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Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Scottish Gaelic for 'Council of the Western Isles'; Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [ˈkʰõ.ərˠʎə ˈɲelan ˈʃiəɾ]) is the local government council for Na h-Eileanan Siar (the Outer Hebrides) council area of Scotland.[3][4] It is based in Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Full council election every 5 years
Coat of arms
Council logo
Type
Type
History
Founded16 May 1975
Leadership
Kenneth MacLeod,
Scottish National Party
since 17 May 2022
Paul Steele,
Independent
since 17 May 2022[1]
Malcolm Burr
since November 2005[2]
Structure
Seats29 councillors
Political groups
  Independent (22)
  SNP (6)
  Conservative (1)
Elections
Single transferable vote
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
6 May 2027
Motto
Ardaichidh Fireantachd Cinneach (Scottish Gaelic: "Righteousness exalteth a nation")
Meeting place
Council Offices, Sandwick Road, Stornoway, HS1 2BW
Website
www.cne-siar.gov.uk

Name edit

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is the only local council in Scotland to have a Gaelic-only name. The original name, Western Isles Islands Council, was changed to Western Isles Council in 1995 and then given its Gaelic title in 1997 under the Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland) Act 1997. The former "Western Isles" council area is now officially named "Na h-Eileanan Siar", even in English language contexts.[3][4][5]

History edit

In 1975, the council was created as Western Isles Council, 57 years after the creation of Na h-Eileanan an Iar for elections to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the constituency being named, when created, Western Isles). Since 1999, the area has also been represented by the Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency of the Scottish Parliament, with the same boundaries.[6]

When the Bank of Credit and Commerce International collapsed in 1991, the then Western Isles Council lost £35m invested there, compelling a large increase in its council tax rate and leading to the resignation of Council Convener Donald Macauley.[7] Despite its initial losses, by 2012 the Council had gained a net profit of £1.5 million from dividend repayments due to favourable exchange rates.[8]

Representing Scotland's only majority Gaelic-speaking local authority area, the council pioneered the use of Gaelic-medium education in the 1980s. In 2020, Gaelic became the default language of instruction for all primary school pupils.[9]

In 1997, the Western Isles Council was renamed as Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.[3][5][6]

Elections edit

General elections to the council are held on a five-year cycle, the last were held in 2022.

From 1975 until 2007, council elections used the first past the post system of election; the last elections of this type elected 31 councillors, elected by 31 single-member wards.[10]

In 2007, under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, the single transferable vote system, together with multi-member wards, was used for the first time, each ward electing three or four councillors. This system is designed to produce a degree of proportional representation.[10]

Political representation edit

The 2022 election and subsequent by-elections resulted in the following composition:[11]

Leaders edit

Political Leaders edit

No. Political Leader Party Period in office Election
1 Angus Campbell Independent 2008–2017 2007
2012
2 Roddie MacKay Independent 2017–2022 2017
3 Paul Steele Independent 2022 – present 2022

Convenors edit

No. Convenor Party Period in office Election
1 Donald Macauley Independent 1974–1982 1974
1978
2 Sandy Matheson Independent 1982–1990 1982
1986
1 Donald Macauley Independent 1990–1991 1990
3 Donald MacLeod Independent 1991–1994 1990
4 Donald Mackay Independent 1994–1999 1994
5 Alex Macdonald Independent 1999–2012 1999
2003
2007
6 Norman MacDonald Independent 2012–2022 2012
2017
7 Kenneth MacLeod Scottish National Party 2022 – present 2022

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Council minutes, 17 May 2022" (PDF). Comhairle Nan Eileanan Siar. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  2. ^ "About us". Electoral Management Board for Scotland. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Areas of Scotland" 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine ourscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Place-names of Scotland" 2009-10-26 at the Wayback Machine scotlandsplaces.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  5. ^ a b Department of Education (January 2008) "Review of Educational Provision and the Comhairle's Future Strategy for the Schools Estate: Daliburgh School, Isle of South Uist" Archived 2010-07-09 at WebCite (pdf) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  6. ^ a b See The 5th Periodical Report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland September 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Cusick, James (18 April 1993). "Stirring of the angry Isles". Independent on Sunday. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  8. ^ Merritt, Mike (25 November 2012). "Western Isles Council enjoy £1.5m surplus in aftermath of BCCI crash in 1991". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Gaelic to be 'default' language for new pupils in Western Isles schools". BBC News. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  10. ^ a b MacMahon, Peter and Walker, Helen (18 May 2007) "Winds of change sweep Scots town halls". Edinburgh. The Scotsman.
  11. ^ "Council Members". Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Retrieved 28 December 2022.

External links edit

  • Comhairle nan Eilean Siar website

comhairle, eilean, siar, scottish, gaelic, council, western, isles, scottish, gaelic, pronunciation, ˈkʰõ, ərˠʎə, ˈɲelan, ˈʃiəɾ, local, government, council, eileanan, siar, outer, hebrides, council, area, scotland, based, stornoway, isle, lewis, full, council,. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Scottish Gaelic for Council of the Western Isles Scottish Gaelic pronunciation ˈkʰo erˠʎe ne ˈɲelan ˈʃieɾ is the local government council for Na h Eileanan Siar the Outer Hebrides council area of Scotland 3 4 It is based in Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis Comhairle nan Eilean SiarFull council election every 5 yearsCoat of armsCouncil logoTypeTypeUnitary authorityHistoryFounded16 May 1975LeadershipConvenerKenneth MacLeod Scottish National Party since 17 May 2022LeaderPaul Steele Independent since 17 May 2022 1 Chief ExecutiveMalcolm Burr since November 2005 2 StructureSeats29 councillorsPolitical groups Independent 22 SNP 6 Conservative 1 ElectionsVoting systemSingle transferable voteLast election5 May 2022Next election6 May 2027MottoArdaichidh Fireantachd Cinneach Scottish Gaelic Righteousness exalteth a nation Meeting placeCouncil Offices Sandwick Road Stornoway HS1 2BWWebsitewww wbr cne siar wbr gov wbr uk Contents 1 Name 2 History 3 Elections 3 1 Political representation 4 Leaders 4 1 Political Leaders 4 2 Convenors 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksName editComhairle nan Eilean Siar is the only local council in Scotland to have a Gaelic only name The original name Western Isles Islands Council was changed to Western Isles Council in 1995 and then given its Gaelic title in 1997 under the Local Government Gaelic Names Scotland Act 1997 The former Western Isles council area is now officially named Na h Eileanan Siar even in English language contexts 3 4 5 History editIn 1975 the council was created as Western Isles Council 57 years after the creation of Na h Eileanan an Iar for elections to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom the constituency being named when created Western Isles Since 1999 the area has also been represented by the Na h Eileanan an Iar constituency of the Scottish Parliament with the same boundaries 6 When the Bank of Credit and Commerce International collapsed in 1991 the then Western Isles Council lost 35m invested there compelling a large increase in its council tax rate and leading to the resignation of Council Convener Donald Macauley 7 Despite its initial losses by 2012 the Council had gained a net profit of 1 5 million from dividend repayments due to favourable exchange rates 8 Representing Scotland s only majority Gaelic speaking local authority area the council pioneered the use of Gaelic medium education in the 1980s In 2020 Gaelic became the default language of instruction for all primary school pupils 9 In 1997 the Western Isles Council was renamed as Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 3 5 6 Elections editSee also Category Comhairle nan Eilean Siar elections and Category Wards of Na h Eileanan Siar PronunciationScots Gaelic Comhairle nan Eilean SiarPronunciation ˈkʰo erˠʎe ne ˈɲelan ˈʃieɾ Scots Gaelic Na h Eileanan an IarPronunciation ne ˈhelanen e ˈɲieɾ Scots Gaelic Na h Eileanan SiarPronunciation ne ˈhelanen ˈʃieɾ General elections to the council are held on a five year cycle the last were held in 2022 From 1975 until 2007 council elections used the first past the post system of election the last elections of this type elected 31 councillors elected by 31 single member wards 10 In 2007 under the Local Governance Scotland Act 2004 the single transferable vote system together with multi member wards was used for the first time each ward electing three or four councillors This system is designed to produce a degree of proportional representation 10 Political representation edit The 2022 election and subsequent by elections resulted in the following composition 11 Party SeatsIndependent 22Scottish National Party 6Conservative 1Leaders editPolitical Leaders edit No Political Leader Party Period in office Election1 Angus Campbell Independent 2008 2017 2007 20122 Roddie MacKay Independent 2017 2022 20173 Paul Steele Independent 2022 present 2022Convenors edit No Convenor Party Period in office Election1 Donald Macauley Independent 1974 1982 1974 19782 Sandy Matheson Independent 1982 1990 1982 19861 Donald Macauley Independent 1990 1991 19903 Donald MacLeod Independent 1991 1994 19904 Donald Mackay Independent 1994 1999 19945 Alex Macdonald Independent 1999 2012 1999 2003 20076 Norman MacDonald Independent 2012 2022 2012 20177 Kenneth MacLeod Scottish National Party 2022 present 2022See also editConstitutional status of Orkney Shetland and the Western Isles Lerwick DeclarationReferences edit Council minutes 17 May 2022 PDF Comhairle Nan Eileanan Siar Retrieved 17 July 2023 About us Electoral Management Board for Scotland Retrieved 17 July 2023 a b c Areas of Scotland Archived 2008 05 16 at the Wayback Machine ourscotland co uk Retrieved 1 June 2010 a b Place names of Scotland Archived 2009 10 26 at the Wayback Machine scotlandsplaces gov uk Retrieved 1 June 2010 a b Department of Education January 2008 Review of Educational Provision and the Comhairle s Future Strategy for the Schools Estate Daliburgh School Isle of South Uist Archived 2010 07 09 at WebCite pdf Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Retrieved 1 June 2010 a b See The 5th Periodical Report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland Archived September 21 2007 at the Wayback Machine Cusick James 18 April 1993 Stirring of the angry Isles Independent on Sunday Retrieved 15 May 2015 Merritt Mike 25 November 2012 Western Isles Council enjoy 1 5m surplus in aftermath of BCCI crash in 1991 Daily Record Retrieved 20 July 2022 Gaelic to be default language for new pupils in Western Isles schools BBC News 23 January 2020 Retrieved 12 August 2022 a b MacMahon Peter and Walker Helen 18 May 2007 Winds of change sweep Scots town halls Edinburgh The Scotsman Council Members Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Retrieved 28 December 2022 External links editComhairle nan Eilean Siar website Ward maps with links re councillors Portal nbsp Scotland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Comhairle nan Eilean Siar amp oldid 1166740766, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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