# 1974 Orkney Islands Council election

The 1974 Orkney Islands Council election, the first election to Orkney Islands Council, was held on 7 May 1974 as part of the wider 1974 Scottish regional elections. Only independent candidates contested the election and eight seats were uncontested.
The newly elected Orkney Islands Council existed as a shadow authority until 1975, when it inherited sole authority for local government in Orkney from the Orkney County Council, Kirkwall Town Council and Stromness Town Council.

## Results

1974 Orkney Islands election :
| Party | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| | Independent | 23 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 100.0 | 100.0% | 4,818 | N/A |

## Ward Results

St Magnus :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | O. Work | 145 | 35.5% |
| | Independent | T. Taylor | 101 | 24.8% |
| | Independent | J. McRae | 87 | 21.3% |
| | Independent | W. Sinclair | 75 | 18.4% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 10.7% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Papdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | William Groundwater | 119 | 44.6% |
| | Independent | Ruby Leslie | 73 | 27.3% |
| | Independent | M. Heddle | 44 | 16.5% |
| | Independent | A. Rorie | 31 | 11.6% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 46 | 17.3% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Broadsands :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Edwin Eunson | 199 | 53.4% |
| | Independent | L. Stiff | 98 | 26.3% |
| | Independent | P. Gorie | 76 | 20.4% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 101 | 27.1% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
St Olaf's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Sybil Roebuck | 177 | 52.8% |
| | Independent | Georgina Leitch | 158 | 47.2% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19 | 5.6% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Quoybanks :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | R. Hancock | 152 | 45.2% |
| | Independent | W. Muir | 98 | 29.2% |
| | Independent | I. Smith | 59 | 17.6% |
| | Independent | J. Hay | 27 | 8.0% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 16.0% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Stromness South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | William Knight | unopposed | unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | unopposed | unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Stromness North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Brenda Robertson | 250 | 76.0% |
| | Independent | J. Bannerman | 79 | 24.0% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 171 | 52.0% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
St. Ola :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | J. Scott | 243 | 76.0% |
| | Independent | P. Konstan | 73 | 23.1% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 170 | 52.9% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Harray & Firth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Laura Grimond | 309 | 61.8% |
| | Independent | J. Firth | 191 | 38.2% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 181 | 13.6% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Stenness & Orphir :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | R. Macrae | unopposed | unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | unopposed | unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Sandwick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | W. Firth | unopposed | unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | unopposed | unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
St Andrews & Deerness :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Jackie Tait | 174 | 55.8% |
| | Independent | R. Bain | 130 | 44.2% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34 | 11.6% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Birsay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | George Marwick | unopposed | unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | unopposed | unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Evie & Rendall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | George Stevenson | unopposed | unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | unopposed | unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Stromness :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | John Chalmers | 78 | 47.0% |
| | Independent | D. Ritch | 38 | 22.9% |
| | Independent | J.R.T. Robertson | 21 | 12.7% |
| | Independent | W. Kirkpatrick | 19 | 11.5% |
| | Independent | J. Thomson | 10 | 6.0% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 24.1% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Holm :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | J. Laughton | unopposed | unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | unopposed | unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Burray & South Ronaldsay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Alex Annal | 279 | 71.4% |
| | Independent | L. Park | 112 | 28.6% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 167 | 42.8% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Hoy & Flotta :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Ewen Traill | 172 | 55.5% |
| | Independent | John Groat | 109 | 35.2% |
| | Independent | C. Mackenzie | 29 | 9.4% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 63 | 20.3% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
North Ronaldsay & Sanday :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Christine Muir | 269 | 71.9% |
| | Independent | D. Sinclair | 105 | 28.1% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 164 | 43.8% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Holm :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | J. Scott | unopposed | unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | unopposed | unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Eday & Stronsay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | J. Groat | 134 | 53.6% |
| | Independent | Mavis Bennett | 116 | 46.4% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18 | 7.2% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Rousay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | N. Firth | 117 | 69.2% |
| | Independent | G. Scott-Moncrieff | 52 | 30.8% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 65 | 38.4% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Shapinsay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Tadeusz Zawadski | unopposed | unopposed |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | unopposed | unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |