Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65) is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom that altered local government in Scotland on 16 May 1975.

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
Long titleAn Act to make provision with respect to local government and the functions of local authorities in Scotland; to amend Part II of the Transport Act 1968; and for connected purposes.
Citation1973 c. 65
Territorial extentScotland
Dates
Royal assent25 October 1973
Commencement16 May 1975
Other legislation
Amended byLocal Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (re local government areas)
Status: Current legislation

The Act followed and largely implemented the report of the Royal Commission on Local Government in Scotland in 1969 (the Wheatley Report), and it made the most far-reaching changes to Scottish local government in centuries. It swept away the counties, burghs and districts established by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947,[1] which were largely based on units of local government dating from the Middle Ages, and replaced them with a uniform two-tier system of regional and district councils (except in the islands, which were given unitary, all-purpose councils).

In England and Wales, the Local Government Act 1972 established a similar system of two-tier administrative county and district councils.

The Act

The Act abolished previous existing local government structures and created a two-tier system of regions and districts on the mainland and a unitary system in the islands. The former counties remained in use for land registration purposes.

The Act also established the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, with the remit to make proposals to the Secretary of State for effecting changes which it thought desirable in the interests of effective and convenient local government. The Act also abolished the use of Fiars Prices for valuing grain.

The new local government areas

Regions

RegionComposed of
Highland
Grampian
Tayside
Fife
  • The county of Fife.
Lothian
Borders
Central
  • The county of Clackmannan.
  • The county of Stirling (except the burgh of Kilsyth; Western No. 3 district; the electoral division of Kilsyth West; the polling district of Kilsyth East (Banton)).
  • In the county of Dunbartonthe village of Croftamie.
  • In the county of Perththe burghs of Callander, Doune, Dunblane; the Western district (except the electoral division of Ardoch); the parish of Muckhart.
  • In the county of West Lothianthe burgh of Bo'ness; the district of Bo'ness.
Strathclyde
  • The county of the city of Glasgow.
  • The county of Ayr.
  • The county of Bute.
  • The county of Dunbarton (except the village of Croftamie).
  • The county of Lanark.
  • The county of Renfrew.
  • The county of Argyll (except the district of Ardnamurchan; the electoral divisions of Ballachulish and Kinlochleven).
  • In the county of Stirlingthe burgh of Kilsyth; Western No. 3 district; the electoral division of Kilsyth West; the polling district of Kilsyth East (Banton).
Dumfries and Galloway

Island areas

Island areaComposed of
Orkney
  • The county of Orkney.
Shetland
  • The county of Zetland.
Western Isles

Districts

RegionDistrictComposed of
Highland Caithness
  • The county of Caithness.
  • In the county of Sutherlandthe district of Tongue and Farr.
Sutherland
  • The county of Sutherland (except the district of Tongue and Farr).
  • In the county of Ross and Cromartythe electoral division of Kincardine.
Ross and Cromarty
  • In the county of Ross and Cromartythe burghs of Cromarty, Dingwall, Fortrose, Invergordon, Tain; the districts of Avoch, Dingwall, Fearn, Fortrose, Gairloch, Invergordon, Lochbroom, Lochcarron, Muir of Ord; the electoral division of Edderton and Tain.
Skye and Lochalsh
  • In the county of Invernessthe district of Skye.
  • In the county of Ross and Cromartythe South West district.
Lochaber
  • In the county of Argyllthe district of Ardnamurchan; the electoral divisions of Ballachulish, Kinlochleven.
  • In the county of Invernessthe burgh of Fort William; the district of Lochaber.
Inverness
  • In the county of Invernessthe burgh of Inverness; the districts of Aird, Inverness.
Badenoch and Strathspey
  • In the county of Invernessthe burgh of Kingussie; the district of Badenoch.
  • In the county of Moraythe burgh of Grantown-on-Spey; the district of Cromdale.
Nairn
  • The county of Nairn.
Grampian Moray
  • The county of Moray (except the burgh of Grantown-on-Spey; the district of Cromdale).
  • In the county of Banffthe burghs of Aberlour, Buckie, Cullen, Dufftown, Findochty, Keith, Portknockie; the districts of Buckie, Cullen (except the electoral division of Fordyce), Dufftown, Keith.
Banff and Buchan
  • In the county of Banffthe burghs of Aberchirder, Banff, Macduff, Portsoy; the districts of Aberchirder, Banff; the electoral division of Fordyce.
  • In the county of Aberdeenthe burghs of Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Rosehearty, Turriff; the districts of Deer Turriff; the electoral division of Cruden.
Gordon
  • In the county of Aberdeenthe burghs of Ellon, Huntly, Inverurie, Kintore, Oldmeldrum; the districts of Aberdeen (except the electoral divisions of Bucksburn, Newhills Landward, Old Machar, Stoneywood and the parishes of Drumoak, Dyce, Peterculter), Alford, Ellon (except the electoral division of Cruden), Garioch, Huntly.
City of Aberdeen
  • The county of the city of Aberdeen.
  • In the county of Aberdeenthe electoral divisions of Bucksburn, Newhills Landward, Old Machar, Stoneywood; the parishes of Dyce, Peterculter.
  • In the county of Kincardinethe electoral division of Nigg.
Kincardine and Deeside
  • In the county of Aberdeenthe burgh of Ballater; the district of Deeside; the parish of Drumoak.
  • In the county of Kincardinethe burghs of Banchory, Inverbervie, Laurencekirk, Stonehaven; the districts of Laurencekirk, St. Cyrus, Stonehaven, Upper Deeside; the electoral divisions of Banchory-Devenick, Maryculter.
Tayside Angus
  • In the county of Angusthe burghs of Arbroath, Brechin, Carnoustie, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Montrose; the districts of Brechin, Carnoustie, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Montrose; the parish of Newtyle.
City of Dundee
  • The county of the city of Dundee.
  • In the county of Angusthe burgh of Monifieth; the district of Monifieth (except the electoral division of Newtyle and Kettins).
  • In the county of Perththe electoral division of Longforgan.
Perth and Kinross
  • The county of Kinross.
  • In the county of Angusthe parish of Kettins.
  • In the county of Perththe burghs of Aberfeldy, Abernethy, Alyth, Auchterarder, Blairgowrie and Rattray, Coupar Angus, Crieff, Perth, Pitlochry; the districts Central (except the parish of Muckhart), Eastern Highland, Perth (except the electoral division of Longforgan); the electoral division of Ardoch.
Fife Kirkcaldy
  • In the county of Fifethe burghs of Buckhaven and Methil, Burntisland, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Leslie, Leven, Markinch; the districts of Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy (except that part of the electoral division of Auchtertool within the Gray Park polling district), Wemyss; the electoral divisions of Auchterderran, Denend, Kinglassie, New Carden.
North East Fife
  • In the county of Fifethe burghs of Auchtermuchty, Crail, Cupar, Elie and Earlsferry, Falkland, Kilrenny, Anstruther, Easter and Wester, Ladybank,
  • Newburgh, Newport-on-Tay, Pittenweem, St. Andrews, St. Monance, Tayport; the districts of Cupar, St. Andrews.
Dunfermline
  • In the county of Fifethe burghs of Cowdenbeath, Culross, Dunfermline, Inverkeithing, Lochgelly; the districts of Dunfermline, Lochgelly (except the electoral divisions of Auchterderran, Denend, Kinglassie, New Carden); that part of the electoral division of Auchtertool within the Gray Park polling district.
Lothian West Lothian
  • In the county of West Lothianthe burghs of Armadale, Bathgate, Linlithgow, Whitburn; the districts of Linlithgow, Torphichen and Bathgate, Uphall, Whitburn and Livingston; the electoral divisions of Abercorn, Winchburgh East and Winchburgh West.
  • In the county of Midlothianthe districts of East Calder, West Calder.
City of Edinburgh
  • The county of the city of Edinburgh.
  • In the county of West Lothianthe burgh of Queensferry; the district of Kirkliston and Winchburgh (except the electoral divisions of Abercorn, Winchburgh East and Winchburgh West).
  • In the county of Midlothianthe district of Currie and the parish of Cramond.
Midlothian
  • In the county of Midlothianthe burghs of Bonnyrigg and Lasswade, Dalkeith Loanhead, Penicuik; the districts of Gala Water (except the electoral division of Heriot and Stow), Lasswade, Musselburgh (except the parish of Inveresk), Newbattle, Penicuik.
East Lothian
  • The county of East Lothian.
  • In the county of Midlothianthe burgh of Musselburgh; the parish of Inveresk.
Central Clackmannan
  • The county of Clackmannan.
  • In the county of Perththe parish of Muckhart.
Stirling
  • In the county of Dunbartonthe village of Croftamie
  • In the county of Perththe burghs of Callander, Doune, Dunblane; the Western district (except the electoral division of Ardoch).
  • In the county of Stirlingthe burghs of Bridge of Allan, Stirling; the districts Central No. 1, Western No. 1. Western No. 2.
Falkirk
  • In the county of Stirlingthe burghs of Denny and Dunipace, Falkirk, Grangemouth; the districts Eastern No. 1, Eastern No. 2, Eastern No. 3, Central No. 2 (except the electoral division of Kilsyth West; the polling district of Kilsyth East (Banton)).
  • In the county of West Lothianthe burgh of Bo'ness; the district of Bo'ness.
Borders Tweeddale
  • The county of Peebles.
Ettrick and Lauderdale
  • The county of Selkirk.
  • In the county of Berwickthe burgh of Lauder; the West district (except the electoral divisions of Gordon, Hume and Nenthorn, Westruther).
  • In the county of Midlothianthe electoral division of Heriot and Stow.
  • In the county of Roxburghthe burgh of Melrose; the district of Melrose (except that part of the parish of Roxburgh which lies within this district).
Roxburgh
  • In the county of Berwickthe parish of Nenthorn.
  • In the county of Roxburghthe burghs of Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso; the districts of Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso; that part of the parish of Roxburgh within the district of Melrose.
Berwickshire
  • In the county of Berwickthe burghs of Coldstream, Duns, Eyemouth; the East district, the Middle district; the electoral divisions of Gordon, Westruther; the parish of Hume.
Strathclyde Argyll
  • In the county of Argyllthe burghs of Campbeltown, Dunoon, Inveraray, Lochgilphead, Oban, Tobermory; the districts of Cowal, Islay, Jura and Colonsay, Kintyre, Mid Argyll, Mull, North Lorn (except the electoral divisions of Ballachulish, Kinlochleven), South Lorn, Tiree and Coll.
  • In the county of Butethe burgh of Rothesay; the district of Bute.
Dumbarton
  • In the county of Dunbartonthe burghs of Dumbarton, Cove and Kilcreggan, Helensburgh; the districts of Helensburgh, Vale of Leven; the electoral divisions of Bowling, Dunbarton.
City of Glasgow
  • The county of the city of Glasgow.
  • In the county of Lanarkthe burgh of Rutherglen; in the Eighth district, the electoral divisions of Bankhead, Cambuslang Central, Cambuslang North, Hallside, Rutherglen, and those parts of Cambuslang South and Carmunnock electoral divisions lying outwith the designated area of East Kilbride New Town; in the Ninth district, the electoral divisions of Baillieston, Garrowhill, Mount Vernon and Carmyle, Springboig.
Clydebank
  • In the county of Dunbartonthe burgh of Clydebank; the district of Old Kilpatrick (except the electoral divisions of Bowling, Dunbarton, and that part of the electoral division of Hardgate lying within the parish of New Kilpatrick).
Bearsden and Milngavie
  • In the county of Dunbartonthe burghs of Bearsden, Milngavie; that part of the electoral division of Hardgate lying within the parish of New Kilpatrick.
Bishopbriggs and Kirkintilloch
  • In the county of Dunbartonthe burgh of Kirkintilloch; those parts of the electoral divisions of Twechar and Waterside lying outwith the designated area of Cumbernauld New Town.
  • In the county of Lanarkthe burgh of Bishopbriggs; the electoral divisions of Chryston, Stepps.
  • In the county of Stirlingthe Western No. 3 district.
Cumbernauld
  • In the county of Dunbartonthe burgh of Cumbernauld; the electoral division of Croy and Dullatur and those parts of the electoral divisions of Twechar and Waterside lying within the designated area of Cumbernauld New Town.
  • In the county of Stirlingthe burgh of Kilsyth; the electoral division of Kilsyth West; the polling district of Kilsyth East (Banton).
Monklands
  • In the county of Lanarkthe burghs of Airdrie, Coatbridge; the Ninth district (except the electoral divisions of Baillieston, Chryston, Garrowhill, Mount Vernon and Carmyle, Springboig, Stepps); in the Seventh district, the electoral division of Shottskirk.
Motherwell
  • In the county of Lanarkthe burgh of Motherwell and Wishaw; the Sixth district (except the electoral divisions of Bothwell and Uddingston South, Uddingston North), the Seventh district (except the electoral division of Shottskirk).
Hamilton
  • In the county of Lanarkthe burgh of Hamilton; the Fourth district (except the electoral division of Avondale); in the Sixth district, the electoral divisions of Bothwell and Uddingston South, Uddingston North; in the Eighth district, the electoral divisions of Blantyre, Stonefield, and that part of High Blantyre electoral division lying outwith the designated area of East Kilbride New Town.
East Kilbride
  • In the county of Lanarkthe burgh of East Kilbride; in the Fourth district, the electoral division of Avondale; in the Eighth district, those parts of High Blantyre, Cambuslang South, and Carmunnock electoral divisions lying within the designated area of East Kilbride New Town.
Eastwood
  • In the county of Renfrewthe First district.
Lanark
  • In the county of Lanarkthe burghs of Biggar, Lanark; the First, Second, Third districts.
Renfrew
  • In the county of Renfrewthe burghs of Barrhead, Johnstone, Paisley, Renfrew; the Second, Third, Fourth districts.
Inverclyde
  • In the county of Renfrewthe burghs of Gourock, Greenock, Port Glasgow; the Fifth district.
Cunninghame
  • In the county of Ayrthe burghs of Ardrossan, Irvine, Kilwinning, Largs, Saltcoats, Stevenston, the districts of Irvine, Kilbirnie, West Kilbride; those parts of the designated area of Irvine New Town within the Ayr and Kilmarnock districts.
  • In the county of Butethe burgh of Millport; the districts of Arran, Cumbrae.
Kilmarnock and Loudoun
  • In the county of Ayrthe burghs of Darvel, Galston, Kilmarnock, Newmilns and Greenholm, Stewarton; the district of Kilmarnock (except that part of the designated area of Irvine New Town within this district).
Kyle and Carrick
  • In the county of Ayrthe burghs of Ayr, Girvan, Maybole, Prestwick, Troon; the district of Ayr (except that part of the designated area of Irvine New Town within this district), Girvan, Maybole; that part of the parish of Ayr within the district of Dalmellington; the polling district of Coylton.
Cumnock and Doon Valley
  • In the county of Ayrthe burgh of Cumnock and Holmhead; the districts of Cumnock, Dalmellington (except that part of the parish of Ayr within this district; the polling district of Coylton).
Dumfries and Galloway Merrick
  • The county of Wigtown.
  • In the county of Kirkcudbrightthe Western district (except the electoral division of Anwoth and Girthon).
Stewartry
  • In the county of Kirkcudbrightthe burghs of Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbright, New Galloway; the districts of Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, Glenkens, Kirkcudbright; the electoral division of Anwoth and Girthon.
Nithsdale
  • In the county of Dumfriesthe burghs of Dumfries, Sanquhar; the districts of Dumfries (except the parishes of Dalton, Lochmaben), Thornhill, Upper Nithsdale.
  • In the county of Kirkcudbrightthe Eastern district.
Annandale and Eskdale
  • In the county of Dumfriesthe burghs of Annan, Langholm, Lockerbie, Lochmaben, Moffat; the districts of Annan, Gretna, Langholm, Lockerbie, Moffat; the parishes of Dalton, Lochmaben.

Several districts were later renamed: Merrick becoming Wigtown, Argyll to Argyll and Bute, Bishopbriggs and Kirkintilloch to Strathkelvin, Cumbernauld to Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, and Lanark to Clydesdale.

Reaction and aftermath

Unlike the 1972 Local Government Act in England and Wales, the 1973 Act in Scotland used the term region for the upper tier of the two-tier system. This has caused far less confusion over the identity of the counties in Scotland. Despite the Act stipulating that the regions, not counties, should be shown on Ordnance Survey maps, the counties still enjoy wide public recognition. Even though they no longer play any direct part in local government, counties are used in many other systems. The Royal Mail continued to use them as postal counties, and the Watsonian vice-counties, registration counties and many of the Lieutenancy areas of Scotland are based on them.

However, the sheer size of some regions meant that it became cumbersome to administer all functions on a region-wide basis. By 1977 Strathclyde Regional Council had established unelected sub-Regional Councils, which resembled the County Councils that the Regional Council had replaced.

The two-tier system of local government introduced by the act lasted until 1 April 1996 when the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 came into effect, abolishing the regions and districts and replacing them with 32 unitary authorities.

Further reading

See also

References

  1. Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947
  • Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
  • Royal Commission on Local Government in Scotland, 1969
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