Elections to the Zetland County Council were held on 8 May 1973 as part of Scottish local elections. This was the last election for the County Council before its incorporation along with the Lerwick Town Council into the Shetland Islands Council in 1975. Elections were held in every part of Shetland except Lerwick to elect 24 landward members to the County Council, who would be joined by six nominated members from the Lerwick Town Council.
The election saw an unusually partisan competition between supporters and opponents of the County Council's policy on North Sea oil. The Shetland Democratic Group was formed to oppose the council's attempts to gain private legislation to exert direct control over oil developments in Shetland, objecting to proposals that would allow the council to take equity in industrial development and gain compulsory purchase powers.[1]
The Shetland Democratic Group gained 11 seats and defeated incumbent Convener Edward Thomason but failed to win enough support to gain control of the Zetland County Council. Supporters of the council's policy elected George Blance, a nominated member from the Lerwick Town Council, as the council's final Convener, defeating Shetland Democratic Group member John Jamieson by 18 votes to 12. The council's continued support for private legislation led to the passage of the Zetland County Council Act 1974, providing the council with powers to become a harbour authority, control harbour developments, invest in securities of bodies corporate, implement compulsory purchases in specified areas relating to oil developments and to establish a reserve fund from oil revenues.[2] These powers would be inherited by the Shetland Islands Council in 1975.
13 seats were uncontested, including seven of the Shetland Democratic Group's 11 gains.[3]
^"Pro-Bill Members Retain Control". The Shetland Times. 24 May 1973.
^Nevis Institute (1978). The Shetland Report: A constitutional study prepared for the Shetland Islands Council by The Nevis Institute under the Chairmanship of Lord Kilbrandon. Edinburgh. p. 63.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^"Landslide for "Democrats"". The Shetland Times. 11 May 1973.
^Stewart, James. "County Council Election May 1973". Shetland History Online. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
May 08, 2024
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Elections to the Zetland County Council were held on 8 May 1973 as part of Scottish local elections This was the last election for the County Council before its incorporation along with the Lerwick Town Council into the Shetland Islands Council in 1975 Elections were held in every part of Shetland except Lerwick to elect 24 landward members to the County Council who would be joined by six nominated members from the Lerwick Town Council 1973 Zetland County Council election 1970 May 8 1973 1973 05 08 1974 24 of 30 seats on the Zetland County Council16 seats needed for a majority First party Second party Leader Edward Thomason Clem Robb Party Independent Shetland Democratic Group Leader s seat Unst North defeated Delting South Seats won 13 11 Seat change 11 11 Popular vote 2 078 566 Percentage 78 6 21 4 Swing 21 4 21 4Council Convener before election Edward Thomason Independent Council Convener after election George Blance Independent The election saw an unusually partisan competition between supporters and opponents of the County Council s policy on North Sea oil The Shetland Democratic Group was formed to oppose the council s attempts to gain private legislation to exert direct control over oil developments in Shetland objecting to proposals that would allow the council to take equity in industrial development and gain compulsory purchase powers 1 The Shetland Democratic Group gained 11 seats and defeated incumbent Convener Edward Thomason but failed to win enough support to gain control of the Zetland County Council Supporters of the council s policy elected George Blance a nominated member from the Lerwick Town Council as the council s final Convener defeating Shetland Democratic Group member John Jamieson by 18 votes to 12 The council s continued support for private legislation led to the passage of the Zetland County Council Act 1974 providing the council with powers to become a harbour authority control harbour developments invest in securities of bodies corporate implement compulsory purchases in specified areas relating to oil developments and to establish a reserve fund from oil revenues 2 These powers would be inherited by the Shetland Islands Council in 1975 13 seats were uncontested including seven of the Shetland Democratic Group s 11 gains 3 Contents 1 Election results 2 Ward Results 3 By elections since 1973 4 ReferencesElection results editZetland County Council Election Result 1973 4 Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain loss Seats Votes Votes Independent 13 0 11 nbsp 11 54 2 78 6 2 078 nbsp 21 4 Shetland Democratic Group 11 11 0 nbsp 11 45 8 21 4 566 nbsp 21 4Ward Results editAithsting Party Candidate Votes Shetland Democratic Group Iain Caldwell 151 54 9 Independent Robert Garrick Incumbent 124 45 1 Majority 27 9 8 Shetland Democratic Group gain from Independent Bressay Party Candidate Votes Independent James Irvine Incumbent 122 78 2 Independent Brenda Scott 34 20 8 Majority 88 58 0 Independent hold Burra Party Candidate Votes Independent William Cumming Incumbent unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Independent hold Cunningsburgh Party Candidate Votes Shetland Democratic Group Joan McLeod Incumbent unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group gain from Independent Delting North Party Candidate Votes Shetland Democratic Group Fraser Peterson Incumbent unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group gain from Independent Delting South Party Candidate Votes Shetland Democratic Group Clem Robb Incumbent unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group gain from Independent Dunrossness North Party Candidate Votes Shetland Democratic Group James Leask Incumbent unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group gain from Independent Dunrossness South Party Candidate Votes Independent Raymond Bentley Incumbent 150 63 3 Independent Arthur M Irvine 87 36 7 Majority 63 26 6 Independent hold Fetlar Party Candidate Votes Independent John Laurenson Incumbent unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Independent hold Gulberwick and Quarff Party Candidate Votes Independent Arthur Irvine Incumbent 45 51 4 Shetland Democratic Group Alistair Leask 43 48 6 Majority 2 2 8 Independent hold Nesting and Lunnasting Party Candidate Votes Independent Andrew Riddell 149 68 3 Independent William Hamilton Incumbent 69 31 7 Majority 80 36 6 Independent hold Northmavine North Party Candidate Votes Shetland Democratic Group Robert Balfour 46 55 4 Independent Andrew Cromarty Incumbent 37 44 6 Majority 9 10 8 Shetland Democratic Group gain from Independent Northmavine South Party Candidate Votes Shetland Democratic Group John Jamieson Incumbent unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group gain from Independent Sandness Party Candidate Votes Independent Peter Garriock unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Independent hold Sandsting Party Candidate Votes Independent A I Tulloch Incumbent unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Independent hold Sandwick Party Candidate Votes Shetland Democratic Group Thomas Stove Incumbent unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group gain from Independent Tingwall Party Candidate Votes Independent Andrew Irvine Incumbent 327 55 7 Independent Martin Williamson 260 44 3 Majority 67 11 4 Independent hold Unst North Party Candidate Votes Shetland Democratic Group William Thomson 249 70 5 Independent Edward Thomason Incumbent 104 29 5 Majority 145 41 0 Shetland Democratic Group gain from Independent Unst South Party Candidate Votes Shetland Democratic Group Alan Fraser Incumbent unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group gain from Independent Walls Party Candidate Votes Independent Williamina Tait Incumbent 195 79 9 Independent Peter Hick 49 20 1 Majority 146 59 8 Independent hold Whalsay and Skerries Party Candidate Votes Independent Frederick Dainty unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Independent hold Whiteness and Weisdale Party Candidate Votes Shetland Democratic Group John Johnson 77 37 0 Independent John Rae Incumbent 67 32 2 Independent George Morrison 64 30 8 Majority 10 4 8 Shetland Democratic Group gain from Independent Yell North Party Candidate Votes Independent Sandy Cluness 156 80 0 Independent Robert Manson 39 20 0 Majority 117 60 0 Independent hold Yell South Party Candidate Votes Independent Robert Gray unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Independent holdBy elections since 1973 edit1974 Yell North by election Party Candidate Votes Independent David Johnson unopposed unopposed Majority unopposed unopposed Independent holdReferences edit Pro Bill Members Retain Control The Shetland Times 24 May 1973 Nevis Institute 1978 The Shetland Report A constitutional study prepared for the Shetland Islands Council by The Nevis Institute under the Chairmanship of Lord Kilbrandon Edinburgh p 63 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Landslide for Democrats The Shetland Times 11 May 1973 Stewart James County Council Election May 1973 Shetland History Online Retrieved 25 January 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1973 Zetland County Council election amp oldid 1193134109, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
