Glasgow City Council

Glasgow City Council
Full council election every 4 years.
Coat of arms
Glasgow City Council logo
Type
Type	Unitary authority
History
Preceded by	Glasgow District Council
Leadership
Council leader	Susan Aitken, SNP Since 18 May 2017[1]
Depute Leader	David McDonald, SNP Since 18 May 2017[2]
Lord Provost of Glasgow	Eva Bolander, SNP Since 18 May 2017[3]
Structure
Seats	85
Political groups	Administration      SNP (39) Other parties      Labour (31)      Conservative (8)      Scottish Greens (7)
Elections
Voting system	Single transferable vote
Last election	5 May 2017
Next election	5 May 2022[4]
Motto
Let Glasgow Flourish
Meeting place
Glasgow City Chambers
Website
www.glasgow.gov.uk

Glasgow City Council, the local government body of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, became one of the newly created single tier local authorities in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994,^[5] with boundaries somewhat different from those of the City of Glasgow district of the Strathclyde region: parts of the Cambuslang and Halfway and Rutherglen and Fernhill areas were transferred from the city area to the new South Lanarkshire council area.

The district had been created in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to include: the former county of the city of Glasgow and a number of areas previously within the county of Lanark: Cambuslang (Central and North, and South lying outwith East Kilbride), Rutherglen (including the burgh of Rutherglen), part of a Carmunnock area (that lying outwith East Kilbride) and Baillieston, Carmyle, Garrowhill, Mount Vernon and Springboig.

History

The early city was run by the old "Glasgow Town Council". In 1895, the Town Council became "The Corporation of the City of Glasgow" ("Glasgow Corporation" or "City Corporation"). It retained this title until local government re-organisation in 1975, when it became "City of Glasgow District Council". In 1996, following the dissolution of Strathclyde Regional Council and Glasgow District Council, their responsibilities transferred to the new single-tier local authority Glasgow City Council.

The title Lord Provost of Glasgow, used now for the civic leader of the city council, has history dating from the 15th century.

During World War I, the council was unique in the United Kingdom in appointing an official war artist, Frederick Farrell.^[6]

Glasgow Corporation Transport was under the control of the Glasgow Corporation, and ran the local buses and Glasgow Trams, until it was superseded by the Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive on 1 June 1973.

During the period of two tier local government (Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973), 1975 to 1996, Glasgow District Council was responsible for refuse collection, museums, libraries and housing, while Strathclyde Regional Council had responsibilities for policing, fire service, water, education, social work and transport.

The city council established in 1996 (Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994), took on the powers and responsibilities previously divided between councils of the Glasgow City district and the Strathclyde region.

The council area borders onto East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Council structure

The council is ceremonially headed by the Lord Provost of Glasgow, who is elected to convene the council and perform associated tasks as a general civic leader and Lord Lieutenant. The current incumbent is Eva Bolander.

The council's executive branch is headed by a Leader of the Council, who is the leader of the largest political grouping, currently the Scottish National Party. The executive committee is usually formed of 19 members across all the elected parties proportionally, however this would have given the SNP a majority of 10 seats despite not gaining one through the election. The Greens proposed an amendment to add an additional seat for each party, making the SNP the biggest minority party.^[7] It was passed and so its composition of 23 seats is currently:^[8]

Elections

Main article: Glasgow City Council election, 2017

The council consists of 85 councillors elected for a five-year term from 23 wards. These wards were introduced for the 2017 election, replacing those introduced in 2007, and each returns three or four members by the single transferable vote system of election. This system was introduced by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004,^[9] as a means of ensuring a reasonably proportionately representative outcome.

The most recent full council election took place on Thursday 4 May 2017. The Scottish National Party became the largest party (39) but did not gain an overall majority; Labour returned fewer councillors (31) and lost overall control, with increased numbers for the Conservatives (8) and the Greens (7).

Current multi-member ward system

Current multi-member wards by number

A new multi-member ward system was introduced for the 2017 council election:

Ward	Number of councillors	Population (2015)[10]
1. Linn[lower-alpha 1]	4 members	29,575
2. Newlands/Auldburn[lower-alpha 2]	3 members	23,144
3. Greater Pollok[lower-alpha 3]	4 members	30,729
4. Cardonald[lower-alpha 4]	4 members	29,639
5. Govan[lower-alpha 5]	4 members	26,769
6. Pollokshields[lower-alpha 6]	4 members	27,983
7. Langside[lower-alpha 7]	4 members	29,060
8. Southside Central[lower-alpha 8]	4 members	25,266
9. Calton[lower-alpha 9]	4 members	27,460
10. Anderston/City/Yorkhill[lower-alpha 10]	4 members	30,184
11. Hillhead[lower-alpha 11]	3 members	25,411
12. Victoria Park[lower-alpha 12]	3 members	20,950
13. Garscadden/Scotstounhill[lower-alpha 13]	4 members	30,565
14. Drumchapel/Anniesland[lower-alpha 14]	4 members	29,432
15. Maryhill[lower-alpha 15]	3 members	22,244
16. Canal[lower-alpha 16]	4 members	25,000
17. Springburn/Robroyston[lower-alpha 17]	4 members	27,237
18. East Centre[lower-alpha 18]	4 members	27,991
19. Shettleston[lower-alpha 19]	4 members	25,806
20. Baillieston[lower-alpha 20]	3 members	21,663
21. North East[lower-alpha 21]	3 members	20,457
22. Dennistoun[lower-alpha 22]	3 members	20,861
23. Partick East/Kelvindale[lower-alpha 23]	4 members	28,914

Ward notes

1. ↑ Carmunnock, Castlemilk, Cathcart (part), Croftfoot King's Park (part), Muirend, Simshill
2. ↑ Arden, Auldhouse, Carnwadric, Cowglen, Hillpark, Kennishead, Mansewood, Merrylee, Newlands, Pollokshaws
3. ↑ Crookston (part), Darnley, Deaconsbank, Hurlet, Nitshill, Parkhouse G53, Pollok (part), Priesthill, Southpark
4. ↑ Cardonald, Corkerhill, Crookston (part), Hillington, Mosspark, Penilee, Pollok (part)
5. ↑ Cessnock, Drumoyne, Govan, Ibrox, Kinning Park, Shieldhall, Tradeston
6. ↑ Bellahouston, Craigton, Dumbreck, Pollokshields, Shawlands (part), Strathbungo
7. ↑ Battlefield, Cathcart (part), Langside, King's Park (part), Mount Florida, Shawlands (part), Toryglen
8. ↑ Crosshill, Gorbals, Queen's Park, Govanhill, Hutchesontown, Oatlands
9. ↑ Barrowfield, Bridgeton, Calton, Dalmarnock, Gallowgate, Newbank, Parkhead (part)
10. ↑ Anderston, Cowcaddens, Finnieston, Garnethill, Glasgow City Centre, Merchant City, Townhead
11. ↑ Hillhead, North Kelvinside, Park District, Woodlands, Woodside
12. ↑ Anniesland (part), Broomhill, Jordanhill, Scotstoun (part), Thornwood, Whiteinch
13. ↑ Garscadden, Knightswood (part), Scotstounhill, Scotstoun (part), Yoker
14. ↑ Anniesland (part), Blairdardie, Drumchapel, Knightswood (part), Old Drumchapel, Temple
15. ↑ Gilshochill, Maryhill, Summerston, Wyndford
16. ↑ Cadder, Colston, Hamiltonhill, Milton, Lambhill, Parkhouse G22, Possilpark, Ruchill
17. ↑ Balornock, Barmulloch, Millerston (part), Robroyston, Springburn
18. ↑ Barlanark, Cranhill, Carntyne, Greenfield Riddrie, Springboig
19. ↑ Braidfauld, Carmyle, Lilybank, Mount Vernon, Parkhead (part), Sandyhills, Shettleston, Tollcross
20. ↑ Baillieston, Broomhouse, Easthall, Garrowhill, Swinton, Wellhouse
21. ↑ Blackhill, Craigend, Easterhouse, Garthamlock, Hogganfield, Ruchazie
22. ↑ Dennistoun, Germiston, Haghill, Royston
23. ↑ Dowanhill, Hyndland, Kelvindale, Kelvinside, Partick (part)

Previous ward systems

A previous multi-member ward system was introduced for the 2007 council election:

Pre-2017 multi-member wards by number

Ward	Number of councillors	Representation (2012)
1. Linn	4 members	2 Lab; 1 SNP; 1 Lib Dem
2. Newlands/Auldburn	3 members	2 Lab; 1 SNP
3. Greater Pollok	4 members	2 Lab; 2 SNP
4. Craigton	4 members	2 Lab; 2 SNP
5. Govan	4 members	3 Lab; 1 SNP
6. Pollokshields	3 members	1 Lab; 1 Con; 1 SNP
7. Langside	3 members	2 SNP; 1 Lab
8. Southside Central	4 members	2 Lab; 2 SNP
9. Calton	3 members	2 Lab; 1 SNP
10. Anderston/City	4 members	2 SNP; 1 Lab; 1 Green
11. Hillhead	4 members	2 Lab; 1 SNP; 1 Green
12. Partick West	4 members	2 SNP; 1 Green; 1 Ind
13. Garscadden/Scotstounhill	4 members	2 Lab; 2 SNP
14. Drumchapel/Anniesland	4 members	3 Lab; 1 SNP
15. Maryhill/Kelvin	4 members	2 Lab; 2 SNP
16. Canal	4 members	2 Lab; 1 Ind; 1 Green
17. Springburn	3 members	2 Lab; 1 SNP
18. East Centre	4 members	2 Lab; 2 SNP
19. Shettleston	4 members	3 Lab; 1 SNP
20. Baillieston	4 members	2 Lab; 2 SNP
21. North East	4 members	3 Lab; 1 SNP

Prior to the 2007 election, there were 79 councillors elected from 79 single-member wards by the plurality (first past the post) system of election. The result from this system was 69 of the 79 councillors representing the Labour Party, although that party gained only around half the votes cast in the previous election to the council, and the Scottish National Party was represented by just four councillors, despite gaining some 20% of the votes. There were also three Liberal Democrat councillors, one Conservative councillor, one Scottish Socialist Party councillor, and one independent councillor.

Pre-2007 wards

Ward	Ward	Ward	Ward
Drumry Summerhill Blairdardie Knightswood Park Knightswood South Yoker Anniesland Jordanhill Kelvindale Scotstoun Victoria Park Hayburn Hyndland Hillhead Partick Kelvingrove Anderston Woodlands North Kelvin Wyndford	Maryhill Summerston Milton Ashfield Firhill Keppochhill Merchant City Royston Cowlairs Springburn Wallacewell Milnbank Dennistoun Calton Bridgeton/ Dalmarnock Parkhead Carntyne Robroyston Gartcraig Queenslie	Greenfield Barlanark Shettleston Tollcross Park Braidfauld Mount Vernon Baillieston Garrowhill Garthamlock Easterhouse Drumoyne Govan Ibrox Kingston Mosspark North Cardonald Penilee Cardonald Pollok Crookston	Nitshill Darnley Carnwadric Maxwell Park Pollokshields East Hutchesontown Govanhill Strathbungo Battlefield Langside Pollokshaws Newlands Cathcart Mount Florida Toryglen Kings Park Castlemilk Carmunnock Glenwood

Footnotes