South Ayrshire Council

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Wikipedia

South Ayrshire Council

Comhairle Shiorrachd Àir a Deas
Coat of arms or logo
Coat of arms
Logo
Council logo
Leadership
Iain Campbell,
Independent
since 20 May 2025[1][2]
Brian Connolly,
Independent
since 20 May 2025[2]
Chief Executive (interim)
Cleland Sneddon
since August 2025[3][4]
Structure
Seats28 councillors
Political groups
  Independents (11)
  Conservative (6)
  Labour (5)
  SNP (5)
  Alba (1)
Elections
Single transferable vote
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
County Buildings, Wellington Square, Ayr, KA7 1DR
Website
www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk

South Ayrshire Council (Scottish Gaelic: Comhairle Shiorrachd Àir a Deas) is the local authority for South Ayrshire, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It was created in 1996, and now comprises eight wards, each with three of four directly elected councillors by the single transferable vote system, which creates a form of proportional representation. The council is based at County Buildings in Ayr.

History

South Ayrshire was created in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which replaced Scotland's previous local government structure of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts with unitary council areas providing all local government services. South Ayrshire covered the same area as the abolished Kyle and Carrick district, and also took over the functions of the abolished Strathclyde Regional Council within the area.[5] The area's name references its location within the historic county of Ayrshire, which had been abolished for local government purposes in 1975 when Kyle and Carrick district and Strathclyde region had been created.[6]

In April 2025 allegations emerged, based on a leaked audio recording of a private meeting in 2023, that the Conservative leader of the council, Martin Dowey, had used undue influence to help a company in its bid for a demolition contract the council was procuring. Dowey denied any wrongdoing.[7] At a meeting on 1 May 2025, the council passed a motion of no confidence in the deputy leader; a similar motion of no confidence in Dowey's leadership was tabled but not voted on. However, Dowey resigned as leader later that day, as did the council's provost.[8][9] A few weeks later, the council's chief executive also resigned after similar allegations emerged over the procurement of bids for a different development contract.[10][3]

Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2003, in which time various coalitions and minority administrations have operated. Following the last election in 2022, the council was led by a Conservative minority administration which took office with support from two independent councillors and abstentions from Labour.[11]

Following the resignation of the former Conservative leader in May 2025, independent councillor Brian Connolly was subsequently appointed as the new leader of the council at a meeting on 20 May 2025.[12] He appointed a cabinet comprising independent councillors, Conservatives, and the Alba councillor.[13]

The first election to South Ayrshire Council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows:[14]

Party in controlYears
Labour1996–2003
No overall control2003–

Leadership

The council's civic head takes the title of provost. This is a largely ceremonial role, chairing council meetings and acting as the area's first citizen. Although an elected councillor, the provost is expected to be politically impartial.[15] Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council.

The leaders of the council since 1996 have been:

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Ian Welsh[16][17][18]Labour1 Apr 1996May 1999
John Baillie[19][20]Labour20 May 1999Jun 2000
Andy Hill[21][22]Labour22 Jun 200028 Nov 2005
Gibson MacDonald[22][23]ConservativeDec 2005May 2007
Hugh Hunter[24][25]Conservative2007Jan 2010
Bill McIntosh[24][26][27]Conservative3 Feb 2010May 2017
Douglas Campbell[28][29]SNP18 May 2017Jun 2020
Peter Henderson[30][31]SNP25 Jun 2020May 2022
Martin Dowey[32][9]Conservative19 May 20221 May 2025
Brian Connolly[1][12]Independent20 May 2025

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to August 2025, the composition of the council was:[33]

Party Councillors
Conservative6
Labour5
SNP5
Alba1
Independent10
Vacant1
Total 28

A by-election may be held to fill the vacant seat. Otherwise, the next election is due in 2027.[33]

Elections

Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the single transferable vote system, introduced by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Election results since 1995 have been as follows:[14]

Year Seats Conservative SNP Labour Independent / Other Notes
19952540210Labour majority
199930130170New ward boundaries.[34] Labour majority
200330150150
20073012891New ward boundaries.[35]
20123010992
20172812952New ward boundaries.[36]
20222810954

Premises

The council is based at County Buildings on Wellington Square in Ayr, which had been built in 1931 as the headquarters for the old Ayrshire County Council, being an extension to the older Sheriff Court built in 1818.[37][38] When South Ayrshire Council was created in 1996 it inherited the former Kyle and Carrick District Council's offices at Burns House on Burns Statue Square in Ayr as well as County Buildings, the latter having been used between 1975 and 1996 as an area office for Strathclyde Regional Council.[39] In 2019 the council consolidated its offices into County Buildings. Burns House was subsequently demolished in 2021, creating a new open space, landscaped with funding from the Scottish Government.[40]

Wards

Map of the 2017 wards and election outcome

Since 2017 the area has been divided into eight wards, all electing either three or four councillors:[36]

Ward
Number		 Ward Name Location Seats
1 Troon 4
2 Prestwick 4
3 Ayr North 4
4 Ayr East 3
5 Ayr West 4
6 Kyle 3
7 Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton 3
8 Girvan and South Carrick 3

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Council minutes, 20 May 2025" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Councillors vote to appoint Provost, Leader and Depute Leader". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  3. 1 2 Dyson, Kevin (27 June 2025). "South Ayrshire chaos continues unabated as Chief Executive resigns over procurement scandal". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Management team". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 39, retrieved 29 December 2022
  6. ↑ "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1973 c. 65, retrieved 29 December 2022
  7. ↑ Ferguson, John (27 April 2025). "Tory council chief recorded appearing to promise multi-million pound contracts for 'pals'". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  8. ↑ Lyon, Adam (1 May 2025). "South Ayrshire provost resigns after fiery council meeting". The National. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  9. 1 2 Grace, Tempany (1 May 2025). "South Ayrshire Council leader resigns with 'immediate effect'". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  10. ↑ Wilson, Stuart (11 June 2025). "South Ayrshire Council chief executive recorded appearing to break strict contract rules". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  11. ↑ Wilson, Stuart (19 May 2022). "BREAKING: Tories take control of South Ayrshire Council". Daily Record. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  12. 1 2 Wilson, Stuart (20 May 2025). "Brian Connolly named new leader as South Ayrshire council votes on new chief". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  13. ↑ Dyson, Kevin (22 May 2025). "New council leader aims to be a 'unifier' despite major divisions". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Compositions Calculator". The Elections Centre. University of Exeter. Retrieved 21 May 2025. (Put "South Ayrshire" in search box to see specific results.)
  15. ↑ "Provost of South Ayrshire". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  16. ↑ "Public Notices: Labour Scotland". Irvine Herald. 28 April 1995. p. 41. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  17. ↑ "A proud sense of community". The Herald. 28 March 1996. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  18. ↑ "Better prospects for business in Ayrshire - but much hard work remains to be done". Irvine Herald. 9 April 1999. p. 82. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  19. ↑ "Council minutes, 20 May 1999" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. p. 364. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 November 2004. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  20. ↑ "News Archives". Maybole.org. November 2005. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  21. ↑ "Council minutes, 22 June 2000" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. p. 433. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 November 2004. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  22. 1 2 "New administration and leadership for council". South Ayrshire Council. December 2005. Archived from the original on 25 April 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  23. ↑ "Respects paid to ex-Provost Gibson". Ayr Advertiser. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  24. 1 2 "Bill is South Ayrshire's New Boss". Ayr Advertiser. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  25. ↑ Wilson, Stuart (13 February 2022). "Former South Ayrshire Conservative councillor Hugh Hunter confirms Independent bid for May election". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  26. ↑ "Council minutes, 3 February 2010" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  27. ↑ Houston, Stephen (7 October 2016). "South Ayrshire Council leader Bill McIntosh announces he will not seek re-election". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  28. ↑ "Council minutes, 18 May 2017" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  29. ↑ "South Ayrshire Council leader Douglas Campbell steps down". Scottish Housing News. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  30. ↑ "Council minutes, 25 June 2020" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  31. ↑ Dyson, Kevin (7 April 2022). "Girvan and South Carrick - one of the key South Ayrshire Council election 'battlegrounds'". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  32. ↑ "Council minutes, 19 May 2022" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  33. 1 2 "South Ayrshire". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  34. ↑ "The South Ayrshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1998", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1998/3247, retrieved 29 December 2022
  35. ↑ Scottish Parliament. The South Ayrshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006 as made, from legislation.gov.uk.
  36. 1 2 Scottish Parliament. The South Ayrshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2016 as made, from legislation.gov.uk.
  37. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Ayr Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court, including boundary wall (LB21820)". Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  38. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Wellington Square, County Buildings including gates (Category B Listed Building LB47250)". Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  39. ↑ "No. 24149". The Edinburgh Gazette. 28 February 1997. p. 461.
  40. ↑ Wilson, Stuart. "Huge mural on Odeon building would 'improve image' of Ayr town centre". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 October 2022.