# Shetland Islands Council

The Shetland Islands Council is the local authority for the Shetland Islands, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It was established in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and was largely unaffected by the Scottish local government changes of 1996.
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 collects Council Tax. The Fire Service is part of the Highlands and Islands division of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

## History

Shetland had been administered by Commissioners of Supply from 1667 and then by Zetland County Council from 1890 to 1975. The county council was abolished in 1975 and replaced by the Shetland Islands Council, which also took over the functions previously exercised by Shetland's lower-tier authorities, being the town council of the burgh of Lerwick and the councils of the area's landward districts. The new council created in 1975 was an islands council of an area legally called Shetland.
Further local government reform in 1996 introduced single-tier council areas across all of Scotland. The councils of the three island areas created in 1975, including Shetland, continued to provide the same services after 1996, but their areas were re-designated as council areas. The geographic area's legal name was changed from Shetland to 'Shetland Islands' as part of the 1996 reforms, allowing the council to retain the name 'Shetland Islands Council'. The council has been a member of the Islands Forum since 2022.

## Political control

The first election was held in 1974, with the council initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 16 May 1975. A majority of the seats on the council have been held by independent councillors since 1975.
| Party in control | Party in control | Years |
| | Independent | 1975–present |

### Leadership

In 2011, structural reforms saw the creation of the Political Leader position, with the Convener becoming a civic leadership post.
| No. | Political Leader | Party | Period in office | Election |
| 1 | Josie Simpson | Independent | 2011 - 2012 | 2007 |
| 2 | Gary Robinson | Independent | 2012 - 2017 | 2012 |
| 3 | Cecil Smith | Independent | 2017 - 2018 | 2017 |
| 4 | Steven Coutts | Independent | 2018–2022 | 2017 |
| 5 | Emma Macdonald | Independent | 2022–present | 2022 |

### Conveners

The conveners have been:
| No. | Convener | Party | Period in office | Election |
| 1 | Alexander I. Tulloch | Independent | 1974 - 1986 | 1974 1978 1982 |
| 2 | Edward Thomason | Shetland Movement | 1986 - 1994 | 1986 1990 |
| 3 | Lewis Shand Smith | Independent | 1994 - 1999 | 1994 |
| 4 | Tom Stove | Independent | 1999 - 2003 | 1999 |
| 5 | Sandy Cluness | Liberal Democrat Independent | 2003 - 2012 | 2003 2007 |
| 6 | Malcolm Bell | Independent | 2012–2022 | 2012 2017 |
| 7 | Andrea Manson | Independent | 2022–present | 2022 |

### Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections later in 2022, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Party | Councillors |
| | Independent | 20 |
| | Scottish Green | 1 |
| | Labour | 1 |
| | SNP | 1 |
| Total | Total | 23 |
The next election is due in 2027.

## Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2022, the council has comprised 23 councillors representing 7 wards, with each ward electing two, three or four councillors. Elections are held every five years.

## Premises

Council meetings are held at the Council Chamber on Lower Hillhead in Lerwick. The building was formerly St Ringan's Church and was built in 1886. After the church closed the building was used as a library for some years, before being converted to become the council chamber in 2022. Council meetings were previously held at Lerwick Town Hall.
The council's main offices are at 8 North Ness in Lerwick, overlooking the harbour. The building was completed in 2012 to bring together the council's departments in one building.