Angus Council
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Angus Council Comhairle Aonghais | |
|---|---|
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| Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:InfoboxImage/data' not found. Council logo | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
George Meechan, Independent since 22 April 2025 | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 28 councillors |
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Political groups |
|
Length of term | Full council elected every 5 years |
| Elections | |
| Single transferable vote | |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Town and County Hall, 26 Castle Street, Forfar, DD8 1BA | |
| Website | |
| www | |
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Angus Council is the local authority for Angus, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. The council is based in Forfar. It has been under no overall control since 2017. A minority administration comprising the Conservatives, Labour and some of the independent councillors formed to run the council in April 2025.
History
Angus was one of Scotland's historic counties and had a county council from 1890 until 1975. The county was called Forfarshire until 1928 when the name was changed to Angus, being the name of the ancient province which had covered the same area as the later county.[4]
In 1975 Angus became a district within the Tayside region, with Angus District Council serving as a lower-tier authority subordinate to Tayside Regional Council.[5] The regions and districts were abolished in 1996, when Angus became a council area, governed by Angus Council, which took on all the local government functions previously performed by the district and regional councils. There were some adjustments to the boundaries of Angus with the neighbouring city of Dundee as part of both the 1975 and 1996 reforms.[6]
Governance
Political control
The council has been under no overall control since 2017. Following both the 2017 and 2022 elections, the Scottish National Party formed minority administrations to run the council. In April 2025, the SNP administration lost a vote of no confidence and was replaced by a new minority administration comprising the Conservatives, Labour and four of the independent councillors, led by independent councillor George Meechan, who had been deputy leader of the council's SNP group until he left the party earlier in April 2025.[7]
The first election to Angus 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 reforms which came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1975 has been as follows:[8]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 1975–1977 | |
| Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 1977–1980 | |
| Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 1980–1984 | |
| Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 1984–1996 | |
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 1996–2007 | |
| Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 2007–2012 | |
| Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 2012–2017 | |
| Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 2017–present | |
Leadership
The role of provost is largely ceremonial in Angus. 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:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Hudghton[9][10] | Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 1 Apr 1996 | 1998 | |
| Rob Murray[11] | Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 1998 | 2007 | |
| Bob Myles[12][13] | Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | May 2007 | 2012 | |
| Iain Gaul[14][15] | Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 15 May 2012 | May 2017 | |
| Bob Myles[13][16][17] | Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 16 May 2017 | 24 Apr 2018 | |
| David Fairweather[18][19] | Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 14 Jun 2018 | May 2022 | |
| Beth Whiteside[20][21][22] | Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 26 May 2022 | 29 Jul 2024 | |
| Bill Duff[23][22][7] | Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 10 Sep 2024 | 22 Apr 2025 | |
| George Meechan[24] | Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 22 Apr 2025 | ||
Composition
Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to April 2025, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 11 | |
| Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 8 | |
| Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "Party name with color". | 8 | |
| Total | 28 | |
Four of the independent councillors form part of the council's administration with the Conservatives and Labour.[7][25] The next election is due in 2027.[26]
Elections
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Election results since 1995 have been as follows:
| Year | Seats | SNP | Independent / Other | Conservative | Labour | Liberal Democrats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | | style="background-color: Template:Party color; width: 3px;" | | |||
| 1995 | 26 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1999 | 29 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 29 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| 2007 | 29 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2012 | 29 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 28 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 28 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
Wards
Angus is divided into 8 wards:[27]
Premises
Council meetings are generally held at Forfar Town and County Hall at The Cross in the centre of Forfar.[28] In 2007 the council moved its main offices to a new building called Angus House on Silvie Way in the Orchardbank Business Park on the outskirts of Forfar.[29] The council also has offices in Arbroath.[30]
Previously the council's main offices had been at County Buildings, on Market Street in Forfar. When the county council was established in 1890 the name County Buildings was used for the Forfar Sheriff Court, built 1871, which was the council's first meeting place.[31] The council later moved its main offices into the adjoining converted former prison of 1843, which subsequently became known as County Buildings instead. County Buildings continued to serve as the headquarters of the county council until 1975 and the successor Angus District Council from 1975 to 1996.[32] County Buildings continues to be used as secondary offices by the modern Angus Council.[33]
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Council minutes, 8 May 2025" (PDF). Angus Council. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Brown, Graham (1 November 2023). "Angus Council announces new chief executive". The Courier. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Angus Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board, 21 February 2024" (PDF). Angus Council. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Angus displaces Forfarshire: Council decision on county name". Courier and Advertiser. Dundee. 3 May 1928. p. 5. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1973 c. 65, retrieved 17 April 2023
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 39, retrieved 21 April 2023
- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Rutherford, Liam (22 April 2025). "Angus Council SNP administration toppled after no confidence vote". Rayo Tay FM. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "Angus" in search box to see specific results.)
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The changing face of Scotland". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 27 March 1996. p. 5. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Jubilant Alex has the last laugh: Nats win Euro seat as Labour trail in a poor third". Daily Record. Glasgow. 28 November 1998. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.""Failing the folk of Angus"". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 19 December 1998. p. 3. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Composition of Angus Council". Angus Council. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.McLaren, Rob (16 May 2017). "Councillor claims the "numbers don't add up" for SNP's bid to keep power in Angus". The Courier. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Council election". Angus Council. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Brown, Graham (20 February 2017). ""I'm tired, I'm done" - Angus Council leader Iain Gaul leaving local politics behind". The Courier. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Council minutes, 16 May 2017" (PDF). Angus Council. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Millar, Jim (26 April 2018). "Council crisis sees leader felled". The Courier. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Council minutes, 14 June 2018" (PDF). Angus Council. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Nicoll, David (8 November 2022). "Row over council leader's failed bid to revive historic title". Angus World. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Council minutes, 26 May 2022" (PDF). Angus Council. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Leader of Angus Council to step down". Scottish Housing News. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Annual Governance Statement 2024/25" (PDF). Angus Council. p. 6. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Brown, Graham (10 September 2024). "Montrose SNP councillor Bill Duff takes over as Angus leader". The Courier. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Council minutes, 22 April 2025" (PDF). Angus Council. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Political make up of the council". Angus Council. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Angus". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Ballotbox Scotland, 2022 Local Elections, Angus Council 2022". Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Council Meeting" (PDF). Angus Council. 5 December 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Angus House open for business". Angus Council. 8 February 2007. Archived from the original on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Council offices". Angus Council. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map, Forfarshire Sheet XXXVIII.3, 1902". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.[Script error: No such module "London Gazette util". "No. 23777"]. The Edinburgh Gazette (Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".). 5 May 1995. p. Script error: No such module "London Gazette util"..
{{cite magazine}}: Check|url=value (help); More than one of|pages=and|page=specified (help)Script error: No such module "London Gazette util". - ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Brown, Graham (8 May 2024). "Angus House: Why the council is considering selling its half-empty Forfar HQ". The Courier. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
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