Summary
The Shetland Islands Council (Shetland Insular Scots: Shitlin Islant' Cooncil; Scottish Gaelic: Comhairle Shealtainn) is the local authority for Shetland, Scotland. It was established by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and is the successor to the former Lerwick Town Council and Zetland County Council. This council was established in 1975 and was largely unaffected by the Scottish local government changes of the mid-1990s.
Shetland Islands Council Comhairle Shealtainn | |
|---|---|
| Full council election every 5 years | |
 Coat of arms | |
 Council logo | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Leadership | |
Maggie Sandison since 28 February 2018[1] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 23 councillors |
 | |
Political groups | Independent (20)
Greens (1)
SNP (1)
Labour (1) |
| Elections | |
| Single transferable vote | |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
| Motto | |
| Með lögum skal land byggja (Old Norse: "By law shall the land be built up") | |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Council Chamber, Lower Hillhead, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0EL | |
| Website | |
| www | |
It provides services in the areas of Environmental Health, Roads, Social Work, Community Development, Organisational Development, Economic Development, Building Standards, Trading Standards, Housing, Waste, Education, Burial Grounds, Port and Harbours and others. The council is allowed to collect Council Tax. The Fire Service is part of the Highlands and Islands division of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
In 2011, structural reforms saw the creation of the Political Leader position, with the Convener becoming a civic leadership post.[2]
Composition edit
As of 2022 the council has the following councillors:
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Independent | 20 | |
| Scottish Green Party | 1 | |
| Scottish National Party | 1 | |
| Scottish Labour Party | 1 | |
Leaders edit
Political Leaders edit
| No. | Political Leader | Party | Period in office | Election | Depute Leader | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josie Simpson | Independent | 2011 - 2012 | 2007 | |||
| 2 | Gary Robinson | Independent | 2012 - 2017 | 2012 | Billy Fox (Independent) Michael Stout (Independent) | ||
| 3 | Cecil Smith | Independent | 2017 - 2018 | 2017 | Steven Coutts (Independent) | ||
| 4 | Steven Coutts | Independent | 2018–2022 | 2017 | Emma Macdonald (Independent) | ||
| 5 | Emma Macdonald | Independent | 2022–present | 2022 | Gary Robinson (Independent) | ||
Convenors[3] edit
| No. | Convener | Party | Period in office | Election | Depute Convener | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A.I. Tulloch | Independent | 1974 - 1986 | 1974 1978 1982 |
John Jamieson (Independent) John Butler (Labour) Edward Thomason (Independent) | ||
| 2 | Edward Thomason | Shetland Movement | 1986 - 1994 | 1986 1990 |
Willie Tait (Independent) William Anderson (Shetland Movement) | ||
| 3 | Lewis Shand Smith | Independent | 1994 - 1999 | 1994 | James Smith (Shetland Movement) | ||
| 4 | Tom Stove | Independent | 1999 - 2003 | 1999 | John Nicolson (Liberal Democrat) | ||
| 5 | Sandy Cluness | Liberal Democrat[a] Independent |
2003 - 2012 | 2003 2007 |
Florence Grains (Independent) Josie Simpson (Independent) | ||
| 6 | Malcolm Bell | Independent | 2012–2022 | 2012 2017 |
Gary Robinson (Independent) Cecil Smith (Independent) Beatrice Wishart (Independent) Cecil Smith (Independent) | ||
| 7 | Andrea Manson | Independent | 2022–present | 2022 | Bryan Peterson (Independent) | ||
Premises edit
Council meetings are held at the Council Chamber on Lower Hillhead in Lerwick. The building was formerly St Ringan's Church and was built in 1886.[4] After the church closed the building was used as a library for some years, before being converted to become the council chamber in 2022. Council meetings were previously held at Lerwick Town Hall.[5]
The council's main offices are at 8 North Ness in Lerwick, overlooking the harbour. The building was completed in 2012 to bring together the council's departments in one building.[6]
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ Sandy Cluness was first elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor in 2003 but stood as an independent candidate in 2007.
References edit
- ^ Davidson, Jenni (28 February 2018). "Maggie Sandison appointed chief executive of Shetland Islands Council". Holyrood. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Josie Takes the Helm". Shetland News. 7 March 2011.
- ^ Stewart, James. "Politics". Shetland History Online.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Lower Hillhead and Union Street, St Ringan's Church (United Free Church of Scotland), including church hall, boundary walls, and gatepiers (Category B Listed Building) (LB37269)". Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ Cope, Chris (11 March 2022). "From church to library to council chamber: St Ringan's latest evolution". Shetland News. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "New council headquarters open". Shetland News. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
External links edit
- Shetland Islands Council Website