Argyll and Bute Council

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2007. Following the 2017 election a coalition of the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and some of the independent councillors took control of the council. The same coalition continued following the 2022 election, but was replaced in 2024 by an SNP-led coalition.

The first election to Argyll and Bute 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 change to council areas which came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control of Argyll and Bute since 1975 has been as follows:

Argyll and Bute District Council

Argyll and Bute Council

Leadership

The role of provost is largely ceremonial in Argyll and Bute. They chair full council meetings and act as the council's civic figurehead. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1996 have been:

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to August 2025, the composition of the council was:

Four of the independent councillors are members of the 'Administration Partnership' with the SNP, Liberal Democrats, Labour and Greens, which forms the council's administration. The Conservatives and one of the independent councillors sit together as 'The Argyll, Lomond and the Isles Group' (TALIG), which forms the main opposition group. The next election is due in 2027.

Premises

The council is based at Kilmory Castle in Lochgilphead, which had been built as a large country house in the 1820s. It was bought in 1974 and converted to become the headquarters of the Argyll and Bute District Council.

NeverSeconds

Main article: NeverSeconds

In June 2012, the council was criticised for banning a local primary student, Martha Payne (aged 9), from taking photographs of her school dinners for her online blog. The blog, NeverSeconds, had been praised by the celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, had attracted over two million visits, and at the time of the ban had raised nearly £2,000 for a food charity. On the day the story broke, the blog had raised over £40,000. After an initial statement from the council defending the decision, the ban was subsequently overturned by council leader, Roddy McCuish. In November 2012 a book written by David Payne, Martha's father, revealed the background to the council's attempt to censor and bully a 9-year-old girl. The book reads: "My anger and frustration at Argyll and Bute Council was not being soothed by time. Thinly veiled attacks on our parenting on national radio and an abusive phonecall stood out as examples of a public body sick to the very top. Complaints via the proper procedures and through elected councillors had brought no visible changes. Far from being contrite, they seemed to take a pride in being untouchable."

Elections

Main article: Argyll and Bute Council elections

Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the single transferable vote system, introduced by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Election results since 1995 have been as follows:

Wards

Eleven multi-member wards were created for the 2007 election, replacing 36 single-member wards which had been in place since 1999 (adjusted up from 33 in the 1990s):

• South Kintyre (3 seats)
• Kintyre and the Islands (3 seats)
• Mid Argyll (3 seats)
• Oban South and the Isles (4 seats)
• Oban North and Lorn (4 seats)
• Cowal (3 seats)
• Dunoon (3 seats)
• Isle of Bute (3 seats)
• Lomond North (3 seats)
• Helensburgh Central (4 seats)
• Helensburgh and Lomond South (3 seats)

References

References

1. (8 January 2020). "New council chief executive says 'we can make Agryll and Bute the very best it can be'". Oban Times.
2. (4 April 2024). "Argyll and Bute Council confirms new provost and leader". Helensburgh Advertiser.
3. (25 April 2024). "Argyll and Bute Council confirms new senior appointments". Helensburgh Advertiser.
4. "Compositions Calculator". University of Exeter.
5. (15 December 1995). "The new Argyll and Bute Council". Lennox Herald.
6. (30 April 1999). "Aid petition will go to new Parliament". Press and Journal.
7. "Council minutes, 13 May 1999".
8. "Council minutes, 22 March 2001".
9. (20 April 2007). "Balamory a 'neglected backwater'". BBC News.
10. "Council minutes, 17 May 2007".
11. (1 June 2012). "SNP-led administration to run Argyll and Bute Council". Daily Record.
12. "Council minutes, 22 May 2012".
13. "Council minutes, 14 February 2013".
14. (13 May 2013). "Argyll and Bute council leader quits". BBC News.
15. "Council minutes, 23 May 2013".
16. "Council minutes, 26 September 2013".
17. (31 March 2017). "Your council candidates: Last Dance in Helensburgh as Walsh era ends". Helensburgh Advertiser.
18. "Council minutes, 18 May 2017".
19. (24 September 2020). "Councillors pay tribute to outgoing Argyll and Bute leader". Helensburgh Advertiser.
20. "Council minutes, 24 September 2020".
21. (4 April 2024). "Argyll and Bute Council confirms new provost and leader". Helensburgh Advertiser.
22. "Council minutes, 4 April 2024".
23. "Argyll and Bute". Thorncliffe.
24. "Political composition of the council".
25. {{Historic Environment Scotland
26. (2012-06-15). "School Dinner Blog Banned By Council". Telegraph.co.uk.
27. (2012-06-15). "NeverSeconds blogger Martha Payne school dinner photo ban lifted". Bbc.co.uk.
28. VEG. (2012-06-14). "Goodbye". Neverseconds.blogspot.co.uk.
29. "Mary's Meals and NeverSeconds' Martha Payne". Marysmeals.org.uk.
30. Mary's Meals. "Veg from NeverSeconds". Justgiving.com.
31. (2012-06-15). "Statement on school meals from Argyll and Bute Council". Argyll-bute.gov.uk.
32. Peterkin, Tom. (2012-06-16). "Food blogger Martha Payne enjoys taste of victory". Scotsman.com.
33. ''Neverseconds, The Incredible Story of Martha Payne''. Payne, Martha; Payne, David., Cargo Publishing, 2012. {{ISBN. 978-1908885166
34. {{cite legislation UK. (1998)
35. {{cite legislation Scotland. (2006)