Party Composition in Unitary Councils
 | 'To call the Labour group an authoritarian junta is pretty strong but it's pretty accurate.' Cllr Jim Mitchell, deputy leader of the SNP group on Renfrewshire Council, March 1997. |  |
| 'To call the Labour group an authoritarian junta is pretty strong but it's pretty accurate.' Cllr Jim Mitchell, deputy leader of the SNP group on Renfrewshire Council, March 1997. | |
Unitary authorities have been in place for the three island authorities, Western Isles (population 29,000), Orkney Islands (population 20,000) and Shetland Islands (population 22,000), since the local government reform in May 1974 when the Island, District and Regional Councils were created. The most recent elections were held, at the same time as the final Regional Council
elections, on 5th May 1994.
In April 1995, local government for mainland Scotland was reformed once more and elections were held for 29 new Unitary authorities. These took over from the District and Regional Councils in April 1996. The next elections for the mainland councils will be held on Thursday 6 th May 1999, on the same day as elections to the devolved Scottish Parliament.
For the political composition of English and Welsh local authorities see the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors' web site.
Return to home page