The election used the 22 wards created by the Formation Electoral Arrangements in 1974. Each ward elected one councillor using first-past-the-post voting.[1]
The council was in no overall control after no party won enough seats to form a majority administration. Independent candidates won 10 seats and the Conservatives – who took the most votes – won nine seats. The remaining three seats were won by Labour.
Background
Prior to 1974, Angus was one of 33 counties in Scotland. Within the county boundaries were seven burghs – one large (Arbroath) and six small (Brechin, Carnoustie, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Monifieth and Montrose). The small burghs had limited powers which included some control over planning as well as local taxation, building control, housing, lighting and drainage. The large burgh had further powers over the police, public health, social services, registration of births, marriages and deaths and electoral registration. The rest of the local government responsibility fell to the county council which had full control over the areas which were not within a burgh.[2]
Following the recommendations in the Wheatly Report, the old system of counties and burghs – which had resulted in a mishmash of local government areas in which some small burghs had larger populations but far fewer responsibilities than some large burghs and even counties[2] – was to be replaced by a new system of regional and district councils. The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 implemented most of the recommendations in the Wheatly Report. The new Angus district included most of the area of the former county except an area around Dundee including Monifieth which was transferred to the city. Angus was placed within the Tayside region.[2][3]
Angus was left in no overall control following the election after no party won a majority of the seats. Independent candidates won the most seats at 10 and the Conservatives – who had the highest vote share – won nine seats. The remaining three seats were won by Labour. Tayside Regional Council – which held its first election on the same day – was also left in no overall control. Across Scotland, Labour won the most votes, the most seats and the most councils of any party.[4]
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Council elections in Angus 