View source for Local government in Scotland

{{short description|System of state administration on a local level in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2021}}
{{Politics of Scotland}}
'''Local government in Scotland''' comprises thirty-two local authorities, commonly referred to as ''councils''. Each council provides [[public service]]s, including [[Education in Scotland|education]], [[Social care in Scotland|social care]], [[waste management]], [[List of libraries in Scotland|libraries]] and [[Regional planning|planning]].<ref name="Guide">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=Scotland council elections 2022: A really simple guide |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-60764222 |work=BBC News |location= |date=4 May 2022 |access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref> Councils receive the majority of their funding from the [[Scottish Government]], but operate independently and are accountable to their local electorates.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.scot/policies/local-government/local-government-revenue/ |title=Local government revenue |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=<!--Not stated--> |website= |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date=12 May 2022 |quote=}}</ref> Councils raise additional income via the [[Council Tax in Scotland|Council Tax]], a locally variable domestic [[property tax]], and [[Business rates in Scotland|Business rates]], a non-domestic property tax.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-59599362 |title=Scottish budget: Councils given 'complete flexibility' to raise tax rates |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=9 December 2021 |website=BBC News |publisher= |access-date=12 May 2022 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://theferret.scot/fact-check-the-final-bbc-scottish-leaders-debate/ |title=Fact check: the final BBC Scottish leaders' debate |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=5 May 2021 |website=The Ferret |publisher= |access-date=12 May 2022 |quote=}}</ref>

Councils are made up of [[councillor]]s who are directly elected by the residents of the area they represent. Each council area is divided into a number of [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|wards]], and three or four councillors are elected for each ward.<ref name="Guide" /> There are currently 1,226 elected councillors in [[Scotland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cosla.gov.uk/about-cosla |title=About COSLA |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=<!--Not stated--> |website= |publisher=COSLA |access-date=12 May 2022 |quote=}}</ref>Local elections are normally held every five years and use the [[single transferable vote]] electoral system.<ref name="Guide" /> The most recent election was the [[2022 Scottish local elections]] and the next election will be the [[2027 Scottish local elections]].

Council administrations typically comprise a group of councillors within the council who are able to command majority support.<ref name="Control">{{cite news |author=Xander Richards |title=Who controls Scotland's councils? Which party will take power and where |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/20131107.controls-scotlands-councils-party-will-take-power/ |work=The National |location= |date=11 May 2022 |access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref> [[Minority government|Minority administrations]] and [[Majority government|majority administrations]] may be formed.<ref name="IFG">{{cite news |author= |title=Local government |url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/local-government |publisher=Institute for Government |location= |date= |access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref> Although [[Coalition government|coalition administrations]] are more typical, occasionally a majority administration is formed by a single [[List of political parties in Scotland|political party]], but this is uncommon due to the [[Proportional representation|proportional voting system]] used in Scottish local elections.<ref name="IFG" /> Despite being uncommon on the Scottish mainland, it is possible for [[independent politician]]s to form an administration.<ref name="Control" />

The [[Convention of Scottish Local Authorities]] (COSLA) is an [[Umbrella organization|umbrella organisation]] formed in 1975 to represent the views of Scotland's thirty-two councils to central government.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cosla.gov.uk/about-cosla |title=About COSLA |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=<!--Not stated--> |website= |publisher=COSLA |access-date=16 October 2025 |quote=}}</ref>

==History==
{{main|History of local government in Scotland}}

===Origins===
The history of Scottish local government mainly surrounds involves the [[counties of Scotland]]. The counties have their origins in the [[sheriffdoms]] or [[shire]]s over which a [[sheriff]] (a contraction of ''shire [[Reeve (England)|reeve]]'') exercised jurisdiction.

[[Malcolm III of Scotland|Malcolm III]] appears to have introduced sheriffs as part of a policy of replacing native "[[Celt]]ic" forms of government with [[Anglo Saxon]] and [[France|French]] [[feudalism|feudal]] structures.<ref>[[John of Fordun]] wrote that [[Malcolm II of Scotland|Malcolm II]] introduced the shire to Scotland and also the thane class. Shires are certainly mentioned in charters by the reign of [[Malcolm III of Scotland|King Malcolm III]], for instance that to the Church of Dunfermline, AD 1070–1093.</ref> This was continued by his sons [[Edgar of Scotland|Edgar]], [[Alexander I of Scotland|Alexander I]] and in particular [[David I of Scotland|David I]]. David completed the division of the country into sheriffdoms by the conversion of existing [[thanage|thanedom]]s.<ref name=wallace>{{cite book |title=The Sheriffdom of Clackmannan. A sketch of its history with a list of its sheriffs and excerpts from the records of court compiled from public documents and other authorities with preparatory notes on the office of Sheriff in Scotland, his powers and duties |last=Wallace |first=James |year=1890 |publisher=James Thin |location=Edinburgh |pages=7–19}}</ref><ref>The earliest sheriffdom south of the [[River Forth|Forth]] which we know of for certain is Haddingtonshire, which is named in a charters of 1139 as ''"Hadintunschira"'' (Charter by King David to the church of St. Andrews of the church of St. Mary at Haddington) and of 1141 as ''"Hadintunshire"'' (Charter by King David granting Clerchetune to the church of St. Mary of Haddington). In 1150 a charter refers to Stirlingshire (''"Striuelinschire"''). (Charter by King David granting the church of Clackmannan, etc., to the Abbey of Stirling.)</ref>

From the seventeenth century the shires started to be used for local administration apart from judicial functions. In 1667 [[Commissioners of Supply]] were appointed in each sheriffdom to collect the land tax.<ref>The sheriffdoms listed were Edinburgh (i.e. Midlothian), Hadingtoun (i.e. East Lothian), Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Peebles, Lanerk, Dumfreize, "the sherifdome of Wigtoun and stewartrie of Kirkcudbright", Air, Dumbartan, Bute, Renfrew, Striviling (i.e. Stirlingshire), Linlithgow (i.e. West Lothian), Perth, Kincairdine, Aberdene, Inverness and Ross, Nairne, Cromarty, Argyle, Fyfe and Kinross, Forfar (i.e. Angus), Bamf (i.e. Banff), Sutherland, Caithnes, Elgine (i.e. Moray), Orkney and Zetland (i.e. Shetland), Clakmannan. {{cite web |url=http://rps.ac.uk/search.php?action=fetch_jump&filename=charlesii_trans&jump=charlesii_m1667_1_10_d7_ms&type=trans&fragment=t1667_1_10_d7_trans |title=Act of the convention of estates of the kingdome of Scotland etc. for ane new and voluntar offer to his majestie of seventie two thousand pounds monethlie for the space of twelve moneths |date=23 January 1667 |work=Records of the Parliaments of Scotland |publisher=[[University of St Andrews]] |access-date=23 July 2010}}</ref> The commissioners eventually assumed other duties in the county. In 1858, police forces were established in each county under the [[Police (Scotland) Act 1857]].

As a result of the dual system of local government, [[burgh]]s (of which there were various types) often had a high degree of autonomy.

===Modern history===
[[File:Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (UKPGA 1994-39).pdf|thumb|right|190px|The [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]] abolished the two-tier structure of regions and districts created by the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]]]]
Between 1890 and 1975 local government in Scotland was organised with [[counties of Scotland|county councils]] (including four ''counties of cities'') and various lower-level units. Between 1890 and 1929, there were parish councils and town councils, but with the passing of the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929]], the functions of parish councils were passed to larger district councils and a distinction was made between [[large burghs]] (i.e. those with a population of 20,000 or more) and [[small burghs]]. This system was further refined by the passing of the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947]].

Effective from 1975, the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]] passed by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] government of [[Edward Heath]] introduced a system of two-tier local government in Scotland (see [[Local government areas of Scotland 1973 to 1996]]), divided between large regional councils and smaller district councils.  The only exceptions to this were the three island councils, [[Western Isles]], [[Shetland]] and [[Orkney]] which had the combined powers of regions and districts. The Conservative government of [[John Major]] (1990–1997) decided to abolish this system and merge their powers into new [[unitary authorities]]. The new councils vary wildly in size – some are the same as counties, such as [[Clackmannanshire]], some are the same as former districts, such as [[Inverclyde]], and some are the same as the former regions, such as [[Highland (council area)|Highland]]. The changes took effect in 1996 with shadow councillors elected in 1995 to oversee the smooth transition of control.

In 2007, council elections moved to the [[single transferable vote]] system, with wards represented by either three or four councillors. The transition has resulted in no uncontested seats and has ended single-party controlled councils.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Adopting-STV-for-Local-Government-in-England.pdf |title=Adopting the Single Transferable Vote for local elections in England |publisher=[[Electoral Reform Society]] |date=May 2015 |access-date=30 March 2021 }}</ref>

In 2016, there were ward boundary changes in 25 local authority areas, following the Scottish Government accepting some of the recommendations of [[Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland]].<ref name="Holyrood 14Sep2016">{{cite news |url=https://www.holyrood.com/articles/news/council-ward-boundaries-be-changed-across-scotland |title=Council ward boundaries to be changed across Scotland |first=Jenni |last=Davidson |work=[[Holyrood (magazine)|Holyrood]] |date=14 September 2016 |access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref>

The [[Islands (Scotland) Act 2018]] and the [[Scottish Elections (Reform) Act 2020]] have given Boundaries Scotland increased flexibility to vary the size of wards. Mainland wards may now have between 2 and 5 councillors, and single councillor wards are permitted where such a ward includes an inhabited island.<ref>"News Release: Final Proposals for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands council areas submitted to Scottish Ministers" (PDF) (Press release). Boundaries Scotland. 28 May 2021</ref>

==Responsibilities==
* [[Council Tax in Scotland|Council Tax]]
* [[business rates in Scotland|Non-domestic rates]] collection
* Maintenance of all roads and pavements (except trunk roads which are the responsibility of [[Transport Scotland]])
* All aspects of [[Education in Scotland|education]] relating to each respective council area; including early years, primary, secondary, additional support needs and school transportation 
* The [[Planning system in Scotland|planning system]], and Section 75
* [[Decriminalised parking enforcement|Parking]]
* Bus stops 
* Supporting non-commercial bus services
* Provides some [[Paratransit#Outside North America|Community Transport]]
* Local authority nurseries and private partnership nursery establishments
* [[elderly care|Care of the elderly]], 
* Protection of vulnerable children and adults
* [[Waste collection#household waste|Refuse collection and disposal]]
* Licensing of hours of sale for alcohol
* Licensing of [[Orange walk|cultural music parades]] 
* Licensing of [[Hackney carriage|taxis]] and [[Taxicabs of the United Kingdom#Private hire (minicabs)|private hire vehicles]]
* Licensing of window cleaners, market traders, scrap metal merchants, and [[Hawker (trade)|street hawkers]]
* Licensing of sexual entertainment venues<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1982/45/part/III Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982] Overview on the website ''legislation.gov.uk''. Retrieved 30 March 2021.</ref>
* Food Hygiene inspections
* Regulation of landlords<ref>[https://www.mygov.scot/renting-your-property-out/your-responsibilities/ Renting your property out - Your responsibilities] Overview on ''mygov.scot'', 15 July 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.</ref>
* Council leisure centres and swimming baths
* Public parks
* Administering the Scottish Welfare Fund

==Map of council areas==<!-- This section is linked from [[Renfrewshire]] -->
[[File:ScotlandLabelled.png|right]]
{{columns-list|colwidth=500em|
# [[Inverclyde]]
# [[Renfrewshire]]
# [[West Dunbartonshire]]
# [[East Dunbartonshire]]
# [[Glasgow City (council area)|Glasgow City]]
# [[East Renfrewshire]]
# [[North Lanarkshire]]
# [[Falkirk (council area)|Falkirk]]
# [[West Lothian]]
# [[City of Edinburgh (council area)|City of Edinburgh]]
# [[Midlothian]]
# [[East Lothian]]
# [[Clackmannanshire]]
# [[Fife]]
# [[Dundee City (council area)|Dundee City]]
# [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]]
# [[Aberdeenshire]]
# [[Aberdeen City (council area)|Aberdeen City]]
# [[Moray]]
# [[Highland (council area)|Highland]]
# [[Na h-Eileanan Siar]]
# [[Argyll and Bute]]
# [[Perth and Kinross]]
# [[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]]
# [[North Ayrshire]]
# [[East Ayrshire]]
# [[South Ayrshire]]
# [[Dumfries and Galloway]]
# [[South Lanarkshire]]
# [[Scottish Borders]]
# [[Orkney]]
# [[Shetland]]
}}
{{clear}}

==Governance and administration==
{{See also|:Category:Wards of Scotland}}
[[File:East Ayrshire Council Headquarters, Kilmarnock (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Council headquarters of [[East Ayrshire Council]] located in the [[administrative centre]] of [[East Ayrshire]], [[Kilmarnock]]]] 
The power vested in local authorities is administered by elected councillors.  There are currently 1,227 councillors,<ref name="Holyrood 14Sep2016"/> each paid a part-time salary for the undertaking of their duties. In total, there are 32 unitary authorities, the largest being the [[Glasgow City (council area)|Glasgow City]] with more than 600,000 inhabitants, the smallest, Orkney, with just over 20,000 people living there (population of 21,670 in 2015).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files/statistics/council-area-data-sheets/orkney-islands-factsheet.pdf |title=Orkney Islands Council Area - Demographic Factsheet |publisher=[[National Records of Scotland]] |date=September 2016 |access-date=14 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302183404/https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files/statistics/council-area-data-sheets/orkney-islands-factsheet.pdf |archive-date=2017-03-02 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Councillor]]s are subject to a [[Code of Conduct]] instituted by the [[Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000]] and enforced by the [[Standards Commission for Scotland]].<ref>Ethical Standards in Public Life framework: {{Cite web|title=Ethical Standards in Public Life |url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/local-government/governance/ethical-standards |publisher=The Scottish Government |access-date = 2016-04-15}}</ref> If a person believes that a councillor has broken the code of conduct they make a complaint to the [[Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000|Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland (CESPLS)]]. The Commissioner makes a determination on whether there is a need for an investigation, and then whether or not to refer the matter to the Standards Commission.<ref>Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland {{Cite web|title=Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland| url=http://www.ethicalstandards.org.uk/ |access-date = 2015-03-15}}</ref>

===Provost===
{{main|Provost (civil)}}
Each council elects a [[Provost (civil)|provost]] from among the members of the council to chair meetings and to act as a figurehead for the area.<ref name="ReferenceA">s.4, Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.</ref>  A council may also elect a depute provost, though this is not required.  In the four cities of [[Glasgow]], [[Edinburgh]], [[Aberdeen]] and [[Dundee]] the provost is called a [[Lord Provost]], whilst in other councils the council may choose another title for their provost or conveners.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Most councils use the term '[[Provost (civil)|provost]]', some use the term 'convener'.

The office of provost or convener is roughly equivalent to that of a [[Mayors in England|mayor]] in other parts of the [[United Kingdom]]. Traditionally these roles are ceremonial and have no significant administrative functions. Lord provosts in the four city councils have the additional duty of acting as [[Lord Lieutenant]] for their respective city.

===Leader of the Council===
Since 2007 each council has been required to designate a "leader of the council" and a "civic head", who receive additional remuneration for holding those roles. The regulations direct that unless a council decides otherwise the leader is the convener and the civic head is the depute convener. In practice, most authorities appoint someone other than the convener as leader of the council, such that the political leader of the council is not also presiding over the debate at council meetings. The convener or provost usually takes the civic head role. The leader of the council is usually the leader of the largest political group, or in a coalition the leader of the largest party in that coalition. The Leader of the Council has no executive or administrative powers designated by statute.<ref>{{cite legislation Scotland|type=ssi|year=2007|number=183|ssi=The Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Regulations 2007}}</ref> Prior to 2007 many authorities recognised the leader of the largest political group or coalition administration as being leader of the council, but there was no legislative basis for the role.

===Officers===
Officers of a council are administrative, non-political staff of the council. Generally the composition of the council's officers are a matter for the council, but there are a number of statutory officers whose roles are defined by the central government.

The most significant of these officers is the Head of Paid Service, usually titled the [[Chief executive officer#United Kingdom|Chief Executive]]. The Chief Executive is similar in function to a [[city manager]], though certain councillors have executive authority and there is no clear [[division of powers]].<ref name="scotland.gov.uk">http://www.gov.scot/library/documents3/ethic-07.htm{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

There is also a statutory Monitoring Officer, who usually heads the Legal Services division of the council, as well as a Chief Financial Officer.<ref name="scotland.gov.uk"/>

==2022 election results==
{{main|2022 Scottish local elections}}

{{election table
 | title=Summary of the May 2022 Scottish council election results
 | sortable=yes
}}
|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9;
! scope="col" colspan="2" rowspan=2 | Party
! scope="col" colspan="3" | First-preference votes
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Councils
! scope="col" colspan="2" | [[2017 Scottish local elections|2017 seats]]
! scope="col" colspan="3" | 2022 seats
|-
! scope="col" | Count
! scope="col" | Of total (%)
! scope="col" | Change
! scope="col" | Count
! scope="col" | Change
! scope="col" | Count
! scope="col" | Of total (%)
! scope="col" | Count
! scope="col" | Of total (%)
! scope="col" | Change
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|No Overall Control}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[No overall control]]
| colspan=3 {{n/a}}
| 27
|style="background-color:#ffe8e8;"| {{decrease}}2
| colspan=2 {{n/a}}
| colspan=3 {{n/a}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish National Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish National Party|SNP]]
|633,252
|34.1%
| {{increase}}1.8%
|1
|style="background-color:#dfd;"| {{increase}}1
|431
|35.1%
|453
|36.9%
|style="background-color:#dfd;"| {{increase}}22
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Labour}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Labour|Labour]]
|403,243
|21.7%
| {{increase}}1.6%
|1
|style="background-color:#dfd;"| {{increase}}1
|262
|21.4%
|282
|23.0%
|style="background-color:#dfd;"| {{increase}}20
|-
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative]]
|364,824
|19.6%
| {{decrease}}5.7%
|0
| {{nochange}}
|276
|22.5%
|214
|17.5%
|style="background-color:#ffe8e8"| {{decrease}}62
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Liberal Democrats}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrats]]
|159,815
|8.6%
| {{increase}}1.7%
|0
| {{nochange}}
|67
|5.5%
|87
|7.1%
|style="background-color:#dfd;"| {{increase}}20
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Independent politician|Independents]]
|156,815
|8.4%
| {{decrease}}2.0%
|3
| {{nochange}}
|168
|13.7%
|152
|12.4%
|style="background-color:#ffe8e8;"| {{decrease}}15
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Greens}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Greens|Green]]
|110,791
|6.0%
| {{increase}}1.9%
|0
| {{nochange}}
|19
|1.6%
|35
|2.9%
|style="background-color:#dfd"| {{increase}}16
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Alba Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Alba Party|Alba]]
|12,335
|0.7%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
| {{n/a|New}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Family Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Family Party|Scottish Family]]
|6,857
|0.4%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
| {{n/a|New}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|West Dunbartonshire Community Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[West Dunbartonshire Community Party|West Dunbartonshire Community]]
|1,462
|0.1%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|1
|0.1%
|{{nochange}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Socialist Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Socialist Party|Scottish Socialist]]
|1,058
|0.1%
|{{increase}}0.1%
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
|{{nochange}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition|TUSC]]
|1,022
|0.1%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
|{{nochange}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|British Unionist Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[British Unionist Party|British Unionist]]
|859
|0.1%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|1
|0.1%
|style=background-color:#dfd|{{increase}}1
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|The Rubbish Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Rubbish Party|Rubbish]]
|787
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|1
|0.1%
|{{nochange}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independence for Scotland Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Independence for Scotland Party|Independence for Scotland]]
|742
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
| {{n/a|New}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Libertarian Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Libertarian Party|Libertarian]]
|698
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
|{{nochange}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Freedom Alliance (UK)}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |Freedom Alliance
|555
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
| {{n/a|New}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Volt UK}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Volt UK]]
|421
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
| {{n/a|New}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Socialist Labour Party (UK)}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Socialist Labour Party (UK)|Socialist Labour]]
|381
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
|{{nochange}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|UKIP}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[UKIP]]
|372
|0.0%
|{{decrease}}0.2%
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
|{{nochange}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Women's Equality Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Women's Equality Party|Women's Equality]]
|228
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
| {{n/a|New}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990)}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990)|Social Democratic]]
|222
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
|{{nochange}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Restore Scotland}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Restore Scotland|Sovereignty]]
|154
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
| {{n/a|New}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Communist Party of Britain}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Communist Party of Britain|Communist]]
|119
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
| {{n/a|New}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Pensioner's Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Pensioner's Party|Pensioner's]]
|75
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
| {{n/a|New}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Vanguard Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Vanguard Party|Vanguard]]
|74
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
| {{n/a|New}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Workers Party of Britain}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Workers Party of Britain|Workers]]
|61
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
| {{n/a|New}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Eco-Federalist Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Eco-Federalist Party|Scottish Eco-Federalist]]
|24
|0.0%
|
|0
|{{nochange}}
|
|
|
|0.0%
| {{n/a|New}}
|- class=sortbottom style="background-color:#E9E9E9; font-weight:bold;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align:left;" | Total
| 1,889,658
| 100.0
| ±0.0
| 32
| {{nochange}}
| 1,223
| 1,227
| 1,226
| 100.00
| {{nochange}}
|}

===Council control===
''<small>Last updated 11 November 2025.</small>''<ref name="opencouncildata.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://www.opencouncildata.co.uk/councils.php?model=S&y=0|title = Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; " 
|-
! Council
! colspan="2" | Control
! class=unsortable | Web
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Aberdeen City Council|Aberdeen City]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#FEF987"|SNP-LD coalition
|[http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=PARTY&VW=LIST&PIC=0 URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Aberdeenshire Council|Aberdeenshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#0087DC; color:white"|Con-LD-ind. coalition
|[https://aberdeenshire.moderngov.co.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1 URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Angus Council|Angus]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#FEF987"|SNP-ind. coalition
|[https://www.angus.gov.uk/councillors URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Argyll and Bute Council|Argyll & Bute]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
|style="background:#FDBB30"|LD-Con-ind. coalition
|[https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/councillor_list URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Clackmannanshire Council|Clackmannanshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#FEF987"|SNP minority
| [http://www.clacks.gov.uk/council/wards/ URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Dumfries and Galloway Council|Dumfries & Galloway]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#FEF987; color:black"|SNP minority 
| [https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/15141/Councillors URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Dundee City Council|Dundee City]]
| style="background:#FEF987" | SNP
| style="background:#FEF987"| Majority
| [https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/councillors/cllorsurname/ URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[East Ayrshire Council|East Ayrshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#FEF987"|SNP minority
| [https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/CouncilAndGovernment/About-the-Council/Councillors-and-Provost/YourCouncillor.aspx URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[East Dunbartonshire Council|East Dunbartonshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#FEF987"|SNP minority
|[https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/council/committees-councillors/councillors URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[East Lothian Council|East Lothian]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
|style="Color:white; background:#DC241F;"| Lab minority
|[http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/councillors/name URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[East Renfrewshire Council|East Renfrewshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="Color:white; background:#DC241F;"|Lab-ind. minority
|[http://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/councillors-democracy URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[City of Edinburgh Council|City of Edinburgh]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="Color:white; background:#DC241F;”|Lab minority 
|[http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/councillors/name URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Falkirk Council|Falkirk]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#FEF987"|SNP minority
|[http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/council-democracy/councillors-decision-making/councillors/ URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Fife Council|Fife]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
|style="Color:white; background:#DC241F;"| Lab minority
|[http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=cllr.home URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Glasgow City Council|Glasgow City]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#FEF987" | SNP minority
|[http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/allMembers.asp?sort=0&page=0&rec=78 URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803095113/http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/allMembers.asp?sort=0&page=0&rec=78 |date=3 August 2020 }}
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[The Highland Council|Highland]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
|style="background:#FEF987"|SNP-ind. coalition
|[http://www.highland.gov.uk/councillors/name URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Inverclyde Council|Inverclyde]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
|style="Color:white; background:#DC241F;"|Lab minority
|[http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/meetings/councillors URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Midlothian Council|Midlothian]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#FEF987"|SNP minority
|[https://midlothian.cmis.uk.com/Live/Councillors.aspx URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[The Moray Council|Moray]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#0087DC; color:white"|Con minority
|[https://moray.cmis.uk.com/moray/CouncilandGovernance/Councillors/tabid/63/ScreenMode/Party/Default.aspx URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Comhairle nan Eilean Siar|Na h-Eileanan Siar]]
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | {{abbr|Ind|Independent}}
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | Majority
|[https://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/your-council/wards-and-councillors/council-members/ URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803105439/https://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/your-council/wards-and-councillors/council-members/ |date=3 August 2020 }}
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[North Ayrshire Council|North Ayrshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#FEF987"|SNP minority
|[https://north-ayrshire.cmis.uk.com/North-Ayrshire/-ayrshire.cmis.uk.com/north-ayrshire/Councillors/CurrentCouncillors/tabid/98/ScreenMode/Alphabetical/Default.aspx URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[North Lanarkshire Council|North Lanarkshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="Color:white; background:#DC241F;"|Lab minority
|[https://twitter.com/hrwritesnews/status/1557750323166445569 URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Orkney Islands Council|Orkney]]
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | {{abbr|Ind.|Independent}}
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | Ind-Grn coalition
|[http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Council/Councillors/councillor-profiles.htm URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Perth and Kinross Council|Perth & Kinross]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#FEF987"|SNP minority
|[http://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/1799/Overview-of-Councillors URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Renfrewshire Council|Renfrewshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#FEF987"|SNP minority
| [http://renfrewshire.cmis.uk.com/renfrewshire/Councillors.aspx URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Scottish Borders Council|Scottish Borders]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
|style="background:#0087DC; color:white"| Con-ind. coalition
| [https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/councillors/name URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Shetland Islands Council|Shetland]]
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | {{abbr|Ind.|Independent}}
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | Majority
| [http://www.shetland.gov.uk/about_your_councillors/ URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[South Ayrshire Council|South Ayrshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="background:#0087DC; color:white"|Con minority
|[http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/councillors/all/ URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[South Lanarkshire Council|South Lanarkshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="Color:white; background:#DC241F;"|Lab-LD-ind. minority
|[http://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/councillors/name URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Stirling Council|Stirling]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="Color:black; background:#FEF987;"|SNP-Grn-ind coalition
|[http://my.stirling.gov.uk/councillors/index?theme=MyStirling URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" |{{nowrap|[[West Dunbartonshire Council|West Dunbartonshire]]}}
| style="color:white; background:#DC241F;" | Lab
| style="Color:white; background:#DC241F;"|Majority
|[http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/council/councillors-and-committees/councillor/councillors-by-name/ URL]
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[West Lothian Council|West Lothian]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | {{abbr|NOC|No overall control}}
| style="Color:white; background:#DC241F;"|Lab minority
|[https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/1956/Councillors-and-Wards URL]
|}

==2017 election results==
{{main|2017 Scottish local elections}}

Following boundary changes:

{{election table|title=Summary of the 3 May 2017 Scottish council election results}}<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC News :: Full Scottish council election results published|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39846268|work=BBC News|date=2017-05-08}}</ref>
|-style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;"
!colspan="2" rowspan="2" width="175"|Party
!colspan="3" rowspan="2" width="175"| First-preference votes
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Councils
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width: 30px;"| +/-
! colspan="2" | 2012 seats
! colspan="2" | 2017 seats
! colspan="2" | Seat change
|-
! [[2012 Scottish local elections|Seats won]]
!  Notional
!  Seats won
! Seat %
!  vs Notional
|-
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish National Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish National Party]]
|610,454
|32.3%
| {{nochange}}0.0
|0
| {{decrease}}1
|425
|438
|431
|35.1%
| {{decrease}}7
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Conservative Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative]]
|478,073
|25.3%
| {{increase}}12.0%
|0
| {{nochange}}
|115
|112
|276
|22.5%
| {{increase}}164
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Labour Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Labour|Labour]]
|380,957
|20.2%
| {{decrease}}11.4%
|0
| {{decrease}}3
|394
|395
|262
|21.4%
| {{decrease}}133
|-
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Independent politician|Independents]]
|199,261
|10.5%
| {{decrease}}1.3%
|3
| {{nochange}}
|196
|198
|172
|14.1%
| {{decrease}}26
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Liberal Democrats}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrats]]
|128,821
|6.8%
| {{increase}}0.2%
|0
| {{nochange}}
|71
|70
|67
|5.5%
| {{decrease}}3
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Green Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Greens]]
|77,682
|4.1%
| {{increase}}1.8%
|0
| {{nochange}}
|14
|14
|19
|1.6%
| {{increase}}5
|-
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|No Overall Control}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[No Overall Control]]
| —
| —
| —
| 29
|{{increase}}4
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:left;" |Total
|style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" | '''1,889,658'''
|style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |'''100.0'''
|style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" | '''±0.0'''
|style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |'''32'''
|style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" | '''{{nochange}}'''
|style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |'''1,223'''
|style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |'''1,227'''
|style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |'''1,227'''
|style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" | '''100.00'''
|style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" | '''{{nochange}}'''
|}
<noinclude>

Note: There were boundary changes in many of these councils. Notional seats and seat change are based on a notional 2012 result calculated by the BBC.<ref name = "bbc results">{{cite web|title=Scotland local elections 2017|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c50znx8v8m4t/scotland-local-elections-2017 |website=BBC News|date= 4 May 2018}}</ref> The methodology was officially revealed on 9 May 2017. The relevant explanation is available on the [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39850440 BBC Website]. Comparisons with the actual results from 2012 are inconsistent, as the number of seats and seat changes will be different because of an increase in council seats across the country from 1,223 to 1,227 and the different boundaries.

{{election table|title=The BBC notional calculation is as follows:}}<ref>{{cite news|title=How the BBC calculates local election results|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39850440|access-date=10 May 2017|date=2017-05-09}}</ref>
|-style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;"
! colspan="2" |Party
! 2012 seats
! 2012 notional
|-
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish National Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish National Party]]
|425
|438
|-
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Conservative Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative]]
|115
|112
|-
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Labour Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Labour|Labour]]
|394
|395
|-
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Liberal Democrats}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrats]]
|71
|70
|-
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Scottish Green Party}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Scottish Greens]]
|14
|14
|-
|- style="text-align:right;"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician}}"|
| style="text-align:left;" |Others
|204
|198
|-
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:left;" |Total
|1,223
|1,227
|-
|}

===Council control===
{{Further|Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom#Scotland}}

Political control may be held by minority governments (min), coalitions (co), joint leadership arrangements (j.l.) or partnership working arrangements (p.w.).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cosla.gov.uk/councils/political-control|title=Political control {{!}} COSLA|website=www.cosla.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-03-25}}</ref>

''<small>Last update 13 February 2022.</small>''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ballotbox.scot/councils|title=Councils|date=24 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="opencouncildata.co.uk"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Council
! colspan="2" |Control
! '''Web'''
! '''Total'''
! '''SNP'''
! '''CON'''
! '''LAB'''
! '''LD'''
! '''SGP'''
! '''Alba'''
! '''Other'''
! '''Vacant'''
!Upcoming by-elections
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Aberdeen City Council|Aberdeen City]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" |NOC
| style="background:#0087DC; color:white" |{{nowrap|CON+ALAB<ref group="s" name=":0">9 Aberdeen Labour (Councillors suspended by Labour from party for their coalition with Conservatives).</ref>+IND co}}
|[http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=PARTY&VW=LIST&PIC=0 URL]
| '''45'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 19
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 10
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 9<ref group="s" name=":0"/>
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 3
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 4
|
| 
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Aberdeenshire Council|Aberdeenshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC; color:white" | CON+LD+IND co
|[http://committees.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/Committees.aspx?councillors=1 URL]
| '''70'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 19
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 20
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 1
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 13
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 1
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" | 3
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 16
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Angus Council|Angus]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC; color:white" | CON+IND+LD co
|[https://www.angus.gov.uk/councillors URL]
| '''28'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 9
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 8
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" |
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 1
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 10
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Argyll and Bute Council|Argyll & Bute]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#0087DC; color:white" | CON+LD+IND+ISP co<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/1247656/economic-growth-and-education-priorities-in-argyll/|title=Economic growth and education priorities in Argyll|last=Campbell|first=Rita|date=19 May 2017|work=The Press and Journal|access-date=25 March 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref>
|[https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/councillor_list URL]
| '''36'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 11
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 8
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" |
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 5
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 11
| 1
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Clackmannanshire Council|Clackmannanshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987" | SNP min<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/15333838.Cooperation_and_collaboration_on_the_agenda_at_Clacks_Council/|title=Cooperation and collaboration on the agenda at Clacks Council|date=7 June 2017|website=Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser|language=en|access-date=25 March 2018}}</ref>
|[http://www.clacks.gov.uk/council/wards/ URL]
| '''18'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 7
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 5
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 4
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 1
| 1
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Dumfries and Galloway Council|Dumfries & Galloway]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="color:white; background:#DC241F" | LAB+SNP co
|[https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/15141/Councillors URL]
| '''43'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 10
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 16
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 10
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 1
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 6
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Dundee City Council|Dundee City]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987" | SNP min
|[https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/councillors/cllorsurname/ URL]
| '''29'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 13
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 3
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 8
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 2
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 3
| 
| 
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[East Ayrshire Council|East Ayrshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987" | SNP min
|[https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/CouncilAndGovernment/About-the-Council/Councillors-and-Provost/YourCouncillor.aspx URL]
| '''32'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 14
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 6
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 9
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 3
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[East Dunbartonshire Council|East Dunbartonshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FDBB30" | LD+CON co<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kirkintilloch-herald.co.uk/news/protests-as-new-lib-dem-tory-coalition-takes-control-at-east-dunbartonshire-council-1-4710482|title=Protests as new Lib Dem/Tory coalition takes control at East Dunbartonshire Council|date=22 March 2018|work=Kirkintilloch Herald|access-date=30 March 2018|language=en}}</ref>
|[https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/council/committees-councillors/councillors URL]
| '''22'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 7
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 5
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 2
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 6
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 1
| 1
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[East Lothian Council|East Lothian]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="color:white; background:#DC241F" | LAB min
|[http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/councillors/name URL]
| '''22'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 6
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 7
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 9
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" |
| 
| 
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[East Renfrewshire Council|East Renfrewshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987;" | SNP+LAB co
|[http://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/councillors-democracy URL]
| '''18'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 5
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 5
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 4
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 4
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[City of Edinburgh Council|City of Edinburgh]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987" | SNP+LAB co<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/2306/leaders_sign_coalition_agreement_to_run_the_capital|title=Leaders sign coalition agreement to run the Capital|last=Gordon|first=Rebecca|website=edinburgh.gov.uk|language=en|date=15 June 2017|archive-date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012024800/http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/2306/leaders_sign_coalition_agreement_to_run_the_capital|access-date=25 March 2018}}</ref>
|[http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/councillors/name URL]
| '''63'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 16
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 17
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 11
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 6
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 7
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 5
| 1
| 
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Falkirk Council|Falkirk]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987" | SNP+IND co<ref>{{cite web |title=Council control - Falkirk |url=https://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/council-democracy/ |website=Falkirk Council |access-date=4 January 2022}}</ref>
|[http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/council-democracy/councillors-decision-making/councillors/ URL]
| '''30'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 13
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 7
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 7
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 3
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Fife Council|Fife]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987" | SNP+LAB j.l.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/15294463.Fife_Council_agree_to_SNP_and_Labour_joint_partnership/|title=Fife Council agree to SNP and Labour joint partnership|website=Dunfermline Press|language=en|access-date=2018-03-25}}</ref>
|[http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=cllr.home URL]
| '''75'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 29
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 13
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 23
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 7
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" |2
| 1
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Glasgow City Council|Glasgow City]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" |NOC
| style="background:#FEF987" |SNP min<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=21216|title=Councillor Eva Bolander chosen as Glasgow's Lord Provost|last=Glasgow Young Scot|first=20 Trongate|date=2017-05-18|language=en|access-date=2018-03-25|archive-date=22 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922195907/https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=21216|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|[http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/allMembers.asp?sort=0&page=0&rec=78 URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803095113/http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/allMembers.asp?sort=0&page=0&rec=78 |date=3 August 2020 }}
| '''85'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 35
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 7
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 30
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 6
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" | 2
| style="background:#eaeaea;" |5
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[The Highland Council|Highland]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | IND+LD+LAB co
|[http://www.highland.gov.uk/councillors/name URL]
| '''74'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 19
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 10
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 3
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 11
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 1
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 29
| 1
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Inverclyde Council|Inverclyde]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="color:white; background:#DC241F" | LAB min
|[http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/meetings/councillors URL]
| '''22'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 5
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 2
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 8
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 1
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" | 2
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 4
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Midlothian Council|Midlothian]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="color:white; background:#DC241F;" | LAB min
|[https://midlothian.cmis.uk.com/Live/Councillors.aspx URL]
| '''18'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 7
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 5
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 6
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" |
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[The Moray Council|Moray]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987;" | SNP min
|[https://moray.cmis.uk.com/moray/CouncilandGovernance/Councillors/tabid/63/ScreenMode/Party/Default.aspx URL]
| '''26'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 7
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 9
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 1
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 8
| 1
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Comhairle nan Eilean Siar|Na h-Eileanan Siar]]
| style="background:#eaeaea;" |IND
| style="background:#eaeaea;" |IND
|[https://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/your-council/wards-and-councillors/council-members/ URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803105439/https://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/your-council/wards-and-councillors/council-members/ |date=3 August 2020 }}
| '''31'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 6
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 1
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" |
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 1
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" | 1
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 22
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[North Ayrshire Council|North Ayrshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="color:white; background:#DC241F;" | LAB min
|[https://north-ayrshire.cmis.uk.com/North-Ayrshire/-ayrshire.cmis.uk.com/north-ayrshire/Councillors/CurrentCouncillors/tabid/98/ScreenMode/Alphabetical/Default.aspx URL]
| '''33'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 9
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 8
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 11
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 5
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[North Lanarkshire Council|North Lanarkshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="color:white; background:#DC241F;" | LAB min
|[https://mars.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/egenda/public/main.pl?op=ListCurrentMembers URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808235549/https://mars.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/egenda/public/main.pl?op=ListCurrentMembers |date=8 August 2016 }}
| '''77'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 26
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 8
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 31
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" | 3
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 9
|
| 
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Orkney Islands Council|Orkney]]
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | IND
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | IND
|[http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Council/Councillors/councillor-profiles.htm URL]
| '''21'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" |
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" |
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 2
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 19
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Perth and Kinross Council|Perth & Kinross]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" |NOC
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC; color:white" |CON min
|[http://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/1799/Overview-of-Councillors URL]
| '''40'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 13
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" |18
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 1
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 5
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 3
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Renfrewshire Council|Renfrewshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987" | SNP min
|[http://renfrewshire.cmis.uk.com/renfrewshire/Councillors.aspx URL]
| '''43'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 19
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 8
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 13
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 1
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 2
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Scottish Borders Council|Scottish Borders]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" |NOC
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC; color:white" |CON+IND co
|[https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/councillors/name URL]
| '''34'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 8
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 15
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" |
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 2
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 9
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Shetland Islands Council|Shetland]]
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | IND
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | IND
|[http://www.shetland.gov.uk/about_your_councillors/ URL]
| '''22'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 1
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" |
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" |
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 21
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[South Ayrshire Council|South Ayrshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987;" | SNP+LAB+IND p.w.
|[http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/councillors/all/ URL]
| '''28'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 9
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 12
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 5
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 2
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[South Lanarkshire Council|South Lanarkshire]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987" | SNP min
|[http://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/councillors/name URL]
| '''64'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 25
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 11
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 17
| style="background:#FDBB30;" | 3
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 8
| 
| 
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[Stirling Council|Stirling]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987" |SNP+LAB
|[http://my.stirling.gov.uk/councillors/index?theme=MyStirling URL]
| '''23'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 7
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 9
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 4
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 1
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" | 1
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 1
| 
| 
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" |{{nowrap|[[West Dunbartonshire Council|West Dunbartonshire]]}}
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="background:#FEF987" | SNP+IND
|[http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/council/councillors-and-committees/councillor/councillors-by-name/ URL]
| '''22'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 9
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 2
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 8
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" | 
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" | 1
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 2
|
|
|-
| style="background:default; text-align:left" | [[West Lothian Council|West Lothian]]
| style="color:white; background:#222222;" | NOC
| style="color:white; background:#DC241F;" | LAB min
|[https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/1956/Councillors-and-Wards URL]
| '''33'''
| style="background:#FEF987;" | 14
| style="color:white; background:#0087DC;" | 7
| style="color:white; background:#DC241f;" | 11
| style="background:#FDBB30;" |
| style="color:white; background:#6AB023;" |
| style="color:white; background:#005EB8;" |
| style="background:#eaeaea;" | 1
|
|
|}
<references group="s" />

==2012 election results==
{{main|2012 Scottish local elections}}

===Council control===
{{Further|Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom#Scotland}}

The 32 unitary authorities were controlled as follows. The figures incorporate the results from the 2012 local government election, plus gains and losses from subsequent local by-elections, and party defections. <!-- Note: if you edit this section, also make an appropriate edit (with refs per WP:VERIFY) at [[Template:Scottish council control]] -->
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Council
! Political control<ref name="cosla.gov.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.cosla.gov.uk/political_control.asp?leftId=10001C391-10766746&rightId=10001C391-11002366&hybrid=false|title=COSLA<!-- Bot generated title -->|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929151425/http://www.cosla.gov.uk/political_control.asp?leftId=10001C391-10766746&rightId=10001C391-11002366&hybrid=false|archive-date=2007-09-29}}</ref>
! [[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]]
! [[Scottish National Party|SNP]]
! [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|LD]]
! [[Conservative Party (UK)|Con]]
! [[Scottish Greens|Grn]]
! [[Independent politician|Ind]]/Oth
! Total
|-
| [[Aberdeen City Council|Aberdeen City]]
| Lab-Con-Ind
| 17
| 16
| 5
| 2
| 0
| 3
| 43
|-
| [[Aberdeenshire Council|Aberdeenshire]]<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/elections/local/ |title=Aberdeenshire Council - Local Election Results 2012 |access-date=2012-07-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709053946/http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/elections/local/ |archive-date=2012-07-09}}</ref>
| Conservative/Liberal Coalition
| 2
| 26
| 10
| 16
| 1
| 13
| 68
|-
| [[Angus Council|Angus]]
| SNP (minority)
| 1
| 14
| 1
| 4
| 0
| 9
| 29
|-
| [[Argyll and Bute Council|Argyll and Bute]]
| Ind-LD-Con
| 1
| 8
| 4
| 3
| 0
| 20
| 36
|-
| [[Clackmannanshire Council|Clackmannanshire]]
| Lab (minority)
| 8
| 9
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 18
|-
| [[Dumfries and Galloway Council|Dumfries and Galloway]]
| Lab-Ind (minority)
| 13
| 9
| 1
| 9
| 0
| 15
| 47
|-
| [[Dundee City Council|Dundee City]]
| SNP
| 10
| 16
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 29
|-
| [[East Ayrshire Council|East Ayrshire]]
| SNP-Con
| 14
| 15
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 1
| 32
|-
| [[East Dunbartonshire Council|East Dunbartonshire]]
| Lab-Con-LD
| 9
| 8
| 3
| 2
| 0
| 2
| 24
|-
| [[East Lothian Council|East Lothian]]
| Lab-Con-Ind
| 10
| 8
| 0
| 3
| 0
| 2
| 23
|-
| [[East Renfrewshire Council|East Renfrewshire]]
| Lab-SNP
| 8
| 4
| 0
| 6
| 0
| 2
| 20
|-
| [[City of Edinburgh Council|City of Edinburgh]]
| Lab-SNP
| 21
| 17
| 2
| 11
| 5
| 2
| 58
|-
| [[Comhairle nan Eilean Siar]] ([[Outer Hebrides]])
| Ind
| 2
| 4
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 25
| 31
|-
| [[Falkirk Council|Falkirk]]
| Lab-Ind-Con
| 14
| 13
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 3
| 32
|-
| [[Fife Council|Fife]]
| Lab (minority)
| 33
| 26
| 10
| 3
| 0
| 6
| 78
|-
| [[Glasgow City Council|Glasgow City]]
| Lab
| 40
| 30
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 2
| 78
|-
| [[Highland Council|Highland]]
| SNP-Lab
| 7
| 17
| 13
| 0
| 0
| 42
| 80
|-
| [[Inverclyde Council|Inverclyde]]
| Lab (minority)
| 9
| 6
| 2
| 1
| 0
| 2
| 20
|-
| [[Midlothian Council|Midlothian]]
| SNP-Ind (minority)
| 8
| 8
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 18
|-
| [[Moray Council|Moray]]
| Ind-Con
| 2
| 11
| 0
| 3
| 0
| 10
| 26
|-
| [[North Ayrshire Council|North Ayrshire]]
| Lab (minority)
| 12
| 11
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 6
| 30
|-
| [[North Lanarkshire Council|North Lanarkshire]]
| Lab (minority)
| 31
| 22
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 17
| 70
|-
| [[Orkney Council|Orkney]]
| Ind
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 21
| 21
|-
| [[Perth and Kinross Council|Perth and Kinross]]
| SNP (minority)
| 4
| 18
| 5
| 11
| 0
| 3
| 41
|-
| [[Renfrewshire Council|Renfrewshire]]
| Lab
| 20
| 16
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 2
| 40
|-
| [[Scottish Borders Council|Scottish Borders]]
| Ind-SNP-LD
| 0
| 8
| 6
| 9
| 0
| 11
| 34
|-
| [[Shetland Islands Council|Shetland]]
| Ind
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 22
| 22
|-
| [[South Ayrshire Council|South Ayrshire]]
| Con-Lab
| 9
| 9
| 0
| 10
| 0
| 2
| 30
|-
| [[South Lanarkshire Council|South Lanarkshire]]
| Lab
| 38
| 21
| 1
| 3
| 0
| 4
| 67
|-
| [[Stirling Council|Stirling]]
|Lab-Con
|8
|9
|0
| 4
| 1
| 0
| 22
|-
| [[West Dunbartonshire Council|West Dunbartonshire]]
| Lab
| 38
| 21
| 1
| 3
| 0
| 4
| 22
|-
| [[West Lothian Council|West Lothian]]
| Lab (minority)
| 16
| 15
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 32
|-
| TOTAL
| -
| 379
| 401
| 66
| 110
| 12
| 254
| 1222
|}

==2007 election results==
{{main|2007 Scottish local elections}}
Following the introduction of the [[Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004]] local elections are held using the [[single transferable vote]], with this taking place for the first time in 2007. This change in voting system saw all but five councils end up with no one party in control. Labour retained control of [[Glasgow City (council area)|Glasgow City]] and [[North Lanarkshire]], while [[Orkney]], [[Shetland]] and [[Na h-Eileanan Siar]] continue to be controlled by Independent councillors.

===Council control===
{{Further|Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom#Scotland}}

The 32 unitary authorities are controlled as follows. The figures incorporate the results from the 2007 local government election, plus gains and losses from subsequent local by-elections, and party defections. <!-- Note: if you edit this section, also make an appropriate edit (with refs per WP:VERIFY) at [[Template:Scottish council control]] -->
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Council
! Political control<ref name="cosla.gov.uk"/>
! [[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]]
! [[Scottish National Party|SNP]]
! [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|LD]]
! [[Conservative Party (UK)|Con]]
! [[Scottish Greens|Grn]]
! Oth
! Total
|-
| [[Aberdeen City Council|Aberdeen City]]
| LD-SNP
| 10
| 13
| 15
| 4
| 0
| 1
| 43
|-
| [[Aberdeenshire Council|Aberdeenshire]]
| SNP
| 2
| 28
| 12
| 14
| 1
| 11
| 68
|-
| [[Angus Council|Angus]]
| Con-LD-Lab-Oth
| 2
| 13
| 3
| 5
| 0
| 6
| 29
|-
| [[Argyll and Bute Council|Argyll and Bute]]
| Oth-LD-Con
| 0
| 10
| 8
| 3
| 0
| 15
| 36
|-
| [[Clackmannanshire Council|Clackmannanshire]]
| Lab (minority)
| 8
|8
|0
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 18
|-
| [[Dumfries and Galloway Council|Dumfries and Galloway]]
| Con-LD (minority)
| 14
| 10
| 3
| 18
| 0
| 2
| 47
|-
| [[Dundee City Council|Dundee City]]
| SNP (minority)
| 8
| 14
| 2
| 3
| 0
| 2
| 29
|-
| [[East Ayrshire Council|East Ayrshire]]
| SNP (minority)
| 14
| 14
| 0
| 3
| 0
| 1
| 32
|-
| [[East Dunbartonshire Council|East Dunbartonshire]]
| Con-Lab (minority)
| 6
| 8
| 3
| 5
| 0
| 2
| 24
|-
| [[East Lothian Council|East Lothian]]
| SNP-LD
| 7
| 7
| 6
| 2
| 0
| 1
| 23
|-
| [[East Renfrewshire Council|East Renfrewshire]]
| Lab-SNP-Oth-LD
| 7
| 3
| 1
| 7
| 0
| 2
| 20
|-
| [[City of Edinburgh Council|City of Edinburgh]]
| LD-SNP
| 15
| 12
| 17
| 11
| 3
| 0
| 58
|-
| [[Comhairle nan Eilean Siar]] ([[Outer Hebrides]])
| [[Independent (politician)|Ind]]
| 2
| 4
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 25
| 31
|-
| [[Falkirk Council|Falkirk]]
| Lab-Oth-Con
| 14
| 13
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 3
| 32
|-
| [[Fife Council|Fife]]
| SNP-LD
| 24
| 23
| 21
| 5
| 0
| 5
| 78
|-
| [[Glasgow City Council|Glasgow City]]
| Lab
| 46
| 22
| 5
| 1
| 5
| 0
| 79
|-
| [[Highland Council|Highland]]
| Oth-LD-Lab
| 7
| 18
| 21
| 0
| 0
| 34
| 80
|-
| [[Inverclyde Council|Inverclyde]]
| Lab-Con-Oth
| 9
| 5
| 4
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 20
|-
| [[Midlothian Council|Midlothian]]
| Lab (minority)
| 9
| 6
| 3
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 18
|-
| [[Moray Council|Moray]]
| Oth-Con
| 2
| 9
| 0
| 3
| 0
| 12
| 26
|-
| [[North Ayrshire Council|North Ayrshire]]
| Lab (minority)
| 12
| 8
| 2
| 3
| 0
| 5
| 30
|-
| [[North Lanarkshire Council|North Lanarkshire]]
| Lab
| 40
| 23
| 1
| 1
| 0
| 5
| 70
|-
| [[Orkney Council|Orkney]]
| Oth
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 21
| 21
|-
| [[Perth and Kinross Council|Perth and Kinross]]
| SNP-LD
| 3
| 18
| 8
| 12
| 0
| 0
| 41
|-
| [[Renfrewshire Council|Renfrewshire]]
| SNP-LD
| 17
| 17
| 4
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 40
|-
| [[Scottish Borders Council|Scottish Borders]]
| Oth-Con-LD
| 0
| 6
| 10
| 11
| 0
| 7
| 34
|-
| [[Shetland Council|Shetland]]
| Oth
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 22
| 22
|-
| [[South Ayrshire Council|South Ayrshire]]
| Con (minority)
| 9
| 8
| 0
| 12
| 0
| 1
| 30
|-
| [[South Lanarkshire Council|South Lanarkshire]]
| Lab-Con-LD
| 30
| 24
| 2
| 8
| 0
| 3
| 67
|-
| [[Stirling Council|Stirling]]
|Lab-Con
|8
|9
|0
| 4
| 0
| 1
| 22
|-
| [[West Dunbartonshire Council|West Dunbartonshire]]
| SNP-Oth
| 10
| 9
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 3
| 22
|-
| [[West Lothian Council|West Lothian]]
| SNP-Oth
| 14
| 13
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 4
| 32
|-
| TOTAL
| -
| 348
| 363
| 166
| 143
| 8
| 194
| 1222
|}

==Community councils==
{{main|List of community council areas in Scotland }}{{see also|Community council#Scotland}}
[[Community council]]s represent the interests of local people.  Local authorities have a statutory duty to consult community councils on planning, development and other issues directly affecting that local community.  However, the community council has no direct say in the delivery of services.  In many areas they do not function at all, but some work very effectively at improving their local area. Elections for community councils are determined by the local authority but the law does state that candidates cannot stand on a party-political ticket.

==See also==
* [[2022 Scottish local elections]]
* [[List of political parties in Scotland]]
* [[Subdivisions of Scotland]]
* [[Local government in England]]
* [[Local government in Northern Ireland]]
* [[Local government in Wales]]
* [[Business rates in Scotland]]
* [[Local income tax]]
* [[Convention of Scottish Local Authorities]]
* [[Scottish Housing Regulator]]
* [[Social care in Scotland]]
* [[List of Scottish council areas by population]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/local-government Local Government] ''Scottish Government''
*[http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/scotland/localgovt.html Local Government in Scotland]
*[http://www.lgbc-scotland.gov.uk/ Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820234312/http://www.lgbc-scotland.gov.uk/ |date=20 August 2006 }}
*[http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/geography/beginner-s-guide/administrative/england/counties--non-metropolitan-districts-and-unitary-authorities/map-of-the-uk-counties-and-unitary-administrations.pdf Map of the UK counties and unitary administrations]
*[http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/geography/beginner-s-guide/administrative/england/counties--non-metropolitan-districts-and-unitary-authorities/map-of-all-uk-local-authorities.pdf Map of all UK local authorities]

{{Scotland topics}}{{Geography of Scotland}}{{UK subdivisions}}
{{Local government in Europe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Local Government In Scotland}}
[[Category:Local government in Scotland| ]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions of Scotland]]