West Lothian Council | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | |
Leadership | |
Graham Hope since September 2010 | |
Structure | |
Seats | 33 councillors |
Political groups |
|
Elections | |
Single transferable vote | |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
Meeting place | |
Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston, EH54 6FF | |
Website | |
www |
West Lothian Council is the local authority for West Lothian, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland.
West Lothian District Council was created in 1975 as one of four districts within the Lothian region. The West Lothian district took its name from the historic county of West Lothian, which had covered a similar but not identical area. [3] The Lothian region was abolished in 1996, when the four districts in the region, including West Lothian, became unitary council areas. [4]
The council has been under no overall control since 2007, with a Labour leader since 2012.
The first election to West Lothian 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 reforms which came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1975 has been as follows: [5]
West Lothian District Council
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 1975–1977 | |
No overall control | 1977–1980 | |
Labour | 1980–1992 | |
No overall control | 1992–1996 |
West Lothian Council
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 1996–2007 | |
No overall control | 2007– |
The leaders of the council since 1996 have been: [6]
Councillor | Party | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Graeme Morrice | Labour | 1 Apr 1996 | May 2007 | |
Peter Johnston | SNP | 10 May 2007 | May 2012 | |
John McGinty | Labour | 10 May 2012 | May 2017 | |
Lawrence Fitzpatrick | Labour | 25 May 2017 |
Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of the council was:
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Scottish National Party | 15 | |
Labour | 11 | |
Conservative | 4 | |
Liberal Democrats | 1 | |
Independent | 1 | |
Vacant | 1 | |
Total | 33 |
A by-election to fill the vacancy is due on 22 August 2024. The next full council election is due in 2027. [7]
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 | Conservative | Liberal Democrats | Independent / Other | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | 27 | 11 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Labour majority |
1999 | 32 | 11 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | New ward boundaries. [8] Labour majority |
2003 | 32 | 12 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Labour majority |
2007 | 32 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 4 | New ward boundaries. [9] SNP-Conservative-Action to Save St. John's Hospital [10] |
2012 | 33 | 15 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Increase in number of councillors. [11] |
2017 | 33 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 1 | Labour minority with Conservative support. [12] |
2022 | 33 | 15 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | Labour minority with Conservative-Independent-Liberal Democrat support. [13] |
The council is based at the West Lothian Civic Centre in Livingston. The building was built in 2009 at a cost of £50 million to serve as a police headquarters and courthouse as well as offices for the council. [14] Prior to 2009 the council's offices had been divided between various buildings, including:
Lindsay House and West Lothian House were both demolished shortly after the new Civic Centre opened in 2009. [18] [19]
Like all Scottish Councils, West Lothian Council provides services such as Education, [20] Social Work, [21] Housing, [22] Highways, Street lighting [23] and Cleansing. [24]
The council is responsible for the co-ordination of the planning and provision of public services in West Lothian. It works closely with other public bodies such as police, fire and health, through its community planning partnership.
West Lothian Council operates country parks at Beecraigs, Polkemmet, and Almondell & Calderwood. [25]
During elections West Lothian Council is divided geographically into 9 wards which then elect either three or four councillors each by the Single Transferable Vote system. The electoral system of local councils in Scotland is governed by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, an Act of the Scottish Parliament which first introduced proportional representation to councils. These electoral wards are as follows:
Ward Number | Ward Name | Location | Elected Members |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Linlithgow | 3 | |
2 | Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh | 4 | |
3 | Livingston North | 4 | |
4 | Livingston South | 4 | |
5 | East Livingston and East Calder | 4 | |
6 | Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley | 3 | |
7 | Whitburn and Blackburn | 4 | |
8 | Bathgate | 4 | |
9 | Armadale and Blackridge | 3 |
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The 2012 West Lothian Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of West Lothian Council. The election will use the 9 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation, with 33 Councillors being elected. The Bathgate Ward gained an additional seat for the 2012 elections. The election saw Labour remain the largest party on the Council as they gained 2 seats. The Scottish National Party also made 2 net gains and significantly increased their vote share, outpolling Labour in terms of votes cast. The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party retained their single seat on the Council and so to did the Independents. The Action to Save St. John's Hospital group were completely wiped out from the authority losing all of their 3 seats.
The 2017 West Lothian Council election took place on 4 May 2017 to elect members of West Lothian Council. The election used the 9 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation, with 33 Councillors being elected. The election resulted in no overall party majority, leading to the Labour Party and the Conservative Party forming a coalition administration.
Linlithgow is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the West Lothian Council. It elects four Councillors. In 2019, the population of the ward was 16,499.
Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the West Lothian Council. It elects four Councillors.
Livingston North is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the West Lothian Council. It elects four Councillors.
Livingston South is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the West Lothian Council. It elects four Councillors. In April 2020, Peter Johnson retired from West Lothian Council triggering a by-election on the 11th March 2021 where Maria MacAulay (SNP) was duly elected.
Bathgate is one of the nine wards used to elect members of the West Lothian Council. It elects four Councillors.
The 2022 West Lothian Council election took place on 5 May 2022. Elected positions in all 9 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 were up for election, with each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote (STV) system form of proportional representation, with 33 Councillors being elected in total.