# 2017 North Ayrshire Council election

Elections to North Ayrshire Council took place on 4 May 2017 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections.
The election used the ten wards created as a result of the Fifth Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements, with each ward electing three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system, a form of proportional representation, with 33 councillors being elected.
After the election, the Labour Party took control of the authority as a minority administration with outgoing council Leader Joe Cullinane being reappointed.

## Election result

2017 North Ayrshire Council election result :
| Party | Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| | SNP | 11 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 33.3 | 35.2 | 16,644 | 0.4 |
| | Labour | 11 | 2 | 2 | | 33.3 | 26.1 | 12,320 | 5.3 |
| | Conservative | 7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 21.2 | 23.5 | 11,099 | 14.2 |
| | Independent | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 12.1 | 13.0 | 6,130 | 6.0 |
| | Scottish Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.9 | 439 | New |
| | No Referendum Maintain Union Pro-Brexit | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.5 | 238 | New |
| | Scottish Socialist | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.3 | 165 | 0.5 |
| | UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.2 | 106 | 0.3 |
| | Socialist Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.2 | 76 | 0.9 |
| | TUSC | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.1 | 42 | |
| Total | Total | 33 | | | | | | 47,259 | |
Source:
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2012. There were three more seats in this election than the previous and, as a result, this may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

## Ward results
### Irvine West

Labour retained both their seats while the SNP retained one seat and lost one seat to the Conservatives.
Irvine West - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Labour | Ian Clarkson (incumbent) | 27.7 | 1,249 | | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Scott Gallacher | 22.7 | 1,025 | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Shaun MacAulay | 20.3 | 914 | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Maria Limonci | 15.7 | 707 | 722 | 725 | 736 | 769 | 790 | |
| | Labour | Louise McPhater (incumbent) | 9.7 | 438 | 669 | 706 | 707 | 738 | 804 | 1,062 |
| | Scottish Green | Andrew Craig | 2.1 | 96 | 106 | 117 | 117 | | | |
| | Socialist Labour | Bobby Cochrane | 1.7 | 76 | 113 | 120 | 121 | 139 | | |
| Electorate: 11,984 Valid: 4,505 Spoilt: 121 Quota: 902 Turnout: 38.6% |||||||||||
Source:

### Irvine East

Boundary changes resulted in Irvine East being reduced in size from a four-member ward to a three-member ward. As a result, both the SNP and Labour retained only one of the two seats they had won at the previous election and the Conservatives gained one seat.
Irvine East - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | SNP | Marie Burns (incumbent) | 33.5 | 1,334 | | | | | |
| | Conservative | Angela Stephen | 26.7 | 1,065 | | | | | |
| | Labour | John Easdale (incumbent) | 16.2 | 646 | 664 | 676 | 716 | 846 | 1,403 |
| | Labour | Irene Oldfather (incumbent) | 13.4 | 536 | 547 | 566 | 598 | 672 | |
| | SNP | Hugh Wilson | 6.4 | 254 | 519 | 520 | 574 | | |
| | Scottish Green | Ross Collins | 3.8 | 150 | 170 | 177 | | | |
| Electorate: 9,922 Valid: 3,985 Spoilt: 83 Quota: 997 Turnout: 41.0% ||||||||||
Source:

### Kilwinning

Labour (2) and the SNP (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the Conservatives gained one seat from former independent councillor Robert Steel.
Kilwinning - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Labour | Joe Cullinane (incumbent) | 33.9 | 1,949 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Scott Davidson | 25.5 | 1,466 | | | | | |
| | Conservative | John Glover | 21.3 | 1,224 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Susan Johnson | 8.0 | 460 | 501 | 768 | 770 | 776 | 859 |
| | Labour | Donald Reid (incumbent) | 7.00 | 402 | 1,011 | 1,019 | 1,041 | 1,073 | 1,152 |
| | Scottish Green | Yvonne McLellan | 3.4 | 193 | 232 | 251 | 258 | 274 | |
| | UKIP | Matthew John Grainger | 1.0 | 60 | 74 | 76 | 91 | | |
| Electorate: 13,420 Valid: 5,754 Spoilt: 151 Quota: 1,151 Turnout: 44.0% ||||||||||
Source:

### Stevenston

Stevenston was a new ward created from the former Saltcoats and Stevenston ward which was abolished. The new ward elected two Labour and one SNP councillors.
Stevenston - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | SNP | Davina McTiernan | 21.5 | 782 | 790 | 808 | 826 | 1,373 | | | |
| | Labour | John Sweeney | 19.1 | 697 | 707 | 748 | 818 | 844 | 924 | | |
| | SNP | Chris Paton | 16.5 | 601 | 605 | 620 | 630 | | | | |
| | Labour | Jimmy Miller | 15.9 | 579 | 592 | 604 | 636 | 654 | 736 | 744 | 961 |
| | Conservative | Tom McCammont | 15.7 | 573 | 587 | 603 | 631 | 639 | 657 | 658 | |
| | Independent | Alan Munro | 4.7 | 172 | 192 | 230 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Gerard Pollock | 3.9 | 144 | 164 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | David Higgins | 2.7 | 97 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 9,565 Valid: 3,645 Spoilt: 133 Quota: 912 Turnout: 39.5% ||||||||||||
Source:

### Ardrossan and Arran

Following boundary changes, Ardrossan and Arran returned one less member than the previous election. The SNP retained both the seats they won at the previous election. The Conservatives gained one seat and both Labour and former independent councillor John Hunter lost their seats.
Ardrossan and Arran - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Conservative | Timothy Billings | 27.6 | 1,309 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Ellen McMaster | 19.7 | 932 | 937 | 1,000 | 1,002 | 1,034 | 1,159 |
| | SNP | Tony Gurney (incumbent) | 19.6 | 930 | 932 | 946 | 955 | 1,092 | 1,245 |
| | Labour | Clare McGuire | 13.9 | 659 | 677 | 723 | 792 | 979 | |
| | Independent | John Hunter (incumbent) | 10.6 | 503 | 517 | 534 | 627 | | |
| | No Referendum Maintain Union Pro-Brexit | Gordon Allison | 5.0 | 238 | 280 | 285 | | | |
| | Scottish Socialist | Colin Turbett | 3.5 | 165 | 170 | | | | |
| Electorate: 9,622 Valid: 4,736 Spoilt: 123 Quota: 1,185 Turnout: 50.5% ||||||||||
Source:

### Dalry and West Kilbride

The SNP and independent councillor Robert Barr retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the Conservatives gained one seat from independent candidate Elizabeth McLardy.
Dalry and West Kilbride - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | SNP | Joy Brahim | 23.8 | 1,219 | 1,223 | 1,247 | 1,289 | | |
| | Conservative | Todd Ferguson | 22.2 | 1,137 | 1,137 | 1,177 | 1,247 | 1,247 | 1,314 |
| | Independent | Robert Barr (incumbent) | 19.3 | 990 | 995 | 1,147 | 1,222 | 1,223 | 1,361 |
| | Independent | Kay Hall | 11.7 | 599 | 600 | 619 | 780 | 782 | 867 |
| | Labour | Paul Reid | 8.4 | 432 | 437 | 468 | 498 | 499 | |
| | Independent | Elizabeth McLardy (incumbent) | 8.2 | 418 | 423 | 433 | | | |
| | Independent | Sheena Woodside | 5.9 | 301 | 307 | | | | |
| | Independent | John Willis | 0.5 | 27 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 10,027 Valid: 5,123 Spoilt: 91 Quota: 1,281 Turnout: 52.0% ||||||||||
Source:

### Kilbirnie and Beith

The SNP and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election and independent candidate Donald L. Reid gained a seat from retiring independent councillor Jean Highgate.
Kilbirnie and Beith - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| | SNP | Anthea Dickson (incumbent) | 22.3 | 1,057 | 1,061 | 1,091 | 1,617 | |
| | Independent | Donald L. Reid | 22.2 | 1,053 | 1,074 | 1,182 | 1,203 | |
| | Labour | John Bell (incumbent) | 19.5 | 925 | 1,031 | 1,062 | 1,096 | 1,235 |
| | Conservative | Ted Nevill | 14.9 | 705 | 712 | 731 | 735 | 751 |
| | SNP | Margaret Johnson | 12.1 | 574 | 576 | 610 | | |
| | Independent | James Smith | 5.6 | 263 | 267 | | | |
| | Labour | James Robson | 3.3 | 156 | | | | |
| Electorate: 10,600 Valid: 4,733 Spoilt: 122 Quota: 1,184 Turnout: 45.8% |||||||||
Source:

### North Coast and Cumbraes

The Conservatives and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the SNP held one seat and lost one seat to independent candidate Ian Murdoch.
North Coast and Cumbraes - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Conservative | Tom Marshall (incumbent) | 37.0 | 2,686 | | | | | |
| | SNP | Alan Hill (incumbent) | 19.4 | 1,406 | 1,450 | 1,451 | | | |
| | Labour | Alex Gallagher (incumbent) | 16.0 | 1,160 | 1,461 | | | | |
| | SNP | Grace McLean (incumbent) | 14.8 | 1,075 | 1,091 | 1,091 | 1,092 | 1,112 | |
| | Independent | Ian Murdoch | 11.0 | 801 | 1,110 | 1,113 | 1,113 | 1,272 | 1,767 |
| | Independent | Johnny McCloskey | 1.7 | 124 | 239 | 241 | 241 | | |
| Electorate: 13,596 Valid: 7,252 Spoilt: 117 Quota: 1,451 Turnout: 54.2% ||||||||||
Source:

### Saltcoats

Saltcoats was a new ward created from parts of Ardrossan and Arran ward – which was retained but reduced in size – and the former Saltcoats and Stevenston ward which was abolished. The new ward elected one Labour, one SNP and one independent councillor.
Saltcoats - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Labour | Jim Montgomerie | 30.7 | 1,279 | | | | | | |
| | SNP | Jean McClung | 21.6 | 900 | 914 | 914 | 935 | 1,508 | | |
| | Conservative | Brandon Clydesdale | 15.8 | 655 | 666 | 682 | 720 | 729 | 749 | |
| | SNP | Roberta Bianchini | 14.8 | 619 | 625 | 627 | 637 | | | |
| | Independent | Ronnie McNicol | 13.7 | 570 | 599 | 612 | 677 | 696 | 860 | 1,175 |
| | Labour | Valerie Reid | 2.4 | 100 | 240 | 249 | | | | |
| | UKIP | Caroline Santos | 1.1 | 46 | 48 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 10,007 Valid: 4,169 Spoilt: 134 Quota: 1,043 Turnout: 43.0% |||||||||||
Source:

### Irvine South

Irvine South was a new ward created from parts of Irvine East and Irvine West which were retained but reduced in size. The new ward elected one SNP, one Conservative and one Labour councillor.
Irvine South - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | SNP | Christina Larsen | 21.8 | 733 | 743 | 752 | 771 | 789 | 1,437 |
| | Conservative | Margaret George | 21.4 | 720 | 722 | 742 | 768 | 820 | 829 |
| | SNP | Robin Sturgeon | 20.3 | 681 | 684 | 684 | 701 | 710 | |
| | Labour | Robert Foster | 20.1 | 676 | 681 | 695 | 1,033 | | |
| | Labour | David O'Neill | 13.0 | 437 | 443 | 453 | | | |
| | Independent | Audrey Hynd-Gaw | 2.0 | 68 | 77 | | | | |
| | TUSC | Ian Kerr | 1.2 | 42 | | | | | |
| Electorate: 8,847 Valid: 3,357 Spoilt: 111 Quota: 840 Turnout: 39.2% ||||||||||
Source:

### Dalry and West Kilbride by-election

Dalry and West Kilbride SNP councillor Joy Brahim resigned her seat on 14 May 2021 due to illness. A by-election was held on 12 August to fill the vacancy and was gained by the Conservative's Ronnie Stalker.
Dalry and West Kilbride by-election (12 August 2021) – 1 seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 |
| | Conservative | Ronnie Stalker | 53.5 | 2,016 |
| | SNP | Robyn Graham | 34.3 | 1,292 |
| | Labour | Valerie Reid | 8.1 | 305 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ruby Kirkwood | 1.5 | 58 |
| | Socialist Labour | James McDaid | 1.5 | 57 |
| | Independent | John Willis | 1.1 | 42 |
| Electorate: 10,476 Valid: 3,770 Spoilt: 31 Quota: 1,886 Turnout: 36.3% |||||
Source: