Fife Council

Fife Council is the local authority for the Fife area of Scotland and is the third largest Scottish council by number of councillors, having 75 elected council members.[2]

Fife Council
Full council election every 5 years.
Coat of arms
Logo
Council logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Jim Leishman,
Labour
since 17 May 2012
David Ross,
Labour
since 20 February 2014[lower-alpha 1]
Ken Gourlay
since July 2023[1]
Structure
Seats75
Fife Council composition
34 / 75
20 / 75
13 / 75
8 / 75
Elections
Single transferable vote
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Fife House, Glenrothes
Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes, KY7 5LT
Website
www.fife.gov.uk

Councillors make decisions at its regular council meetings, or at those of its nine other general committees (covering for example tourism and transportation, education, environment, housing, licensing etc.), two planning committees, and seven area committees.[3]

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 minority Labour administration was formed with informal support from the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.

A Provost of Fife is elected from among the councillors every five years, who chairs the full council meetings and acts as ceremonial head of the council.[4] The current Provost is former football manager Jim Leishman MBE, who was first elected to the post in May 2012 and subsequently re-elected in 2017 and 2022.[5] Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council, with the current leader being Labour councillor David Ross, who has been leader since 2014, being co-leader with David Alexander of the SNP between 2017 and 2022 when he became sole leader again.

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.[6] Fife Regional Council and the three district councils were merged in 1996 to form a single council area, governed by Fife Council.[7]

Political control

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:[8]

Fife Regional Council

Party in controlYears
Labour1975–1996

Fife Council

Party in controlYears
Labour1996–2003
No overall control2003–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1996 have been:[9][10]

CouncillorPartyFromToNotes
Alex Rowley Labour1 April 19961998
Christine May Labour19982003
Anne McGovern Labour20032007
Peter Grant SNPMay 2007May 2012
Alex Rowley LabourMay 201220 Feb 2014
David Ross[11] Labour20 Feb 2014May 2017
David Alexander SNPMay 2017May 2022Co-leaders[12]
David Ross Labour
David Ross Labour19 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.[13]

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:[8]

Year Seats SNP Labour Liberal Democrats Conservative Independent / Other Notes
1995929542504
1999789432114New ward boundaries.[14]
20037811362326
20077823242155New ward boundaries.[15]
20127826351034
20177529247150New ward boundaries.[16][17]
20227534201380

Wards
Map of Fife's wards, using 2017 boundaries
WardLocation in FifeLargest settlementOther settlements
Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss Villages Methil Buckhaven, Coaltown of Wemyss, East Wemyss, West Wemyss
Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy Burntisland Auchtertool, Kinghorn, Western Kirkcaldy
Cowdenbeath Cowdenbeath Crossgates, Hill of Beath, Kelty
Cupar Cupar Blebo Craigs, Ceres, Cults, Cupar Muir, Dairsie, Kemback, Pitlessie, Pitscottie, Springfield, Stratheden
Dunfermline Central Dunfermline Crossford, Halbeath
Dunfermline North Dunfermline Kingseat, Townhill, Wellwood
Dunfermline South Dunfermline
East Neuk and Landward Anstruther Abercrombie, Arncroach, Boarhills, Carnbee, Cellardyke, Colinsburgh, Crail, Dunino, Elie and Earlsferry, Kilconquhar, Kilrenny, Kingsbarns, Largoward, Lathones, Pittenweem, St Monans
Glenrothes Central and Thornton Glenrothes Coaltown of Balgonie, Thornton
Glenrothes North, Leslie and Markinch Glenrothes Cadham, Leslie, Markinch, Milton of Balgonie, Star
Glenrothes West and Kinglassie Glenrothes Kinglassie
Howe of Fife and Tay Coast Newburgh Auchtermuchty, Balmalcolm, Collessie, Creich, Falkland, Freuchie, Gateside, Kilmany, Kingskettle, Ladybank, Letham, Lindores, Logie, Luthrie, Strathmiglo
Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay Dalgety Bay Aberdour, Hillend, Jamestown, Inverkeithing, North Queensferry
Kirkcaldy Central Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy East Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy North Kirkcaldy
Leven, Kennoway and Largo Leven Baintown, Balcurvie, Bonnybank, Cameron Bridge, Drumeldrie, Kennoway, Lower Largo, Lundin Links, Upper Largo, Windygates
Lochgelly, Cardenden and Benarty Lochgelly Ballingry, Cardenden, Crosshill Glencraig, Lochore, Lumphinnans
Rosyth Rosyth Charlestown, Comrie, Limekilns
St Andrews St Andrews Strathkinness
Tay Bridgehead Newport-on-Tay Balmerino, Balmullo, Bottomcraig, Gauldry, Guardbridge, Leuchars, Pickletillum, Tayport, Woodhaven, Wormit
West Fife and Coastal Villages Kincardine Blairhall, Bowershall, Cairneyhill, Carnock, Comrie, Culross, Gowkhall, Oakley, Saline, Steelend, Torryburn, Valleyfield

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. "Fife News : Fife Welcomes Cllr Lizz Mogg as Fife Deputy Provost". City Local. 20 December 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  3. "Committees". Fife Council. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  4. "The Provost and his role". Fife Council. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  5. "Jim Leishman elected as Fife's provost". BBC News. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  6. "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1973 c. 65, retrieved 17 April 2023
  7. "Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 39, retrieved 21 April 2023
  8. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  9. "Council minutes". Fife Council. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  10. "Council Leader". Fife Council. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  11. "David Ross lined up as new council leader". Central Fife Times. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  12. "Fife Council agree to SNP and Labour joint partnership". Dunfermline Press. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  13. Ferguson, Keith (1982). A New Town's Heritage: An Introduction to the Story of Glenrothes (1st ed.). Glenrothes: Glenrothes Development Corporation. p. 91.
  14. "The Fife (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1998", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1998/3243, retrieved 21 April 2023
  15. Scottish Parliament. The Fife (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006 as made, from legislation.gov.uk.
  16. Scottish Parliament. The Fife (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2016 as made, from legislation.gov.uk.
  17. "Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's 5th Electoral Review" (PDF). Scottish Government. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
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