Shetland Islands Council

The Shetland Islands Council (Shetland Insular Scots: Shitlin Islant' Cooncil; Scottish Gaelic: Comhairle Shealtainn) is the local authority for Shetland, Scotland. It was established by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and is the successor to the former Lerwick Town Council and Zetland County Council. This council was established in 1975 and was largely unaffected by the Scottish local government changes of the mid-1990s.

Shetland Islands Council

Comhairle Shealtainn
Full council election every 5 years
Coat of arms or logo
Coat of arms
Logo
Council logo
Type
Type
History
Founded1975
Leadership
Andrea Manson,
Independent
since 23 May 2022
Emma MacDonald,
Independent
since 23 May 2022
Maggie Sandison
since 28 February 2018[1]
Structure
Seats23 councillors
Shetland Islands Council composition
Political groups
  Independent (20)
  Greens (1)
  SNP (1)
  Labour (1)
Elections
Single transferable vote
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
6 May 2027
Motto
Með lögum skal land byggja (Old Norse: "By law shall the land be built up")
Meeting place
Council Chamber, Lower Hillhead, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0EL
Website
www.shetland.gov.uk

It provides services in the areas of Environmental Health, Roads, Social Work, Community Development, Organisational Development, Economic Development, Building Standards, Trading Standards, Housing, Waste, Education, Burial Grounds, Port and Harbours and others. The council is allowed to collect Council Tax. The Fire Service is part of the Highlands and Islands division of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

In 2011, structural reforms saw the creation of the Political Leader position, with the Convener becoming a civic leadership post.[2]

Composition

As of 2022 the council has the following councillors:

Shetland Island Council
Party Seats
Independent 20
Scottish Green Party 1
Scottish National Party 1
Scottish Labour Party 1

Leaders

Political Leaders
No. Political Leader Party Period in office Election Depute Leader
1 Josie Simpson Independent 2011 - 2012 2007
2 Gary Robinson Independent 2012 - 2017 2012 Billy Fox (Independent)
Michael Stout (Independent)
3 Cecil Smith Independent 2017 - 2018 2017 Steven Coutts (Independent)
4 Steven Coutts Independent 2018–2022 2017 Emma Macdonald (Independent)
5 Emma Macdonald Independent 2022–present 2022 Gary Robinson (Independent)

Convenors[3]
No. Convener Party Period in office Election Depute Convener
1 A.I. Tulloch Independent 1974 - 1986 1974
1978
1982		 John Jamieson (Independent)
John Butler (Labour)
Edward Thomason (Independent)
2 Edward Thomason Shetland Movement 1986 - 1994 1986
1990		 Willie Tait (Independent)
William Anderson (Shetland Movement)
3 Lewis Shand Smith Independent 1994 - 1999 1994 James Smith (Shetland Movement)
4 Tom Stove Independent 1999 - 2003 1999 John Nicolson (Liberal Democrat)
5 Sandy Cluness Liberal Democrat[lower-alpha 1]
Independent		 2003 - 2012 2003
2007		 Florence Grains (Independent)
Josie Simpson (Independent)
6 Malcolm Bell Independent 2012–2022 2012
2017		 Gary Robinson (Independent)
Cecil Smith (Independent)
Beatrice Wishart (Independent)
Cecil Smith (Independent)
7 Andrea Manson Independent 2022–present 2022 Bryan Peterson (Independent)

Premises
North Ness, Lerwick: Council offices being the white building in the middle.

Council meetings are held at the Council Chamber on Lower Hillhead in Lerwick. The building was formerly St Ringan's Church and was built in 1886.[4] After the church closed the building was used as a library for some years, before being converted to become the council chamber in 2022. Council meetings were previously held at Lerwick Town Hall.[5]

The council's main offices are at 8 North Ness in Lerwick, overlooking the harbour. The building was completed in 2012 to bring together the council's departments in one building.[6]

See also

Notes
  1. Sandy Cluness was first elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor in 2003 but stood as an independent candidate in 2007.

References
  1. Davidson, Jenni (28 February 2018). "Maggie Sandison appointed chief executive of Shetland Islands Council". Holyrood. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  2. "Josie Takes the Helm". Shetland News. 7 March 2011.
  3. Stewart, James. "Politics". Shetland History Online.
  4. Historic Environment Scotland. "Lower Hillhead and Union Street, St Ringan's Church (United Free Church of Scotland), including church hall, boundary walls, and gatepiers (Category B Listed Building) (LB37269)". Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  5. Cope, Chris (11 March 2022). "From church to library to council chamber: St Ringan's latest evolution". Shetland News. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  6. "New council headquarters open". Shetland News. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2023.


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