Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Last updated

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Full council election every 5 years
Coat of Arms of the Na h-Eileanan Siar (Outer Hebrides).svg
Coat of arms
ComhairlenanEileanSiarLogo.svg
Council logo
Type
Type
History
Founded16 May 1975
Leadership
Kenneth MacLeod,
Scottish National Party
since 17 May 2022
Paul Steele,
Independent
since 17 May 2022 [1]
Malcolm Burr
since November 2005 [2]
Structure
Seats29 councillors
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Composition 2022.svg
Political groups
  Independent (22)
  SNP (6)
  Conservative (1)
Elections
Single transferable vote
Last election
 5 May 2022
Next election
6 May 2027
Motto
Ardaichidh Fireantachd Cinneach (Scottish Gaelic: "Righteousness exalteth a nation")
Meeting place
Sandwick Road - geograph.org.uk - 1265542.jpg
Council Offices, Sandwick Road, Stornoway, HS1 2BW
Website
www.cne-siar.gov.uk

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar ( Scottish Gaelic for 'Council of the Western Isles'; Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [ˈkʰõ.ərˠʎənəˈɲelanˈʃiəɾ] ) is the local government council for Na h-Eileanan Siar (the Outer Hebrides) council area of Scotland. [3] [4] It is based in Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis.

Contents

Name

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is the only local council in Scotland to have a Gaelic-only name. The original name, Western Isles Islands Council, was changed to Western Isles Council in 1995 and then given its Gaelic title in 1997 under the Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland) Act 1997. The former "Western Isles" council area is now officially named "Na h-Eileanan Siar", even in English language contexts. [3] [4] [5]

History

In 1975, the council was created as Western Isles Council, 57 years after the creation of Na h-Eileanan an Iar for elections to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the constituency being named, when created, Western Isles). Since 1999, the area has also been represented by the Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency of the Scottish Parliament, with the same boundaries. [6]

When the Bank of Credit and Commerce International collapsed in 1991, the then Western Isles Council lost £35m invested there, compelling a large increase in its council tax rate and leading to the resignation of Council Convener Donald Macauley. [7] Despite its initial losses, by 2012 the Council had gained a net profit of £1.5 million from dividend repayments due to favourable exchange rates. [8]

Representing Scotland's only majority Gaelic-speaking local authority area, the council pioneered the use of Gaelic-medium education in the 1980s. In 2020, Gaelic became the default language of instruction for all primary school pupils. [9]

In 1997, the Western Isles Council was renamed as Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. [3] [5] [6]

Elections

General elections to the council are held on a five-year cycle, the last were held in 2022.

From 1975 until 2007, council elections used the first past the post system of election; the last elections of this type elected 31 councillors, elected by 31 single-member wards. [10]

In 2007, under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, the single transferable vote system, together with multi-member wards, was used for the first time, each ward electing three or four councillors. This system is designed to produce a degree of proportional representation. [10]

Political representation

The 2022 election and subsequent by-elections resulted in the following composition: [11]

PartySeats
Independent 22
Scottish National Party 6
Conservative 1

Leaders

Political Leaders

No.Political LeaderPartyPeriod in officeElection
1Angus CampbellIndependent2008–2017 2007
2012
2Roddie MacKayIndependent2017–2022 2017
3Paul SteeleIndependent2022 – present 2022

Convenors

No.ConvenorPartyPeriod in officeElection
1Donald MacauleyIndependent1974–1982 1974
1978
2 Sandy Matheson Independent1982–1990 1982
1986
1Donald MacauleyIndependent1990–1991 1990
3Donald MacLeodIndependent1991–1994 1990
4Donald MackayIndependent1994–1999 1994
5Alex MacdonaldIndependent1999–2012 1999
2003
2007
6Norman MacDonaldIndependent2012–2022 2012
2017
7Kenneth MacLeod Scottish National Party 2022 – present 2022

Wards

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outer Hebrides</span> Archipelago and council area off the west coast of mainland Scotland

The Outer Hebrides or Western Isles, sometimes known as the Long Isle or Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland. The islands are geographically coextensive with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. They form part of the archipelago of the Hebrides, separated from the Scottish mainland and from the Inner Hebrides by the waters of the Minch, the Little Minch, and the Sea of the Hebrides.

Alasdair Morrison is a Scottish Labour Party politician. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Western Isles constituency from 1999 to 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Na h-Eileanan an Iar (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1918 onwards

Na h-Eileanan an Iar, formerly Western Isles, is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, created in 1918. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Scottish Parliament constituency)</span> Scottish Parliament constituency

Na h-Eileanan an Iar, formerly the Western Isles, is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering the council area of Na h-Eileanan Siar. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. It is also one of eight constituencies in the Highlands and Islands electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to the eight constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland) Act 1997</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1997 enables local councils in Scotland to rename the areas for which they are responsible with Gaelic names. It enables them also to revert to names in English. The act was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inverness-shire</span> Historic county in Scotland

Inverness-shire is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. Covering much of the Highlands and Outer Hebrides, it is Scotland's largest county, though one of the smallest in population, with 67,733 people or 1.34% of the Scottish population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election</span>

Elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election was the second one using the 9 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Each ward elected three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system: a form of proportional representation. A total of 31 Councillors were elected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election</span>

An election to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar was held on 6 May 1999 as part of the wider 1999 Scottish local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election</span>

Elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) were held on 4 May 2017, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election was the third one using the nine wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Each ward elected three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system: a form of proportional representation. A total of 31 Councillors were elected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas (ward)</span>

Barraigh, Bhatarsaigh, Eirisgeigh agus Uibhist a Deas is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. It elects four Councillors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath (ward)</span>

Beinn Na Foghla agus Uibhist a Tuath is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. It elects three Councillors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas Nan Loch (ward)</span>

Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas Nan Loch is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. It elects three Councillors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sgir' Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch (ward)</span>

Sgir’ Uige agus Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. It elects three Councillors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sgire an Rubha (ward)</span>

Sgire an Rubha is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. It elects three Councillors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steòrnabhagh a Deas (ward)</span>

Steòrnabhagh a Deas is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. It elects four Councillors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steòrnabhagh a Tuath (ward)</span>

Steòrnabhagh a Tuath is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. It elects four Councillors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch a Tuath (ward)</span>

Loch a Tuath is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. It elects three Councillors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election</span> Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election

Elections to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar took place on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. The election was the first to use the nine wards created under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 which allowed for single and dual member wards, with 29 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 2, 3 or 4 members, using the Single Transferrable Vote electoral system, a form of proportional representation. Following a boundary review the number of wards will increase from nine to 11 while the number of councillors elected will fall from 31 to 29.

References

  1. ↑ "Council minutes, 17 May 2022" (PDF). Comhairle Nan Eileanan Siar. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "About us". Electoral Management Board for Scotland. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Areas of Scotland" Archived 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine ourscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Place-names of Scotland" Archived 2009-10-26 at the Wayback Machine scotlandsplaces.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  5. 1 2 Department of Education (January 2008) "Review of Educational Provision and the Comhairle's Future Strategy for the Schools Estate: Daliburgh School, Isle of South Uist" Archived 2010-07-09 at WebCite (pdf) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  6. 1 2 See The 5th Periodical Report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland Archived September 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Cusick, James (18 April 1993). "Stirring of the angry Isles". Independent on Sunday . Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  8. ↑ Merritt, Mike (25 November 2012). "Western Isles Council enjoy £1.5m surplus in aftermath of BCCI crash in 1991". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  9. ↑ "Gaelic to be 'default' language for new pupils in Western Isles schools". BBC News. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  10. 1 2 MacMahon, Peter and Walker, Helen (18 May 2007) "Winds of change sweep Scots town halls". Edinburgh. The Scotsman.
  11. ↑ "Council Members". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
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