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Fife Council
Scottish unitary authority council in Fife, Scotland
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Scottish unitary authority council in Fife, Scotland
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| name | Fife Council | |
| legislature | Full council election every 5 years. | |
| coa_pic | Coat of Arms of the Fife Area Council.svg | |
| coa_caption | Coat of arms | |
| logo_pic | Fife Council logo.svg | |
| logo_caption | Council logo | |
| foundation | ||
| house_type | Unitary authority | |
| leader1_type | Provost | |
| leader1 | Jim Leishman | |
| party1 | ||
| Labour | ||
| election1 | 17 May 2012 | |
| leader2_type | Leader | |
| leader2 | David Ross | |
| party2 | ||
| Labour | ||
| election2 | 20 February 2014 | |
| leader3_type | Chief Executive | |
| leader3 | Ken Gourlay | |
| party3 | ||
| election3 | July 2023 | |
| members | 75 | |
| structure1 | United_Kingdom_Fife_Council_2024.svg | |
| structure1_res | 280 | |
| structure1_alt | Fife Council composition | |
| : | border | silver}} Labour (18) |
| : | border | silver}} SNP (35) |
| : | border | silver}} Liberal Democrats (13)}} |
| : | border | silver}} Conservatives (6) |
| : | border | silver}} Reform UK (2) |
| : | border | silver}} Independent (1) |
| voting_system1 | Single transferable vote | |
| last_election1 | 5 May 2022 | |
| next_election1 | 6 May 2027 | |
| meeting_place | Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes, KY75LT | |
| session_room | Fife House, Glenrothes.jpg | |
| session_alt | Fife House, Glenrothes | |
| website |
Labour Labour Administration (18) : Labour (18) Other parties (56) : SNP (35) : : Conservatives (6) : Reform UK (2) : Independent (1)
Fife Council is the local authority for Fife, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. The council is based at Fife House in Glenrothes. It has been under no overall control since 2003, and has been led by a Labour minority administration since the last election in 2022.
History
Fife was one of Scotland's historic counties, with a Fife County Council existing from 1890 to 1975. In 1975, Fife became a region with three lower-tier district councils: Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, and North-East Fife. The regions and districts were abolished in 1996, when Fife became a council area, governed by Fife Council.
Political control
The council has been under no overall control since 2003. Following the 2022 election, the Scottish National Party were the largest group on the council, but a Labour minority administration was formed with informal support from the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.
The first election to Fife Regional 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 since 1975 has been as follows:
Fife Regional Council
| Party in control | Years |
|---|---|
| 1975–1996 |
Fife Council
| Party in control | Years |
|---|---|
| 1996–2003 | |
| 2003–present |
Leadership
A Provost of Fife is elected from among the councillors. The provost chairs full council meetings and acts as ceremonial head of the council. The current provost is former football manager Jim Leishman, who was first elected to the post in May 2012 and subsequently re-elected in 2017 and 2022.
Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1996 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Rowley | 1 April 1996 | 1998 | ||||||
| Christine May | 1998 | 2003 | ||||||
| Anne McGovern | 2003 | 2007 | ||||||
| Peter Grant | 2007 | 2012 | ||||||
| Alex Rowley | 2012 | 20 Feb 2014 | ||||||
| title=David Ross lined up as new council leader | url=https://www.centralfifetimes.com/news/13549907.david-ross-lined-up-as-new-council-leader/ | access-date=21 April 2023 | work=Central Fife Times | date=31 January 2014}} | 20 Feb 2014 | May 2017 | ||
| David Alexander | May 2017 | May 2022 | Co-leaders | |||||
| David Ross | ||||||||
| David Ross | 19 May 2022 |
Premises
Fife Council is based at Fife House on North Street, Glenrothes. The building was built in 1969 for the Glenrothes Development Corporation, and became headquarters of Fife Regional Council on its creation in 1975. Prior to 1975 the old Fife County Council had been based at County Buildings, Cupar. Fife House passed to the new Fife Council on local government reorganisation in 1996.
Composition
Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to August 2025, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Councillors | Total | 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | |||
| 18 | |||
| 13 | |||
| 7 | |||
| 1 | |||
| 1 | |||
| 1 |
A by-election to fill the vacant seat is due on 6 November 2025. Otherwise, the next full council election is due in 2027.
Elections
Main article: Fife 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:
| Year | Seats | SNP | Labour | Liberal Democrats | Conservative | Independent / Other | Notes | Scottish National Party}}; width: 3px;" | Scottish Labour}}; width: 3px;" | Scottish Liberal Democrats}}; width: 3px;" | Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" | Independent politician}}; width: 3px;" | Scottish National Party}}; width: 3px;" | Scottish Labour}}; width: 3px;" | Scottish Liberal Democrats}}; width: 3px;" | Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" | Independent politician}}; width: 3px;" | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 92 | 9 | 54 | 25 | 0 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | 78 | 9 | 43 | 21 | 1 | 4 | New ward boundaries. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | 78 | 11 | 36 | 23 | 2 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | 78 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 5 | 5 | New ward boundaries. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 78 | 26 | 35 | 10 | 3 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | 75 | 29 | 24 | 7 | 15 | 0 | New ward boundaries. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 75 | 34 | 20 | 13 | 8 | 0 |
Wards
| Ward | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| number | Ward | Location in Fife | Seats | Largest settlement | Other settlements | |
| 1 | West Fife and Coastal Villages | [[File:West Fife and Coastal Villages.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Kincardine | Blairhall, Bowershall, Cairneyhill, Carnock, Comrie, Culross, Gowkhall, Oakley, Saline, Steelend, Torryburn, Valleyfield |
| 2 | Dunfermline North | [[File:Dunfermline North.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Dunfermline | Kingseat, Townhill, Wellwood |
| 3 | Dunfermline Central | [[File:Dunfermline Central.svg | 150px]] | 4 | Dunfermline | Crossford, Halbeath |
| 4 | Dunfermline South | [[File:Dunfermline South.svg | 150px]] | 4 | Dunfermline | |
| 5 | Rosyth | [[File:Rosyth.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Rosyth | Charlestown, Comrie, Limekilns |
| 6 | Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay | [[File:Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay.svg | 150px]] | 4 | Dalgety Bay | Aberdour, Hillend, Jamestown, Inverkeithing, North Queensferry |
| 7 | Cowdenbeath | [[File:Cowdenbeath.svg | 150px]] | 4 | Cowdenbeath | Crossgates, Hill of Beath, Kelty |
| 8 | Lochgelly, Cardenden and Benarty | [[File:Lochgelly Cardenden and Benarty.svg | 150px]] | 4 | Lochgelly | Ballingry, Cardenden, Crosshill Glencraig, Lochore, Lumphinnans |
| 9 | Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy | [[File:Burntisland Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Burntisland | Auchtertool, Kinghorn, Western Kirkcaldy |
| 10 | Kirkcaldy North | [[File:Kirkcaldy North.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Kirkcaldy | |
| 11 | Kirkcaldy Central | [[File:Kirkcaldy Central.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Kirkcaldy | |
| 12 | Kirkcaldy East | [[File:Kirkcaldy East.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Kirkcaldy | |
| 13 | Glenrothes West and Kinglassie | [[File:Glenrothes West and Kinglassie.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Glenrothes | Kinglassie |
| 14 | Glenrothes North, Leslie and Markinch | [[File:Glenrothes North Leslie and Markinch.svg | 150px]] | 4 | Glenrothes | Cadham, Leslie, Markinch, Milton of Balgonie, Star |
| 15 | Glenrothes Central and Thornton | [[File:Glenrothes Central and Thornton.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Glenrothes | Coaltown of Balgonie, Thornton |
| 16 | Howe of Fife and Tay Coast | [[File:Howe of Fife and Tay Coast.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Newburgh | Auchtermuchty, Balmalcolm, Collessie, Creich, Falkland, Freuchie, Gateside, Kilmany, Kingskettle, Ladybank, Letham, Lindores, Logie, Luthrie, Strathmiglo |
| 17 | Tay Bridgehead | [[File:Tay Bridgehead.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Newport-on-Tay | Balmerino, Balmullo, Bottomcraig, Gauldry, Guardbridge, Leuchars, Pickletillum, Tayport, Woodhaven, Wormit |
| 18 | St Andrews | [[File:St Andrews.svg | 150px]] | 4 | St Andrews | Strathkinness |
| 19 | East Neuk and Landward | [[File:East Neuk and Landward.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Anstruther | Abercrombie, Arncroach, Boarhills, Carnbee, Cellardyke, Colinsburgh, Crail, Dunino, Elie and Earlsferry, Kilconquhar, Kilrenny, Kingsbarns, Largoward, Lathones, Pittenweem, St Monans |
| 20 | Cupar | [[File:Cupar.svg | 150px]] | 3 | Cupar | Blebo Craigs, Ceres, Cults, Cupar Muir, Dairsie, Kemback, Pitlessie, Pitscottie, Springfield, Stratheden |
| 21 | Leven, Kennoway and Largo | [[File:Leven, Kennoway and Largo.svg | 150px]] | 4 | Leven | Baintown, Balcurvie, Bonnybank, Cameron Bridge, Drumeldrie, Kennoway, Lower Largo, Lundin Links, Upper Largo, Windygates |
| 22 | Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss Villages | [[File:Buckhaven Methil and Wemyss Villages.svg | 150px]] | 4 | Methil | Buckhaven, Coaltown of Wemyss, East Wemyss, West Wemyss |
References
References
- "Fife Council appoints new CEO".
- {{cite legislation UK. (1973)
- {{cite legislation UK. (1994)
- (13 December 2024). "How Fife Council's minority Labour administration was defeated - twice in same day". Fife Today.
- "Compositions Calculator". University of Exeter.
- (April 2024). "The Provost and his role". Fife Council }}{{Dead link.
- (17 May 2012). "Jim Leishman elected as Fife's provost". BBC News.
- "Council Leader".
- (27 March 1996). "The changing face of Scotland". The Scotsman.
- (31 January 2014). "David Ross lined up as new council leader". Central Fife Times.
- (5 May 2017). "Fife Council election results - Former SNP group leader loses out in Ward 4: Dunfermline South". The Courier.
- (18 May 2017). "Fife Council agree to SNP and Labour joint partnership". Dunfermline Press.
- (10 October 2023). "'Nonsense' claim as SNP brands Fife Council Labour group 'democracy deniers' in scrutiny row". The Courier.
- "Council minutes, 19 May 2022".
- Ferguson, Keith. (1982). "A New Town's Heritage: An Introduction to the Story of Glenrothes". Glenrothes Development Corporation.
- "Fife". Thorncliffe.
- {{cite legislation UK. (1998)
- {{cite legislation Scotland. (2006)
- {{cite legislation Scotland. (2016)
- "Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland’s 5th Electoral Review". Scottish Government.
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