area of Aberdeen... |
Raymond Hutcheon | |||||||||||
| Scottish National Party | (7) Donmouth | Muriel Jaffrey | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (38) Duthie | Irene Cormack | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (37) Dyce | Ronald Clark | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (36) Garthdee | Scott Cassie | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (26) Gilcomston | Alison Smith | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (29) Hazlehead | Karen Freel | |||||||||||
| Labour | (15) Hilton | George Adam | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (37) Holburn | David Falconer | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (4) Jesmond | Gordon Leslie | |||||||||||
| Labour | (42) Kincorth East | George Urquhart | |||||||||||
| Independent | (41) Kincorth West | David Clyne | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (19) Kittybrewster Kittybrewster Kittybrewster is an area within Aberdeen, Scotland, north of the city centre and roughly south-west of Old Aberdeen.-Transport:Within the area the A9012 road joins the A978 road; there are also several railway tracks, one of which follows the route of the Aberdeenshire Canal... |
Neil Fletcher | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (27) Langstane | Steve Delaney | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (43) Loirston | Katherine Dean | |||||||||||
| Conservative | (33) Mannofield | Jillian Wisely | |||||||||||
| Labour | (12) Mastrick Mastrick Mastrick is an area of Aberdeen, Scotland, located on the western fringes of the city around 2.5 miles from the city centre. It currently has a population of 7871 and an unemployment rate of 1.6%. Residential property in the area is a mix of houses and flats, 23% of which are still council owned... |
Ramsey Milne | |||||||||||
| Conservative | (24 ) Midstocket Mid Stocket Midstocket is an area of Aberdeen, Scotland. It is named after the Forest of Stocket, which was a gift from Robert the Bruce to the people of Aberdeen in 1319. The income from the forests land formed Aberdeen's Common Good Fund.... |
John Porter | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (31) Murtle | Matthew Duncan | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (8) Newhills | Peter Stephen | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (5) Oldmachar | John Reynolds | |||||||||||
| Liberal Democrat | (30) Peterculter Peterculter Peterculter , also known as Culter, is a suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland approximately eight miles inland from Aberdeen city centre. Peterculter is situated along the northern banks of the River Dee in the vicinity of the confluences with Crynoch Burn and Leuchar Burn... |
Pamela MacDonald | |||||||||||
| Labour | (23) Pittodrie | Ronald Webster | |||||||||||
| Conservative | (25) Queens Cross Queens Cross Queen's Cross is area in the west-end of Aberdeen, Scotland. It is located just west from the main Union Street and about from the geographical town centre at Mercat Cross.... |
Brenda Craig | |||||||||||
| Labour | (18) Seaton | Norman Collie | |||||||||||
| Labour | (13) Sheddocksley | James Lamond | |||||||||||
| Scottish National Party | (11) Springhill | Karen Shirron | |||||||||||
| Labour | (17) St. Machar | Sandra Macdonald | |||||||||||
| Labour | (20) Stockethill | June Lamond | |||||||||||
| Labour | (14) Summerhill Summerhill, Aberdeen Summerhill is an area of the city of Aberdeen, in the north-east of Scotland, United Kingdom.... |
Leonard Ironside | |||||||||||
| Scottish National Party | (22) Sunnybank | Andrew May | |||||||||||
| Labour | (39) Torry Torry -Setting and historical development:Torry, lying on the south bank of the River Dee, was once a Royal Burgh in its own right, having been erected a burgh of barony in 1495. It was incorporated into Aberdeen in 1891, after the construction of the Victoria Bridge, itself made possible by the 1871... |
Yvonne Allan | |||||||||||
| Scottish National Party | (40) Tullos | James Kiddie | |||||||||||
| Scottish National Party | (16) Woodside Woodside, Aberdeen Woodside is a part of the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom.The area used to be separate from the city but was incorporated in 1891.... & Tillydrone Tillydrone Tillydrone is an area of the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. Lying north of the city centre and slightly north-west of Old Aberdeen, it is roughly bounded by the River Don, St Machar Drive, and the main Aberdeen-Inverness railway line... |
Alan Gowers | |||||||||||
| Source: Aberdeen City Council | |||||||||||||