Stirling (council area)

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Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox settlement The Stirling council area (Template:Langx; Template:Langx) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and has an estimated population of Template:UK subdivision population (Template:UK subdivision statistics year).<ref name="popstats"/> It was created in 1975 as a lower-tier district within the Central region. The district covered parts of the historic counties of Stirlingshire and Perthshire, which were abolished for local government purposes. In 1996 the Central region was abolished and Stirling Council took over all local government functions within the area.

The administrative centre of the area is the city of Stirling, with the headquarters at Old Viewforth.

The area borders the council areas of Clackmannanshire (to the east), North Lanarkshire (to the south), Falkirk (to the south east), Perth and Kinross (to the north and north east), Argyll and Bute (to the north and north west), and both East and West Dunbartonshire to Stirling's southwest.

The majority of the population of the area is located in its southeast corner, in the city of Stirling and in the surrounding lowland communities: Bridge of Allan and Dunblane to the north, Bannockburn to the immediate south, and the three former coal mining communities of Cowie, Fallin, and Plean, known collectively as the "Eastern Villages".

The rest of the council area's population is sparsely distributed across the rural, mainly highland, expanse in the north and west of the area. The southern half of this rural area comprises the flat western floodplain of the River Forth, bounded on the south by the Touch Hills and the Campsie Fells. North of the glen lie the Trossachs mountains, and the northern half of the council area is generally mountainous in character.

History

Stirling district was created in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which abolished Scotland's counties, burghs and landward districts and replaced them with upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. Stirling was one of three districts within the Central region. As created in 1975 the Stirling district covered five districts from Stirlingshire and four districts from Perthshire, which were all abolished at the same time:<ref name=1973act>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

From Perthshire:

From Stirlingshire:

The new district and its neighbour Falkirk were together made a new Stirling and Falkirk lieutenancy area. The last Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire became the first Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

Local government was reformed again in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which abolished the regions and districts which had been created in 1975, replacing them with unitary council areas. Central Region was abolished and each of the area's three districts, including Stirling, became council areas. Stirling District Council was therefore replaced by the current Stirling Council.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>

Demography

Languages

The 2022 Scottish Census reported that out of 90,451 residents aged three and over, 27,348 (30.2%) considered themselves able to speak or read the Scots language. <ref name="auto1">Template:Cite web</ref>

The 2022 Scottish Census reported that out of 90,449 residents aged three and over, 1,202 (1.3%) considered themselves able to speak or read Gaelic.<ref name="auto1"/>

Governance

Template:Infobox legislature

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2007. Following the 2022 election a Labour minority administration formed to run the council.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Efforts by the Scottish National Party as the largest party on the council to take over the leadership in February 2025 were unsuccessful, with the council narrowly voting for the Labour minority administration to continue.<ref name=Marjoribanks/> In October 2025 the SNP gained a seat following a by-election in Stirling East, and in November 2025 a deal was agreed between the SNP and Green and independent councillors to take control of the council.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The first election to Stirling District Council was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 16 May 1975. A shadow authority was again elected in 1995 ahead of the change to council areas which came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control since 1975 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>Template:Cite web (Put "Stirling" in search box to see specific results.)</ref>

Stirling District Council

Party in control Years
Template:Party name with colour 1975–1984
Template:Party name with colour 1984–1988
Template:Party name with colour 1988–1996

Stirling Council

Party in control Years
Template:Party name with colour 1996–1999
Template:Party name with colour 1999–2003
Template:Party name with colour 2003–2007
Template:Party name with colour 2007–present

Leadership

The role of provost is largely ceremonial in Stirling. They chair full council meetings and act as the council's civic figurehead. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The first leader of the council, Corrie McChord, had been the last leader of the Central Regional Council.<ref name=TS27Mar1996/> The leaders since 1996 have been:

Councillor Party From To
Corrie McChord<ref name=TS27Mar1996>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=12Mar2008/> Template:Party name with colour 1 Apr 1996 12 Mar 2008
Graham Houston<ref name=12Mar2008>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Party name with colour 12 Mar 2008 May 2012
Corrie McChord<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=28Feb2013/> Template:Party name with colour 17 May 2012 28 Feb 2013
Johanna Boyd<ref name=28Feb2013>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Party name with colour 28 Feb 2013 May 2017
Scott Farmer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Party name with colour 24 May 2017 May 2022
Chris Kane<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Party name with colour 19 May 2022 12 Sep 2024
Margaret Brisley<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Party name with colour 12 Sep 2024 27 Oct 2024
Gerry McGarvey<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=Marjoribanks>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Party name with colour 6 Feb 2025 10 Nov 2025
Susan McGill<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Party name with colour 10 Nov 2025

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance, the composition of the council was:

Date SNP Con Lab Green Ind Vacant Reason Leader
data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Party color;" | data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Party color;" | data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Party color;" | data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Party color;" | data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Party color;" | data-sort-type="number" style="background:Template:Party color;" |
5 May 2022 8 7 6 1 1 2022 Stirling Council election Chris Kane (Lab)
19 October 2022 8 7 5 1 2 Ewan Dillon (Lab) becomes Independent
18 December 2022 7 7 5 1 2 1 Death of Graham Houston (SNP)
16 March 2023 7 8 5 1 2 Robin Kleinman (Con) elected in by-election
10 November 2023 7 7 5 1 2 1 Resignation of Douglas Dodds (Con)
25 January 2024 7 8 5 1 2 Thomas Heald (Con) elected in by-election
20 May 2024 7 8 5 1 1 1 Resignation of Ewan Dillon (Ind)
15 August 2024 7 8 6 1 1 David Wilson (Lab) elected in by-election
12 September 2024 7 8 5 1 1 1 Resignation of Chris Kane (Lab) Margaret Brisley (Lab)
27 October 2024 7 8 4 1 1 2 Death of Margaret Brisley (Lab) Vacant
5 December 2024 8 8 4 1 1 1 Willie Ferguson (SNP) elected in by-election
23 January 2025 9 8 4 1 1 Bob Buchanan (SNP) elected in by-election
4 August 2025 9 7 4 1 1 1 Resignation of Bryan Flannagan (Con)
30 October 2025 10 7 4 1 1 Josh Fyvie (SNP) elected in by-election Susan McGill (SNP)

A by-election was held on 15 August 2024 to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Ewan Dillon. Following Chris Kane being elected as MP for Stirling and Strathallan, Labour Councillor Margaret Brisley became leader of the Council, but died on 27 October 2024,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a by-election was held to fill the vacancy caused by her death. The next full council election is due in 2027.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Premises

File:Stirling Council Head Quarters - geograph.org.uk - 131346.jpg
Old Viewforth: The 1937 wing behind the original house

The council is based at Old Viewforth on Pitt Terrace in Stirling. The oldest part of the building is a converted house called Viewforth, which had been built in 1855.<ref>Template:Historic Environment Scotland</ref> The house was bought by Stirlingshire County Council in 1931 for £5,250 and converted to become its headquarters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A large art deco extension was added to the rear of the house, opening in 1937.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A new building called New Viewforth was built alongside the older premises in 1972, shortly before Stirlingshire County Council was abolished.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Between 1975 and 1996 the premises at Viewforth served as the headquarters of Central Regional Council, whilst Stirling District Council was based at the Municipal Buildings at 8–10 Corn Exchange Road in Stirling, which had been completed in 1918 for the old Stirling Town Council.<ref>Template:Historic Environment Scotland</ref><ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> On local government reorganisation in 1996 Stirling Council took over Viewforth. The 1972 building known as New Viewforth was demolished in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Elections

Template:Main 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:<ref name=compositions/>

Year Seats SNP Conservative Labour Green Liberal Democrats Independent / Other Notes
style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" |
1995 22 2 7 13 0 0 0
1999 22 2 9 11 0 0 0 New ward boundaries.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>
2003 22 0 10 12 0 0 0
2007 22 7 4 8 0 3 0 New ward boundaries.<ref name=2007order>Template:Cite legislation Scotland</ref>
2012 22 9 4 8 1 0 0
2017 23 9 9 4 1 0 0 New ward boundaries.<ref name=2016order>Template:Cite legislation Scotland</ref>
2022 23 8 7 6 1 0 1 Labour minority administration with Conservative support.
style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" |

Wards

File:Stirling UK ward map 2017 (blank).svg
Map of the area's wards (2017 configuration)

The wards are:<ref name=2016order/>

Ward
Number 		Ward Name Location Seats
1 Trossachs and Teith File:Trossachs and Teith.svg 3
2 Forth and Endrick File:Fort and Endrick.svg 3
3 Dunblane and Bridge of Allan File:Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.svg 4
4 Stirling North File:Stirling North.svg 4
5 Stirling West File:Stirling West.svg 3
6 Stirling East File:Stirling East.svg 3
7 Bannockburn File:Bannockburn.svg 3

Communities

The area is divided into 42 community council areas, all of which have community councils as at 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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Settlements

Template:Location map+

File:Topo map Stirling Dunbartonshire.png
Topographic map of Stirling and East and West Dunbartonshire

As well as the city of Stirling itself, there are many towns, villages and hamlets spread across the council area, as well as dispersed settlements.

Largest settlements by population:

Settlement Population (Template:Scottish settlement population citation)<ref name="auto">Template:Scottish settlement population citation</ref>
Stirling Template:Scottish locality population
Dunblane Template:Scottish locality population
Bannockburn Template:Scottish locality population
Bridge of Allan Template:Scottish locality population
Callander Template:Scottish locality population
Fallin Template:Scottish locality population
Cowie Template:Scottish locality population
Doune Template:Scottish locality population
Balfron Template:Scottish locality population
Strathblane Template:Scottish locality population

Towns

Villages

Hamlets

Dispersed settlements

Places of interest

References

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