2017 Stirling Council election

Elections to Stirling Council were held on 4 May 2017, the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the seven wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 23 councillors being elected, an increase of 1 from 2012. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system. Following the Fifth Electoral Review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, minor changes were made to several of the ward boundaries and one additional Councillor was added moving the total number of Councillors from twenty-two to twenty-three.

Main article: 2017 Scottish local elections
2017 Stirling Council election
4 May 2017 (2017-05-04)
All 23 seats to Stirling Council
12 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Neil Benny Scott Farmer Danny Gibson
Party Conservative SNP Labour
Leader's seat Stirling West Stirling West Stirling North
Last election 4 seats, 18.2% 9 seats, 40.1% 8 seats, 36.4%
Seats before 4 9 8
Seats after 9 9 4
Seat change 5 - 4
  Fourth party
 
Leader Alasdair Tollemache
Party Scottish Green
Leader's seat Dunblane and Bridge of Allan
Last election 1 seat, 5.8%
Seats before 1
Seats after 1
Seat change -
The 7 multi-member wards
Council Leader before election

Johanna Boyd
Labour

 Council Leader after election

Scott Farmer
SNP

The election saw the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party increased their representation on the council by five and significantly increase their vote share. The SNP retained their nine seats (though lost the council seat they had won in a 2015 by-election) and the Scottish Green Party retained their one seat. The Scottish Labour Party saw their representation on the Council drop by four seats and the Scottish Liberal Democrats and all independent candidates failed to win any seats.

Following the 2012 election a coalition had been formed between the Labour Party and the Conservatives which replaced the previous SNP minority administration. In the aftermath of the 2017 election a new coalition was agreed between the SNP and Labour with Labour Councillor Christine Simpson becoming Provost of Stirling and the SNP's Graham Houston becoming depute convener of the council.[1]

2017 Results
Stirling Local Election Result 2017
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 9 5 0 5 40.9% 37.9% 13,261 18.0%
  SNP 9 2 2 - 40.9% 35.5% 12,408 1.7%
  Labour 4 0 4 4 13.6% 14.5% 5,072 14.1%
  Scottish Green 1 0 0 - 4.5% 6.7% 2,339 0.9%
  Liberal Democrats 0 0 0 - - 3.4% 1,180 2.1%
  Independent 0 0 0 - - 2.0% 715 0.4%

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Ward results

Trossachs and Teith
  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xCon
  • 2017: 2xCon; 1xSNP
  • 2012-2017 Change: 1 Con gain from SNP
Trossachs and Teith - 3 seats[2]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
1234567
Conservative Martin Earl (incumbent) 38.1 2,027            
SNP Evelyn Tweed 20.5 1,090 1,105.8 1,112.5 1,227.6 1,306.6 1,311.7 2,077.4
SNP Fergus Wood (incumbent) 14.6 776 799.4 809.1 850.8 890.2 891.7  
Conservative Jeremy McDonald 11.9 632 1,210.5 1,250.7 1,286.6 1,378.5    
Labour Gerry McGarvey 6.1 326 342.2 391.3 478.6      
Scottish Green Gordon Cowtan 5.4 286 296.3 347.7        
Liberal Democrats Galen Milne 3.3 177 191.5          
Electorate: 9,147   Valid: 5,314   Spoilt: 118   Quota: 1,329   Turnout: 59.4%

    Forth and Endrick
    • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xCon
    • 2017: 2xCon; 1xSNP
    • 2012-2017 Change: 1 Con gain from SNP
    Forth and Endrick - 3 seats[3]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    1234567
    Conservative Alistair Berrill (incumbent) 26.6 1,651            
    Conservative Robert Davies ‡ 18.5 1,147 1,234.4 1,255.6 1,355.4 1,597.0    
    SNP Graham Lambie (incumbent) 16.5 1,026 1,027.4 1,117.4 1,165.5 1,256.6 1,259.7 2,276.2
    SNP Ian Muirhead (incumbent) 13.8 859 859.9 942.0 1,031 1,243.3 1,246.4  
    Independent Evan McLean 10.1 630 632.5 702.7 899.0      
    Labour Richard Simpson 8.5 529 530.4 602.5        
    Scottish Green Michael Marten 6.0 371 371.6          
    Electorate: 10,405   Valid: 6,213   Spoilt: 115   Quota: 1,554   Turnout: 60.8%

      Dunblane and Bridge of Allan
      • 2012: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab; 1xGreen
      • 2017: 2xCon; 1xSNP; 1xGreen
      • 2012-2017 Change: 1 Con gain from Lab
      Dunblane and Bridge of Allan - 4 seats[4]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234567
      Conservative Alastair Majury 22.1 1,543            
      Conservative Douglas Dodds 21.5 1,502            
      SNP Graham Houston (incumbent) 17.2 1,203 1,205.4 1,208.3 1,250.0 1,885.6    
      Labour Mike Robbins (incumbent) 11.8 824 849.8 866.3 1,053.3 1,076.4 1,143.4  
      SNP Rosemary Hunter 10.4 723 724.4 724.6 741.8      
      Scottish Green Alasdair Tollemache 10.1 706 717.2 727.1 883.5 950.6 1,218.4 1,763.6
      Liberal Democrats Stuart Auld 6.8 476 512.0 536.0        
      Electorate: 11,484   Valid: 6,977   Spoilt: 123   Quota: 1,396   Turnout: 61.8%

        Stirling North
        • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab
        • 2012-2017 Change: New ward
        Stirling North - 4 seats[5]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        12345678
        Conservative Ross Oxburgh 26.7 1,237              
        SNP Susan McGill 22.8 1,054              
        SNP Jim Thomson (incumbent) 15.7 727 740.3 845.6 862.2 885.2 899.7 906.4 1,246.3
        Labour Danny Gibson (incumbent) 13.3 616 665.1 668.7 682.2 729.8 994.1    
        Scottish Green Chloe Campbell 10.7 496 511.0 519.1 543.9 614.0 637.2 655.3  
        Labour Jen Preston 5.7 266 302.8 305.9 312.9 349.6      
        Liberal Democrats Fayzan Rehman 3.2 150 205.6 206.1 222.4        
        Independent James McDonald 1.8 85 117.3 118.3          
        Electorate: 10,512   Valid: 4,631   Spoilt: 124   Quota: 927   Turnout: 45.2%

          Stirling West
          • 2012: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
          • 2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
          • 2012-2017 Change: No change
          Stirling West - 3 seats[6]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          123456
          Conservative Neil Benny (incumbent) 39.5 2,076          
          SNP Scott Farmer (incumbent) 20.9 1,096 1,116.6 1,156.6 1,193.2 1,213.1 1,944.5
          Labour Christine Simpson (incumbent) 17.8 936 1,151.4 1,210.8 1,456.0    
          SNP Morag Fulton 12.8 671 676.5 755.2 786.5 805.3  
          Scottish Green Kevin Ralston 4.8 251 287.0        
          Liberal Democrats Robert Skilleter 4.2 221 411.4 480.9      
          Electorate: 9,637   Valid: 5,251   Spoilt: 74   Quota: 1,313   Turnout: 55.3%

            Stirling East
            • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
            • 2017: 1xCon; 1xLab; 1xSNP
            • 2012-2017: Change: 1 Con gain from Lab
            Stirling East - 3 seats[7]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            1234567
            SNP Alison Laurie 24.2 916 920 962        
            Conservative Bryan Flanagan 21.3 806 825 833 833.2 848.2 883.0 1060.0
            Labour Chris Kane 19.8 751 768 797 797.7 1,153.8    
            SNP Gerry McLaughlan (incumbent) 17.9 678 680 705 717.9 739.0 774.8  
            Labour Corrie McChord (incumbent) 11.0 416 427 440 440.3      
            Scottish Green Linda Hendry 3.3 125 150          
            Liberal Democrats William Galloway 2.5 94            
            Electorate: 8,479   Valid: 3,786   Spoilt: 93   Quota: 947   Turnout: 45.7%

              Bannockburn
              • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
              • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab
              • 2012-2017 Change: 1 SNP gain from Lab
              Bannockburn - 3 seats[8]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              1234567
              SNP Alasdair MacPherson (incumbent) 24.9 871 880          
              Labour Margaret Brisley (incumbent) 23.9 837 854 854.3 871.3 1,093.3    
              SNP 'Maureen Bennison' ‡ 20.5 718 722 725.2 765.3 779.3 813.1 913.9
              Conservative Paul Henke 18.3 640 653 653.1 662.1 683.1 723.4  
              Labour Violet Weir (incumbent) 7.7 271 274 274.1 292.2      
              Scottish Green Jennifer Tollemache 3.0 104 113 113.1        
              Liberal Democrats Gordon Bruce 1.8 62            
              Electorate: 8,672   Valid: 3,503   Spoilt: 124   Quota: 876   Turnout: 41.8%

                Changes between 2017 and 2022

                ‡ Changes of affiliation

                On 17 May 2017 Robert Davies (Forth and Endrick) was suspended from the Scottish Conservative party over potentially offensive Twitter posts.[9][10] He was reinstated on 21 August 2017. However, on 29 September 2017, Robert Davies resigned from the Conservative group at a council meeting and subsequently had his Conservative party membership terminated. He now sits as an independent councillor.[11]

                On 5 August 2020 it was reported[12] that Maureen Bennison (Bannockburn) has resigned from the Scottish Nationalist Party, due to bullying, sexism and party in-fighting. It was reported in her letter to her former group leader and current council leader, Cllr Scott Farmer (Stirling West) that: “This has been an extremely difficult decision, but it is the only principled course of action left to me in regrettable circumstances.

                “Since being elected in May 2017, I have championed women’s rights and, through the public safety committee I chair, a huge amount of work has been done to advance better outcomes for women facing a range of difficult issues, from poverty to domestic abuse.

                “However, during this same period, women have been attacked by elements within my own party due to concerns made over the Scottish Government’s proposed changes to gender recognition and the danger these may erode hard-won women’s rights. Reasonable debate has proved impossible, and instead, toxic abuse and threats have been heaped out on any woman prepared to speak out on the issue.”

                Cllr Maureen Bennison also added in the letter to Cllr Scott Farmer that: “I have made repeated complaints to our council group regarding this matter, and sought their assistance against this abuse, but although several colleagues have been extremely supportive, others have certainly not been. Indeed, I have felt bullied to sit down and shut up by one particular colleague. I will not sit down and shut up for anyone.

                “It is depressing that toxic gender politics seems to be the prime issue vexing some in prominent positions in our local party.I will continue to vote and work in the best interests of my constituents. I sincerely hope that certain people in the party reflect on their behaviour, the damage it is doing to the SNP, and to the cause of Scottish independence – a cause to which I remain absolutely and totally committed". She now sits as an independent councillor, alongside Robert Davies (Forth and Endrick).

                References
                1. "SNP and Labour agree coalition to run Stirling Council". BBC News. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
                4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
                9. "Racist tweets councillor leaves Tories". BBC News. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
                10. Jones, Gareth Iwan (12 May 2017). "Second newly-elected Tory councillor embroiled in offensive Twitter row". dailyrecord. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
                11. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41441573
                12. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/stirling-snp-councillor-resigns-over-22475298
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