Moray Council is the local authority for Moray, one of the 32 council areas in Scotland. The council is based in Elgin. The Moray Firth lies off the area's north coast.
Moray Council | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | |
History | |
Preceded by | Moray District Council |
Leadership | |
Civic Leader | |
Chief Executive (interim) | John Mundell since May 2024[2] |
Structure | |
Seats | 26 councillors |
Political groups |
|
Elections | |
Single transferable vote | |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
Meeting place | |
Council Offices, High Street, Elgin, IV30 1BX | |
Website | |
www |
History
editMoray District Council had been created in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. It became one of the newly created single tier local authorities in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.[3]
Political control
editThe first election to Moray 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:[4]
Moray District Council
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Independent | 1975–1988 | |
No overall control | 1988–1996 |
Moray Council
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
SNP | 1996–1999 | |
No overall control | 1999–2002 | |
Independent | 2002–2007 | |
No overall control | 2007–present |
Leadership
editSince 2012, political leadership has been provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since then have been:[5]
Councillor | Party | From | To | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allan Wright | Conservative | 9 May 2012 | 1 Jan 2015 | ||
Stewart Cree[6] | Independent | 1 Jan 2015 | May 2017 | ||
George Alexander | Independent | 24 May 2017 | 13 Jun 2018 | ||
Graham Leadbitter | SNP | 13 Jun 2018 | 18 May 2022 | ||
Neil McLennan[7] | Conservative | 18 May 2022 | 11 Jul 2022 | Joint leaders | |
Kathleen Robertson | Conservative | ||||
Kathleen Robertson | Conservative | 11 Jul 2022 |
Composition
editFollowing the 2022 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of the council was:[8][9]
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Conservative | 9 | |
SNP | 8 | |
Independent | 5 | |
Labour | 3 | |
Scottish Green | 1 | |
Total | 26 |
One of the independent councillors describes themselves as a "non-aligned Conservative".[10] The next election is due in 2027.[11]
Premises
editThe council meets at the Council Offices on High Street in Elgin. The older part of the building facing High Street was completed in 1952 adjoining Elgin Sheriff Court for the former joint Moray and Nairn County Council.[12] Large extensions were later added to the south of the building, facing Greyfriars Street. In 2012 the council opened an additional annexe nearby at 2–10 High Street in a converted supermarket.[13]
Elections
editWards
editWard number |
Name | Location | Seats |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Speyside Glenlivet | 3 | |
2 | Keith and Cullen | 3 | |
3 | Buckie | 3 | |
4 | Fochabers Lhanbryde | 3 | |
5 | Heldon and Laich | 4 | |
6 | Elgin City North | 3 | |
7 | Elgin City South | 3 | |
8 | Forres | 4 |
References
edit- ^ "Moray Council leadership confirmed". The Moray Council. 18 May 2022.
- ^ Clark, Jonny (26 March 2024). "Moray Council announces John Mundell OBE as interim chief executive". Northern Scot. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ See also Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website Archived 1 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine (OPSI home page Archived 18 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine)
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ "Council minutes". Moray Council. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "New Moray Council leader named as Stewart Cree". BBC News. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ McBlane, Lewis (11 July 2022). "Moray Tory group in chaos as new sole leader Cllr Kathleen Robertson says Cllr Neil McLennan was toppled in secret no confidence vote". Grampian Online. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Gilmour, Lauren (11 July 2022). "Moray Council leader 'steps aside' from Conservative Party over 'poor behaviour'". Independent. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ Whitfield, Alistair (17 August 2022). "Moray councillor leaves Tory administration". The Northern Scot. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Councillors". Moray Council. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Moray". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "A staff of 70 will look after John". Aberdeen Evening Express. 17 April 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ Whitfield, Alistair (14 September 2022). "Moray Council annexe building to reopen". The Northern Scot. Retrieved 16 July 2023.