Stirling (council area)

Last updated

Stirling
Council area
Stirling arms.png
Coat of arms
Stirling UK location map.svg
Stirling shown within Scotland
Coordinates: 56°30′00″N4°00′00″W / 56.5000°N 4.0000°W / 56.5000; -4.0000
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country Scotland
Lieutenancy area Stirling and Falkirk
Incorporated 16 May 1975
Unitary authority 1 April 1996
Named for Stirling
Administrative HQ Stirling
Government
[1]
 • Type Council
 • Body Stirling Council
 •  Control No overall control
 •  MPs Chris Kane (L)
 •  MSPs
Area
[2]
 • Total844 sq mi (2,186 km2)
 • Rank 9th
Population
 (2022) [2]
 • Total92,530
 • Rank 25th
 • Density110/sq mi (42/km2)
Time zone UTC+0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+1 (BST)
ISO 3166 code GB-STG
GSS code S12000030
Website stirling.gov.uk

The Stirling council area (Scots : Stirlin; Scottish Gaelic : Sruighlea) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and has an estimated population of 92,530 (2022). [2] It was created in 1975 as a lower-tier district within the Central region. The district covered parts of the historic counties of Stirlingshire and Perthshire, which were abolished for local government purposes. In 1996 the Central region was abolished and Stirling Council took over all local government functions within the area.

Contents

The administrative centre of the area is the city of Stirling, with the headquarters at Old Viewforth.

The area borders the council areas of Clackmannanshire (to the east), North Lanarkshire (to the south), Falkirk (to the south east), Perth and Kinross (to the north and north east), Argyll and Bute (to the north and north west), and both East and West Dunbartonshire to Stirling's southwest.

The majority of the population of the area is located in its southeast corner, in the city of Stirling and in the surrounding lowland communities: Bridge of Allan and Dunblane to the north, Bannockburn to the immediate south, and the three former coal mining communities of Cowie, Fallin, and Plean, known collectively as the "Eastern Villages".

The rest of the council area's population is sparsely distributed across the rural, mainly highland, expanse in the north and west of the area. The southern half of this rural area comprises the flat western floodplain of the River Forth, bounded on the south by the Touch Hills and the Campsie Fells. North of the glen lie the Trossachs mountains, and the northern half of the council area is generally mountainous in character.

History

Stirling district was created in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which abolished Scotland's counties, burghs and landward districts and replaced them with upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. Stirling was one of three districts within the Central region. As created in 1975 the Stirling district covered five districts from Stirlingshire and four districts from Perthshire, which were all abolished at the same time: [3]

From Perthshire:

From Stirlingshire:

The new district and its neighbour Falkirk were together made a new Stirling and Falkirk lieutenancy area. The last Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire became the first Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk. [4]

Local government was reformed again in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which abolished the regions and districts which had been created in 1975, replacing them with unitary council areas. Central Region was abolished and each of the area's three districts, including Stirling, became council areas. Stirling District Council was therefore replaced by the current Stirling Council. [5]

Governance

Stirling
Stirling Council.svg
Leadership
Elaine Watterson,
Conservative
since 7 December 2023 [6]
Vacant
since death of Margaret Bisley in October 2024 [7]
Caroline Sinclair
since 2024 [8]
Structure
Seats23 councillors
United Kingdom Stirling Council 2024.svg
Political groups
Administration (5)
  Labour (4)
Other parties (17)
  Conservative (8)
  SNP (7)
  Independents (1)
  Greens (1)
Vacant (1)
  Vacant (2)
Elections
Single transferable vote
Last election
 5 May 2022
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Viewforth House Stirling.jpg
Old Viewforth, Pitt Terrace, Stirling, FK8 2ET
Website
www.stirling.gov.uk

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2007. Following the 2022 election a minority Labour administration formed to run the council. [9] [10]

The first election to Stirling District 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: [11]

Stirling District Council

Party in controlYears
No overall control 1975–1984
Labour 1984–1988
No overall control 1988–1996

Stirling Council

Party in controlYears
Labour 1996–1999
No overall control 1999–2003
Labour 2003–2007
No overall control 2007–present

Leadership

The first leader of the council, Corrie McChord, had been the last leader of the Central Regional Council. [12] The leaders since 1996 have been: [13]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Corrie McChord Labour 1 Apr 199612 Mar 2008
Graham Houston SNP 12 Mar 200817 May 2012
Corrie McChord Labour 17 May 201228 Feb 2013
Johanna Boyd Labour 28 Feb 20134 May 2017
Scott Farmer SNP 24 May 201719 May 2022
Chris Kane Labour 19 May 202212 Sep 2024
Margaret Bisley [14] Labour 12 Sep 202427 Oct 2024

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of the council was:

PartyCouncillors
Conservative 8
SNP 7
Labour 5
Scottish Green 1
Independent 1
Vacant 1
Total23

A by-election was held in 15 August 2024 to fill a vacancy caused by Chris Kane being elected as MP for Stirling and Strathallan. Following his election, Labour Councillor Margaret Brisley became leader of the Council, but died on 27 October 2024 [15] , and a by-election will be held to fill the vacancy caused by her death. The next full council election is due in 2027. [16]

Premises

Old Viewforth: The 1937 wing behind the original house Stirling Council Head Quarters - geograph.org.uk - 131346.jpg
Old Viewforth: The 1937 wing behind the original house

The council is based at Old Viewforth on Pitt Terrace in Stirling. The oldest part of the building is a converted house called Viewforth, which had been built in 1855. [17] The house was bought by Stirlingshire County Council in 1931 for £5,250 and converted to become its headquarters. [18] A large art deco extension was added to the rear of the house, opening in 1937. [19] A new building called New Viewforth was built alongside the older premises in 1972, shortly before Stirlingshire County Council was abolished. [20]

Between 1975 and 1996 the premises at Viewforth served as the headquarters of Central Regional Council, whilst Stirling District Council was based at the Municipal Buildings at 8–10 Corn Exchange Road in Stirling, which had been completed in 1918 for the old Stirling Town Council. [21] [22] On local government reorganisation in 1996 Stirling Council took over Viewforth. The 1972 building known as New Viewforth was demolished in 2014. [23]

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: [11]

YearSeats SNP Conservative Labour Green Liberal Democrats Independent / Other Notes
1995 222713000
1999 222911000New ward boundaries. [24]
2003 2201012000
2007 22748030New ward boundaries. [25]
2012 22948100
2017 23994100New ward boundaries. [26]
2022 23876101Labour minority administration with Conservative support.

Wards

Map of the area's wards (2017 configuration) Stirling UK ward map 2017 (blank).svg
Map of the area's wards (2017 configuration)

The wards are: [26]

Ward
Number		Ward NameLocationSeats
1 Trossachs and Teith Trossachs and Teith.svg 3
2 Forth and Endrick Fort and Endrick.svg 3
3 Dunblane and Bridge of Allan Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.svg 4
4 Stirling North Stirling North.svg 4
5 Stirling West Stirling West.svg 3
6 Stirling East Stirling East.svg 3
7 Bannockburn Bannockburn.svg 3

Communities

The area is divided into 42 community council areas, all of which have community councils as at 2023. [27]

Settlements

Stirling UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
class=notpageimage|
The largest settlements in Stirling council area
Topographic map of Stirling and East and West Dunbartonshire Topo map Stirling Dunbartonshire.png
Topographic map of Stirling and East and West Dunbartonshire

As well as the city of Stirling itself, there are many towns, villages and hamlets spread across the council area, as well as dispersed settlements.

Largest settlements by population:

SettlementPopulation (2020) [28]
Stirling

37,910

Dunblane

9,310

Bannockburn

6,720

Bridge of Allan

5,320

Callander

3,080

Fallin

2,850

Cowie

2,720

Doune

2,200

Balfron

2,140

Strathblane

2,000

Towns

Villages

Hamlets

Dispersed settlements

Places of interest

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perthshire</span> Historic administrative division in Scotland

Perthshire, officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south; it borders the counties of Inverness-shire and Aberdeenshire to the north, Angus to the east, Fife, Kinross-shire, Clackmannanshire, Stirlingshire and Dunbartonshire to the south and Argyllshire to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clackmannanshire</span> Historic county and council area of Scotland

Clackmannanshire, or the County of Clackmannan, is a historic county, council area, registration county and lieutenancy area in Scotland, bordering the council areas of Stirling, Fife, and Perth and Kinross. In terms of historic counties it borders Perthshire, Stirlingshire and Fife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falkirk (council area)</span> Council area of Scotland

Falkirk is one of 32 unitary authority council areas of Scotland. It was formed on 1 April 1996 by way of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 from the exact boundaries of Falkirk District, one of three parts of the Central region created in 1975, which was abolished at that time. Prior to the 1975 reorganisation, the majority of the council area was part of the historic county of Stirlingshire, and a small part, namely Bo'ness and Blackness, was part of the former county of West Lothian.

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

Dunbartonshire or the County of Dumbarton is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the west central Lowlands of Scotland lying to the north of the River Clyde. Dunbartonshire borders Perthshire to the north, Stirlingshire to the east, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire to the south, and Argyllshire to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Callander</span> Town in Stirling, Scotland

Callander is a small town in the council area of Stirling in Scotland, situated on the River Teith. The town is located in the historic county of Perthshire and is a popular tourist stop to and from the Highlands.

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

Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling is a historic county and registration county of Scotland. Its county town is Stirling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trossachs</span> Area in the southern Scottish Highlands

The Trossachs generally refers to an area of wooded glens, braes, and lochs lying to the east of Ben Lomond in the Stirling council area of Scotland. The name is taken from that of a small woodland glen that lies at the centre of the area, but is now generally applied to the wider region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stirling (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983-2024

Stirling was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lennox</span> Region of Scotland

The Lennox is a region of Scotland centred on The Vale of Leven, including its great loch: Loch Lomond.

Kinross and Western Perthshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 1983, representing, at any one time, a seat for one Member of Parliament (MP), elected by the first past the post system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Scotland Police</span> Law enforcement agency

Central Scotland Police was the territorial police force responsible for the Scottish council areas of Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire. The headquarters of the force were at Randolphfield House in Stirling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilmahog</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Kilmahog is a hamlet situated half a mile to the west of Callander, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service</span>

Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service was the statutory fire and rescue service for the area of Central Scotland, Scotland between 1975 and 2013. It was amalgamated into the single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in 2013.

The FK postcode area, also known as the Falkirk postcode area, is a group of 21 postcode districts in central Scotland, within 18 post towns. These cover most of the Falkirk council area, most of the Stirling council area and Clackmannanshire, plus small parts of Fife, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Region, Scotland</span>

Central region was a local government region from 1975 to 1996, being one of twelve such regions across Scotland. The Regional Council's headquarters were at Viewforth in Stirling, which had been previously the headquarters of Stirlingshire County Council. Since 1996 the area has been divided into the council areas of Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling, which had previously been districts within Central region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glen Finglas</span>

Glen Finglas is a glen in the Trossachs, in the Stirling council area of Scotland. It is an area of forest in Highlands of the former county of Perthshire, north of Brig o' Turk, close to Callander in Menteith. To the west is Loch Katrine.

References

  1. ↑ "Council and committees". Stirling Council. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics . 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1973 c. 65, retrieved 16 April 2023
  4. ↑ "The Lord-Lieutenants Order 1975", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1975/428, retrieved 16 April 2023
  5. ↑ "Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1994 c. 39, retrieved 16 April 2023
  6. ↑ Marjoribanks, Kaiya (8 December 2023). "New Stirling Provost appointed to role after resignation of previous civic leader". Daily Record. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  7. ↑ Glen, Isla (28 October 2024). "Stirling Council leader Margaret Brisley dies aged 79" . Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  8. ↑ "Caroline Sinclair appointed as new Stirling Council Chief Executive". Stirling Council. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  9. ↑ "Labour administration to lead Stirling Council". Stirling Council. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "Labour form minority administration on Stirling Council". BBC News. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  12. ↑ "Council dashes hopes of nursery petition parents". Stirling Observer. 10 November 1995. p. 17. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  13. ↑ "Council minutes". Stirling Council. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  14. ↑ "Cllr Margaret Brisley appointed as Stirling Council Leader". Stirling Council. Stirling Council. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  15. ↑ "Stirling Council Leader Margaret Brisley Dies Aged 79". Daily Record. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  16. ↑ "Stirling". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  17. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Pitt Terrace, Viewforth (Stirling Council Offices), including entrance gateways and boundary wall to the west (Category B Listed Building) (LB48323)" . Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  18. ↑ "New County Buildings". Falkirk Herald. 17 January 1931. p. 7. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  19. ↑ "New County Buildings opened". Falkirk Herald. 8 May 1937. p. 4. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  20. ↑ "Viewforth - Council Buildings Old and New". Stirling Archives. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  21. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Municipal Buildings, 8-10 Corn Exchange Road, Stirling (LB41105)" . Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  22. ↑ "No. 23961". The Edinburgh Gazette . 29 March 1996. p. 798.
  23. ↑ "Former Stirling Council building will vanish within weeks". The Courier. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  24. ↑ "The Stirling (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1998", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1998/3253, retrieved 16 April 2023
  25. ↑ Scottish Parliament. The Stirling (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006 as made, from legislation.gov.uk .
  26. 1 2 Scottish Parliament. The Stirling (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2016 as made, from legislation.gov.uk .
  27. ↑ "About Community Councils". Stirling Council. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  28. ↑ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
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