View source for East Renfrewshire

{{Short description|Council area of Scotland}}
{{Hatnote|For the constituencies, see [[East Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency)]] and [[Eastwood (Scottish Parliament constituency)]].}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = East Renfrewshire
| native_name             = {{Unbulleted list
 |{{native name|gd|Siorrachd Rinn Friù an Ear}}
 |{{native name|sco|Aest Renfrewshire}}
 }}
| settlement_type         = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|Council area]]
| image_skyline           = 
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = 
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = 
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = 
| image_blank_emblem      = 
| blank_emblem_size       = 
| blank_emblem_type       = 
| blank_emblem_link       = 
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| image_map               = East Renfrewshire UK location map.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = East Renfrewshire shown within [[Scotland]]
| coordinates             = {{coord|55.7984|N|4.2907|W|region:GB_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Scotland]]
| subdivision_type2       = 
| subdivision_name2       = 
| subdivision_type3       = [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|Lieutenancy area]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Renfrewshire (historic)|Renfrewshire]]
| subdivision_type4       = 
| subdivision_name4       = 
| established_title       = Unitary authority
| established_date        = [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|1 April 1996]]
| established_title1      = 
| established_date1       = 
| established_title2      = 
| established_date2       = 
| named_for               = 
| seat_type               = Administrative{{nbsp}}HQ
| seat                    = [[Giffnock]]
| parts_type              = 
| parts                   = 
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/my-council |title=My Council |website=East Renfrewshire Council |access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref>
| government_type         = [[Local government in Scotland|Council]]
| governing_body          = [[East Renfrewshire Council]]
| leader_title            = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name             = {{UK council control|GSS=S12000011}}
| leader_title1           = 
| leader_name1            = 
| leader_title2           = 
| leader_name2            = 
| leader_title3           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name3            = [[Blair McDougall]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
| leader_title4           = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSPs]]
| leader_name4            = {{Collapsible list |title=2 MSPs
 |[[Jackson Carlaw]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|C]])
 |[[Tom Arthur (Scottish politician)|Tom Arthur]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 }}
<!-- Area -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="popstats">{{UK subdivision statistics citation}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000011}}
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_rank               = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council area rank|GSS=S12000011}}]]
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of        = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total        = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000011}}
| population_rank         = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council population rank|GSS=S12000011}}]]
| population_density_km2  = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000011}}
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = 
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1    = 
| demographics1_info1     = 
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = 
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1    = 
| demographics2_info1     = 
| timezone1               = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1             = +0
| timezone1_DST           = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +1
<!-- Codes -->
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code               = 
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-ERW]]
| blank1_name             = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info             = S12000011
| website                 = {{URL|eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk}}
}}
[[File:Whitelee Windfarm At Sunset (121441555).jpeg|thumb|Whitelee Windfarm]]

'''East Renfrewshire''' ({{langx|sco|Aest Renfrewshire}}; {{langx|gd|Siorrachd Rinn Friù an Ear}}) is one of 32 [[council areas of Scotland]]. It was formed in 1996, as a successor to the [[Eastwood (district)|Eastwood]] district of the [[Strathclyde]] region. 

Clockwise, East Renfrewshire borders [[Glasgow City council area|Glasgow]] to the northeast, [[South Lanarkshire]] to the southeast, [[East Ayrshire]] to the southwest, [[North Ayrshire]] to the west and [[Renfrewshire]] to the northwest. Many of the council area's northern settlements fall into the [[Greater Glasgow]] urban area.

Until 1975, the council area formed part of the [[counties of Scotland|county]] of [[Renfrewshire (historic)|Renfrewshire]] for local government purposes along with the modern council areas of [[Renfrewshire]] and [[Inverclyde]]. These three council areas together still form a single [[lieutenancy areas of Scotland|lieutenancy area]] called Renfrewshire.

== History ==
East Renfrewshire was created in 1996 under the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]], which replaced Scotland's previous local government structure of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts with unitary [[council area]]s providing all local government services. East Renfrewshire covered the whole of the abolished [[Eastwood, Strathclyde|Eastwood]] district and part of [[Renfrew district]], being the [[Barrhead]] [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|electoral division]], which roughly corresponded to the pre-1975 [[burgh]] of Barrhead and parish of [[Neilston]], both lying in the valley of the [[Levern Water]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Boundaries Viewer |url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/boundaries/#zoom=12&lat=55.7895&lon=-4.3761&dates=2010&point=56.4505,-5.3904 |website=National Library of Scotland |access-date=4 February 2023}}</ref> The new council also took over the functions of the abolished [[Strathclyde Regional Council]] within the area.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=29 December 2022}}</ref>

The area's name references its location within the [[shires of Scotland|historic county]] of Renfrewshire, which had been abolished for local government purposes in 1975 when Eastwood district and Strathclyde region had been created.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|accessdate=29 December 2022}}</ref> East Renfrewshire forms part of the [[Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire|Renfrewshire lieutenancy]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Lord-Lieutenants (Scotland) Order 1996|year=1996|number=731|accessdate=5 January 2023}}</ref>

The area that is now East Renfrewshire has been inhabited since prehistoric times. At Dunwan Hill near [[Eaglesham]] and at Duncarnock near [[Newton Mearns]] there were [[Iron Age]] hill forts, both thought to have been occupied between around 1200{{nbsp}}BC and 400{{nbsp}}AD.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM12882|access-date=4 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM4339|access-date=4 February 2023}}</ref> Ruins of a village, around 2000 years old at the time, were discovered in the early 1800s in the area now occupied by [[Overlee Playing Fields]] in Clarkston, but were destroyed as no significance was given to them at the time.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20190924111322/http://www.portaltothepast.co.uk/article/3274/Clarkston-Stamperland--Netherlee</ref> There was also evidence of an early castle at the Beechgrove Park in nearby [[Netherlee]].

During the [[Industrial Revolution]] the Levern Valley became a centre for the textiles industry, with several mills being established in Neilston and Barrhead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neilston.org.uk/history/villagedevelopment.htm |title=Development of the Village |publisher=neilston.org.uk |access-date=4 February 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050302151333/http://www.neilston.org.uk/history/villagedevelopment.htm |archive-date=2 March 2005}}</ref>

[[Giffnock]] initially grew to house the workers at Giffnock Quarries, which opened in 1835. The honey-coloured stone from Giffnock was used at [[Glasgow University]] and [[Glasgow Central station]] among many other buildings. Following the development of the railways in the mid-nineteenth century, the parts of the area close to Glasgow became increasingly suburban in character.<ref>{{cite web |title=Supplementary Planning Guidance: Management and Protection of the Built Heritage |url=https://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/media/130/Management-and-protection-of-built-heritage-2015/pdf/management-and-protection-of-built-heritage.pdf?m=637442395928200000 |website=East Renfrewshire Council |access-date=4 February 2023 |date=June 2015}}</ref>

In 1941 during the [[Second World War]], [[Rudolf Hess]], one of Adolf Hitler's top deputies within the Nazi Party, parachuted into Floors Farm, near the village of [[Waterfoot, East Renfrewshire|Waterfoot]], on a secret mission to meet the [[Duke of Hamilton and Brandon]] for peace negotiations. The botched landing led to his capture and arrest.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Silvester |first1=Norman |title=How Nazi leader Rudolf Hess ended up in a cell south of Glasgow |url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/20188314.nazi-leader-rudolf-hess-ended-cell-south-glasgow/ |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=Glasgow Times |date=6 June 2022}}</ref> He was held in Scotland until the [[Nuremburg Trials]], where he was convicted and imprisoned in Germany until his death by suicide in 1987.

In 1971 a [[Clarkston explosion|gas explosion]] at a [[parade of shops]] in the centre of [[Clarkston, East Renfrewshire|Clarkston]] killed 22 people and injured more than 100.<ref>{{cite news |title=The day a Scottish shopping street exploded |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58625427 |access-date=4 February 2023 |work=BBC News |date=21 October 2021}}</ref>

In a 2007 [[Reader's Digest]] poll, ''East Renfrewshire'' was voted the second best place in Britain to raise a family, ranking just behind [[East Dunbartonshire]] to the north of Glasgow.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6564215.stm|title=Scots areas top happy family poll|date=18 April 2007|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

In January 2008, East Renfrewshire became the first Scottish local authority to create a [[Facebook]] page to publicise its services.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/East-Renfrewshire-uses-Facebook-to.3728528.jp|title=East Renfrewshire uses Facebook to boost its libraries and sports centres|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021051700/http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/East-Renfrewshire-uses-Facebook-to.3728528.jp|archive-date=21 October 2008|last=Macleod|first=Fiona|date=31 January 2008|work=The Scotsman}}</ref>

==Geography==
East Renfrewshire covers an area to the south and south-west of [[Glasgow]]. Many of the district's settlements are classed as part of the [[Greater Glasgow]] urban area for statistical purposes. The largest of these, in terms of population, are [[Newton Mearns]], [[Barrhead]], [[Giffnock]] and [[Clarkston, East Renfrewshire|Clarkston]]. The area becomes more rural away from the Glasgow urban area with areas of [[moorland]] and numerous small [[loch]]s, many of which have been turned into reservoirs. The moors include part of the [[Whitelee Wind Farm]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Boundaries Viewer |url=https://maps.nls.uk/geo/boundaries/#zoom=12&lat=55.7713&lon=-4.3505&dates=2010&point=56.4505,-5.3904 |website=National Library of Scotland |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=East Renfrewshire |url=https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usfeatures/areas/eastrenfrewshire.html |website=Undiscovered Scotland |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref>

The area is divided into eleven [[List of community council areas in Scotland|community council areas]], all of which have [[community council]]s:<ref>{{cite web |title=Community councils |url=https://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/community-councils |website=East Renfrewshire Council |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref>

{{div col}}
*[[Barrhead]]
*Broom, Kirkhill and [[Mearnskirk]]
*[[Busby, East Renfrewshire|Busby]]
*[[Clarkston, East Renfrewshire|Clarkston]]
*[[Crookfur]], Greenfarm and [[Newton Mearns|Mearns]] Village
*[[Eaglesham]] and [[Waterfoot, East Renfrewshire|Waterfoot]]
*[[Giffnock]]
*[[Neilston]]
*[[Netherlee]] and [[Stamperland]]
*[[Thornliebank]]
*[[Uplawmoor]]
{{div col end}}

==Demography==
=== Languages ===
The 2022 Scottish Census reported that out of residents aged three and over, 21,189 (22.5%) considered themselves able to speak or read the [[Scots language]],<ref>[https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/webapi/opentable?id=019a1a62-eab8-76fc-98d0-f7e8423a5077]</ref> and 869 (0.9%) considered themselves able to speak or read [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]].<ref>[https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/webapi/opentable?id=019a2022-ecdd-77ea-96ad-569f0c5b3786]</ref>
=== Religion ===
A 2011 survey showed that 41% of [[History of the Jews in Scotland|Scotland's Jewish population]] live in East Renfrewshire, making up 1.6% of the area's population in the 2022 census. In the census, "no religion" was the most selected religious option, with 38% of residents. 21% were Church of Scotland and 20.6% Roman Catholic, with 3.9% other Christians. 5.5% were Muslims. 6.9% did not state a religion.<ref>https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/webapi/opentable?id=019a3bd0-6cb3-7a5b-bdd3-2b92918922eb</ref>

==Localities==
{{Location map+|Scotland East Renfrewshire
 |caption={{left|The largest localities in East Renfrewshire.}}
 |float=right
 |width=500
 |places =

{{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.7716|-4.3347|}}|position=right|label='''[[Newton Mearns]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.801|-4.389|}}|position=bottom|label='''[[Barrhead]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.805109|-4.294610|}}|position=right|label='''[[Giffnock]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.789938|-4.277376|}}|position=left|label='''[[Clarkston, East Renfrewshire|Clarkston]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.784663|-4.423396|}}|position=left|label='''[[Neilston]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.802|-4.270|}}|position=right|label='''[[Netherlee]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.806|-4.317|}}|position=left|label='''[[Thornliebank]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.795|-4.269|}}|position=right|label='''[[Stamperland]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.739444|-4.273333|}}|position=left|label='''[[Eaglesham]]'''|label_size=}}
{{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.781834|-4.267349|}}|position=bottom|label='''[[Busby, East Renfrewshire|Busby]]'''|label_size=}}

<!-- Bordering council areas -->
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.826|-4.333|}}|position=right|label=''[[Glasgow City council area#Settlements|{{nowrap|Glasgow City}} council area]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.765|-4.263|}}|position=right|label=''[[South Lanarkshire#Settlements|South Lanarkshire]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.68|-4.4|}}|position=right|label=''[[East Ayrshire#Settlements|East Ayrshire]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.754|-4.57|}}|position=right|label=''[[North Ayrshire#Settlements|North<br>Ayr-<br>shire]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland East Renfrewshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.813|-4.52|}}|position=right|label=''[[Renfrewshire#Settlements|Renfrewshire]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}

}}

Largest localities by population

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Settlement
!Population ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
|-
|[[Newton Mearns]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Newton Mearns}}
|-
|[[Barrhead]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Barrhead}}
|-
|[[Giffnock]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Giffnock}}
|-
|[[Clarkston, East Renfrewshire|Clarkston]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Clarkston}}
|-
|[[Neilston]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Neilston}}
|-
|[[Netherlee]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Netherlee}}
|-
|[[Thornliebank]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Thornliebank}}
|-
|[[Stamperland]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Stamperland}}
|-
|[[Eaglesham]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Eaglesham}}
|-
|[[Busby, East Renfrewshire|Busby]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Busby}}
|-
|}

==Economy==
East Renfrewshire is home to many small to medium businesses. The interests of these businesses are looked after by the East Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce.<ref>{{cite web |title=Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce |url=https://www.renfrewshirechamber.com/ |access-date=4 February 2023}}</ref>

The local newspapers are the ''Barrhead News'', covering the local authority with emphasis on the western half of the area, which primarily includes the town of Barrhead and the villages of Neilston and Uplawmoor, and the ''Glasgow South and Eastwood Extra'', which is delivered free to homes and businesses, which has its emphasis on the eastern half of the local authority, but also covers news across the western half as well as the south of [[Glasgow]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Barrhead News |url=https://www.barrheadnews.com/ |access-date=4 February 2023}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = East Renfrewshire
| native_name        =
| transcription_name =
| legislature        =
| coa_pic            = East Renfrewshire Council logo.svg
| coa_res            = 
| house_type         =
| body               =
| houses             =
| leader1_type       = [[Provost (civil)|Provost]]
| leader1            = Mary Montague
| party1             = <br>[[Scottish Labour|Labour]]
| election1          = 25 May 2022
| leader2_type       = [[Local government in Scotland#Leader of the Council|Leader]]
| leader2            = Owen O'Donnell
| party2             = <br>Labour
| election2          = 25 May 2022
| leader3_type       = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3            = Steven Quinn
| party3             = <!--Non political role-->
| election3          = July 2023<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sandelands |first1=Drew |title=East Renfrewshire council's retiring chief executive praised for covid leadership |url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/east-renfrewshire-councils-retiring-chief-27233262 |access-date=16 July 2023 |work=Glasgow Live |date=30 June 2023}}</ref>
| members            = 18 councillors
| house1             =
| house2             =
| structure1         = United_Kingdom_East_Renfrewshire_Council_2024.svg
| structure1_res     = 250px
| political_groups1  = 
;Administration (6)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=silver}} [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (5)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=silver}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1)
;Other parties (12)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=silver}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] (5)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}|border=silver}} [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] (5)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=silver}} [[Independent politician|Independents]] (2)
| structure2         =
| structure2_res     =
| political_groups2  =
| committees1        =
| committees2        =
| joint_committees   =
| voting_system1     = [[Single transferable vote]]
| voting_system2     =
| last_election1     = [[2022 East Renfrewshire Council election|5 May 2022]]
| next_election1     = 6 May 2027
| session_room       =
| session_res        =
| meeting_place      = Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, G46{{nbsp}}6UG
| website            = {{URL|www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk}}
| footnotes          =
}}

===Political control===
The council has been under [[no overall control]] from its creation in 1996. Following the [[2022 East Renfrewshire Council election|2022 election]] a [[minority administration]] of [[Scottish Labour|Labour]] plus one of the [[Independent politician|independent]] councillors formed to run the council.<ref>{{cite web |title=Your local councillor 2022–2027 |url=https://eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/media/7995/Ward-Councillors-2022-2027/pdf/Councillor_poster_A3_2024.pdf?m=1712841975657 |website=East Renfrewshire Council |access-date=24 August 2025}}</ref>

The first election to East Renfrewshire 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. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "East Renfrewshire" in search box to see specific results.)</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1996–present
|}

===Leadership===
The role of [[Provost (civil)|provost]] is largely ceremonial in East Renfrewshire. They chair full council meetings and act as the council's civic figurehead. Political leadership is provided by the [[Local government in Scotland#Leader of the Council|leader of the council]]. The first leader of the council, Owen Taylor, was formerly leader of Renfrew District Council, one of the council's predecessors. The leaders of East Renfrewshire Council since 1996 have been:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To 
|-
| Owen Taylor<ref>{{cite news |last1=McConnell |first1=Linda |title=Taylor quits as council leader |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0001713%2F19950503&page=3 |access-date=24 August 2025 |work=Paisley Daily Express |date=3 May 1995 |page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Council leader quits after assault charge |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12412620.council-leader-quits-after-assault-charge/ |access-date=3 February 2023 |work=The Herald |date=14 December 2004}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|1 Apr 1996 || align=right|Dec 2004
|-
| Jim Fletcher<ref>{{cite news |title=Council appoints new leader |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12407075.council-appoints-new-leader-scotland-leads-uk-with-top-three-areas-of-population-fall/ |access-date=24 August 2025 |work=The Herald |date=24 December 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Reilly |first1=Jonathon |title=East Renfrewshire Labour reveals candidates for council elections |url=https://www.barrheadnews.com/news/15132912.east-renfrewshire-labour-reveals-candidates-for-council-elections/ |access-date=24 August 2025 |work=Barrhead News |date=3 March 2017}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|Dec 2004 || align=right|May 2017
|-
| Tony Buchanan<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 24 May 2017 |url=https://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/media/3551/Council-minute-22-March-2017/pdf/Council_Minute_-_24_May_2017.pdf?m=1603206394320 |website=East Renfrewshire Council |access-date=24 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sandelands |first1=Drew |title=East Renfrewshire Council Election 2022 - who can I vote for? |url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/east-renfrewshire-council-election-2022-23666460 |access-date=24 August 2025 |work=Glasgow Live |date=12 April 2022}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=right|24 May 2017 || align=right|May 2022
|-
| Owen O'Donnell<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 25 May 2022 |url=https://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/media/7846/Council-Minute-25-May-2022/pdf/Council_Minute_-_25_May_2022.pdf?m=1656493589893 |website=East Renfrewshire Council |access-date=24 August 2025}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|25 May 2022 || align=right|
|}

=== Composition ===
Following the [[2022 East Renfrewshire Council election|2022 election]] and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to August 2025, the composition of the council was:<ref name=Thorncliffe/>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Conservatives}} || align=center|5
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=center|5
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=center|5
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=center|3
|-
! colspan=2|Total
! align=center|18
|}

The next election is due in 2027.<ref name=Thorncliffe>{{cite web |title=East Renfrewshire |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=east_renfrewshire |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=24 August 2025}}</ref>

===Premises===
[[File:Offices of East Renfrewshire Council, Main Street, Barrhead (geograph 4088792).jpg|thumb|The council's customer service centre at 211 Main Street, Barrhead]]
The council has its headquarters at Eastwood Park on Rouken Glen Road in [[Giffnock]], in a building which was completed in 1980 for the former Eastwood District Council.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=20706|page=676|date=30 May 1980|city=e}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=20746|page=981|date=8 August 1980|city=e}}</ref>

The council also has an office and customer service centre at 211 Main Street in [[Barrhead]], built in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barrhead Building - East Renfrewshire Council Offices |url=https://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/barrhead |website=Glasgow Architecture |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/contact-us |website=East Renfrewshire Council |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref>

==Elections==
{{main|East Renfrewshire Council 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:<ref name=compositions/>

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
!rowspan=2|Year
!rowspan=2|Seats
!width="80"|[[Scottish National Party|SNP]]
!width="80"|[[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative]]
!width="80"|[[Scottish Labour|Labour]]
!width="80"|[[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrats]]
!width="80"|[[Independent politician|Independent / Other]]
!rowspan=2|'''Notes'''
|-
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish National Party}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Labour}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Liberal Democrats}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}; width: 3px;" |
|-
| [[1995 East Renfrewshire Council election|1995]] || 20 || 0 || 9 || 8 || 2 || 1 || align=left|Labour / Lib Dem coalition
|-
| [[1999 East Renfrewshire Council election|1999]] || 20 || 0 || 8 || 9 || 2 || 1 || align=left|New ward boundaries.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The East Renfrewshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1998|year=1998|number=3102|accessdate=3 February 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2003 East Renfrewshire Council election|2003]] || 20 || 0 || 7 || 8 || 3 || 2 || align=left|
|-
| [[2007 East Renfrewshire Council election|2007]] || 20 || 3 || 7 || 7 || 1 || 2 || align=left|New ward boundaries.<ref>{{cite legislation Scotland|type=ssi|ssi=The East Renfrewshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006|year=2006|number=391|accessdate=3 February 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2012 East Renfrewshire Council election|2012]] || 20 || 4 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 2 || align=left|Labour / Independent / SNP coalition
|-
| [[2017 East Renfrewshire Council election|2017]] || 18 || 5 || 7 || 4 || 0 || 2 || align=left|New ward boundaries.<ref>{{cite legislation Scotland|type=ssi|ssi=The East Renfrewshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2016|year=2016|number=274|accessdate=3 February 2023}}</ref> SNP / Labour / Independent coalition
|-
| [[2022 East Renfrewshire Council election|2022]] || 18 || 6 || 5 || 5 || 0 || 2 || align=left|Labour / Independent minority
|-
!
!
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish National Party}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Labour}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Liberal Democrats}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}; width: 3px;" |
!
|}

===Wards===
[[File:East Renfrewshire UK ward map 2017 (blank).svg|thumb|Map of the area's wards (2017 configuration)]]
Six multi-member [[Wards of the United Kingdom#Scotland|wards]] (20 seats) were created for the 2007 election, replacing 20 single-member wards which had been in place since the creation of the council in 1995. This representation decreased to 18 seats across five renamed and redrawn wards for the 2017 election:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/scotland/wards/|title=United Kingdom: Scotland {{!}} Council Areas and Electoral Wards|website=City Population|date=30 June 2019|access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Ward number
! Ward
! Location
! Seats
|-
|1
|[[Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor (ward)|Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor]]
|[[File:Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor.svg|100px]]
|4
|-
|2
|[[Newton Mearns North and Neilston (ward)|Newton Mearns North and Neilston]]
|[[File:Newton_Means_North_&_Neilston.svg|100px]]
|3
|-
|3
|[[Giffnock and Thornliebank (ward)|Giffnock and Thornliebank]]
|[[File:Giffnock and Thornliebank.svg|100px]]
|3
|-
|4
|[[Clarkston, Netherlee and Williamwood (ward)|Clarkston, Netherlee and Williamwood]]
|[[File:Clarkston, Netherlee and Williamwood.svg|100px]]
|4
|-
|5
|[[Newton Mearns South and Eaglesham (ward)|Newton Mearns South and Eaglesham]]
|[[File:Newton_Means_South_&_Eaglesham.svg|100px]]
|4
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.whatsoneastrenfrewshire.co.uk East Renfrewshire Events Guide]
* [http://www.gerryblaikie.com/southglasgow/eastrenfrewshire.htm East Renfrewshire - History of the various suburbs]

{{East Renfrewshire}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Articles relating to East Renfrewshire
| list = 
{{Rugby union in East Renfrewshire}}
{{East Renfrewshire elections}}
{{Wards of East Renfrewshire}}
}}

{{Scotland subdivisions}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:East Renfrewshire| ]]
[[Category:Council areas of Scotland]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1996]]