Perth and Kinross Council

Perth and Kinross Council (Scottish Gaelic: Comhairle Pheairt is Cheann Rois) is the local authority for Perth and Kinross, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. The council has been under no overall control since 1999. It is based in Perth.

Perth and Kinross Council Comhairle Pheairt is Cheann Rois
Coat of arms
Council logo
Type
Type	Unitary authority of Perth and Kinross
Term limits	5 years
Leadership
Provost	Xander McDade, Independent since 25 May 2022
Leader	Grant Laing, Scottish National Party since 25 May 2022
Chief Executive	Thomas Glen since 1 November 2021[1]
Structure
Seats	40 councillors
Results of the 2022 election:
Political groups	Administration   Scottish National Party (16) Other parties:   Conservative (14)   Liberal Democrats (4)   Independents (4)   Labour (2)
Elections
Voting system	Single transferable vote
Last election	5 May 2022
Next election	6 May 2027
Meeting place
2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH
Website
www.pkc.gov.uk

History

A district called Perth and Kinross was created in 1975. Perth and Kinross District Council was one of three lower-tier authorities within the Tayside region, along with Angus and Dundee. It was named after the two historical counties of Perthshire and Kinross-shire, the county councils of which had acted together as the 'Perth and Kinross Joint County Council' between 1930 and 1975.^[2][3] The Perth and Kinross district created in 1975 covered the whole of pre-1975 Kinross-shire and the majority, but not all, of pre-1975 Perthshire.^[4]

The modern area and its council were created in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, when the Tayside Regional Council was abolished and its functions passed to the three districts, which were reconstituted as council areas. There was also an adjustment to the boundary between Perth and Kinross and Dundee as part of the same reforms, with Longforgan being transferred from Dundee to Perth and Kinross.^[5]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 1999. Since the 2022 election the council has been led by a minority SNP administration .^[6]

The first election to Perth and Kinross 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:^[7]

Perth and Kinross District Council

Party in control		Years
	Conservative	1975–1984
	No overall control	1984–1992
	Conservative	1992–1996

Perth and Kinross Council

Party in control		Years
	SNP	1996–1999
	No overall control	1999–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1996 have been:^[8]

Councillor	Party		From	To
Bruce Crawford		SNP	1 Apr 1996	May 1999
Jimmy Doig		Independent	May 1999	May 2007
Ian Miller		SNP	May 2007	May 2017
Ian Campbell[9]		Conservative	17 May 2017	6 Feb 2018
Murray Lyle		Conservative	7 Mar 2018	5 May 2022
Grant Laing		SNP	25 May 2022

Composition

Following the 2022 election, the composition of the council was:

Party		2022 election
	Scottish National Party	17
	Conservative	14
	Liberal Democrat	4
	Independent	4
	Labour	1

The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

See also: Category:Perth and Kinross Council elections

Elections to the council are held every five years. The most recent poll was held in 2022, on Thursday 5 May. The next local election will be held in 2027.

As a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 and the recommendations put forth by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, there are twelve wards within the Perth and Kinross council area. The 2007 general election was the first to use the single transferable vote system of election and multi-member wards, each ward electing three or four councillors. This system was introduced as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, and is designed to produce a form of proportional representation.

Wards

Map of the area's wards (2017 configuration)

See also: Category:Wards of Perth and Kinross

Ward number	Name	Location	Seats
1	Carse of Gowrie		3
2	Strathmore		4
3	Blairgowrie and Glens		3
4	Highland		3
5	Strathtay		3
6	Strathearn		3
7	Strathallan		3
8	Kinross-shire		4
9	Almond and Earn		3
10	Perth City South		4
11	Perth City North		3
12	Perth City Centre		4

Premises

The council meets and has its main offices at 2 High Street in Perth, on the corner with Tay Street, which had been built in 1901 as the headquarters of General Accident. The main public enquiries reception is at the nearby Pullar House at 36 Mill Street, which was formerly the business premises of J. Pullar and Sons. The council also uses the former Municipal Buildings on High Street, completed in 1881 for the old burgh council of Perth. It also has area offices in Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Crieff and Pitlochry.^[10]