Shetland Islands Council

The Shetland Islands Council (Scots: Shetland Islands Cooncil) is the local authority for Shetland, Scotland. It was established by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and is the successor to the former Lerwick Town Council and Zetland County Council. This council was established in 1975 and was largely unaffected by the Scottish local government changes of the mid-1990s.

Shetland
Sealtainn
Flag
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Með lögum skal land byggja
Coordinates: 60°18′14″N 1°16′08″W
Admin HQLerwick
Government
 • BodyShetland Islands Council
 • ControlIndependent
 • MPs
 • MSPs
Area
 • Total567 sq mi (1,468 km2)
Area rankRanked 12th
Population
 (mid-2019 est.)
 • Total22,990
 • RankRanked 31st
 • Density41/sq mi (16/km2)
ONS codeS12000027
ISO 3166 codeGB-ZET
Websitewww.shetland.gov.uk

It provides services in the areas of Environmental Health, Roads, Social Work, Community Development, Organisational Development, Economic Development, Building Standards, Trading Standards, Housing, Waste, Education, Burial Grounds, Port and Harbours and others. The council is allowed to collect Council Tax. The Fire Service is part of the Highlands and Islands division of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

In 2011, structural reforms saw the creation of the Political Leader position, with the Convenor becoming a civic leadership post.[1]

Political composition

Party Councillors
Independent 21[2]
Scottish National Party 1

In the 2017 election, one SNP councillor was elected unopposed in the Shetland South ward, with Independents elected to the remaining seats.

Political leaders
  • 2018–present: Steven Coutts
  • 2017-2018: Cecil Smith
  • 2012–2017: Gary Robinson
  • 2011–2012: Josie Simpson

Convenors
  • 2012–present: Malcolm Bell
  • 2003–2012: Sandy Cluness
  • 1999–2003: Tom Stove
  • 1994–1999: Lewis Shand Smith
  • 1986–1994: Edward Thomason
  • 1975–1986: Alexander Tulloch

See also

Footnotes
  1. "Josie Takes the Helm". Shetland News.
  2. "About your Councillors"
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