Fife Council

Fife Council
Full council election every 5 years.
Coat of arms
Council logo
Type
Type	Unitary authority
Leadership
Provost	Jim Leishman, Labour since 17 May 2012
Leader	David Ross, Labour since 20 February 2014 [a]
Chief Executive	Ken Gourlay since July 2023 [1]
Structure
Seats	75
Political groups	Administration (18)   Labour (18) Other parties (56)   SNP (34)   Liberal Democrats (13)   Conservatives (7)   Reform UK (1)   Independent (1) Vacant (1)   Vacant (1)
Elections
Voting system	Single transferable vote
Last election	5 May 2022
Next election	6 May 2027
Meeting place
Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes, KY7 5LT
Website
www.fife.gov.uk

Fife Council is the local authority for Fife, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. The council is based at Fife House in Glenrothes. It has been under no overall control since 2003, and has been led by a Labour minority administration since the last election in 2022.

History

Fife was one of Scotland's historic counties, with a Fife County Council existing from 1890 to 1975. In 1975, Fife became a region with three lower-tier district councils: Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, and North-East Fife. ^[2] The regions and districts were abolished in 1996, when Fife became a council area, governed by Fife Council. ^[3]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2003. Following the 2022 election, the Scottish National Party were the largest group on the council, but a Labour minority administration was formed with informal support from the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives. ^[4]

The first election to Fife Regional Council was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 16 May 1975. A shadow authority was again elected in 1995 ahead of the change to council areas which came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control since 1975 has been as follows: ^[5]

Fife Regional Council

Party in control		Years
	Labour	1975–1996

Fife Council

Party in control		Years
	Labour	1996–2003
	No overall control	2003–present

Leadership

A Provost of Fife is elected from among the councillors. The provost chairs full council meetings and acts as ceremonial head of the council. ^[6] The current provost is former football manager Jim Leishman, who was first elected to the post in May 2012 and subsequently re-elected in 2017 and 2022. ^[7]

Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1996 have been: ^[8]

Councillor	Party		From	To	Notes
Alex Rowley [9]		Labour	1 April 1996	1998
Christine May		Labour	1998	2003
Anne McGovern		Labour	2003	2007
Peter Grant		SNP	2007	2012
Alex Rowley [10]		Labour	2012	20 Feb 2014
David Ross [10] [11]		Labour	20 Feb 2014	May 2017
David Alexander		SNP	May 2017	May 2022	Co-leaders [12] [13]
David Ross		Labour
David Ross [14]		Labour	19 May 2022

Premises

Fife Council is based at Fife House on North Street, Glenrothes. The building was built in 1969 for the Glenrothes Development Corporation, and became headquarters of Fife Regional Council on its creation in 1975. Prior to 1975 the old Fife County Council had been based at County Buildings, Cupar. Fife House passed to the new Fife Council on local government reorganisation in 1996. ^[15]

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to August 2025, the composition of the council was: ^[16]

Party		Councillors
	SNP	34
	Labour	18
	Liberal Democrats	13
	Conservative	7
	Reform UK	1
	Independent	1
	Vacant	1
Total		75

A by-election to fill the vacant seat is due on 6 November 2025. Otherwise, the next full council election is due in 2027. ^[16]

Elections

Main article: Fife 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: ^[5]

Year	Seats	SNP	Labour	Liberal Democrats	Conservative	Independent / Other	Notes
1995	92	9	54	25	0	4
1999	78	9	43	21	1	4	New ward boundaries. [17]
2003	78	11	36	23	2	6
2007	78	23	24	21	5	5	New ward boundaries. [18]
2012	78	26	35	10	3	4
2017	75	29	24	7	15	0	New ward boundaries. [19] [20]
2022	75	34	20	13	8	0

Wards

Map of Fife's wards, using 2017 boundaries

Ward number	Ward	Location in Fife	Seats	Largest settlement	Other settlements
1	West Fife and Coastal Villages		3	Kincardine	Blairhall, Bowershall, Cairneyhill, Carnock, Comrie, Culross, Gowkhall, Oakley, Saline, Steelend, Torryburn, Valleyfield
2	Dunfermline North		3	Dunfermline	Kingseat, Townhill, Wellwood
3	Dunfermline Central		4	Dunfermline	Crossford, Halbeath
4	Dunfermline South		4	Dunfermline
5	Rosyth		3	Rosyth	Charlestown, Comrie, Limekilns
6	Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay		4	Dalgety Bay	Aberdour, Hillend, Jamestown, Inverkeithing, North Queensferry
7	Cowdenbeath		4	Cowdenbeath	Crossgates, Hill of Beath, Kelty
8	Lochgelly, Cardenden and Benarty		4	Lochgelly	Ballingry, Cardenden, Crosshill Glencraig, Lochore, Lumphinnans
9	Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy		3	Burntisland	Auchtertool, Kinghorn, Western Kirkcaldy
10	Kirkcaldy North		3	Kirkcaldy
11	Kirkcaldy Central		3	Kirkcaldy
12	Kirkcaldy East		3	Kirkcaldy
13	Glenrothes West and Kinglassie		3	Glenrothes	Kinglassie
14	Glenrothes North, Leslie and Markinch		4	Glenrothes	Cadham, Leslie, Markinch, Milton of Balgonie, Star
15	Glenrothes Central and Thornton		3	Glenrothes	Coaltown of Balgonie, Thornton
16	Howe of Fife and Tay Coast		3	Newburgh	Auchtermuchty, Balmalcolm, Collessie, Creich, Falkland, Freuchie, Gateside, Kilmany, Kingskettle, Ladybank, Letham, Lindores, Logie, Luthrie, Strathmiglo
17	Tay Bridgehead		3	Newport-on-Tay	Balmerino, Balmullo, Bottomcraig, Gauldry, Guardbridge, Leuchars, Pickletillum, Tayport, Woodhaven, Wormit
18	St Andrews		4	St Andrews	Strathkinness
19	East Neuk and Landward		3	Anstruther	Abercrombie, Arncroach, Boarhills, Carnbee, Cellardyke, Colinsburgh, Crail, Dunino, Elie and Earlsferry, Kilconquhar, Kilrenny, Kingsbarns, Largoward, Lathones, Pittenweem, St Monans
20	Cupar		3	Cupar	Blebo Craigs, Ceres, Cults, Cupar Muir, Dairsie, Kemback, Pitlessie, Pitscottie, Springfield, Stratheden
21	Leven, Kennoway and Largo		4	Leven	Baintown, Balcurvie, Bonnybank, Cameron Bridge, Drumeldrie, Kennoway, Lower Largo, Lundin Links, Upper Largo, Windygates
22	Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss Villages		4	Methil	Buckhaven, Coaltown of Wemyss, East Wemyss, West Wemyss

References

1. Joint leader with David Alexander of SNP between 2017 and 2022

1. "Fife Council appoints new CEO". Fife Council. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
2. "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1973 c. 65, retrieved 17 April 2023
3. "Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1994 c. 39, retrieved 21 April 2023
4. VanReenen, Danyel (13 December 2024). "How Fife Council's minority Labour administration was defeated - twice in same day". Fife Today. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
5. "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Fife" in search box to see specific results.)
6. "The Provost and his role". Fife Council. Retrieved 6 January 2018.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
7. "Jim Leishman elected as Fife's provost". BBC News. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
8. "Council Leader". Fife Council. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
9. "The changing face of Scotland". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 27 March 1996. p. 5. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
10. "David Ross lined up as new council leader". Central Fife Times. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
11. Smith, Craig (5 May 2017). "Fife Council election results - Former SNP group leader loses out in Ward 4: Dunfermline South". The Courier. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
12. "Fife Council agree to SNP and Labour joint partnership". Dunfermline Press. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
13. Warrender, Claire (10 October 2023). "'Nonsense' claim as SNP brands Fife Council Labour group 'democracy deniers' in scrutiny row". The Courier. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
14. "Council minutes, 19 May 2022" (PDF). Fife Council. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
15. Ferguson, Keith (1982). A New Town's Heritage: An Introduction to the Story of Glenrothes (1st ed.). Glenrothes: Glenrothes Development Corporation. p. 91.
16. "Fife". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
17. "The Fife (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1998", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1998/3243, retrieved 21 April 2023
18. Scottish Parliament. The Fife (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006 as made, from legislation.gov.uk .
19. Scottish Parliament. The Fife (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2016 as made, from legislation.gov.uk .
20. "Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's 5th Electoral Review" (PDF). Scottish Government. Retrieved 6 January 2018.

External links

• Fife Council web site