2017 Falkirk Council election

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Main article: 2017 Scottish local elections

2017 Elections to Falkirk Council were held on 4 May 2017, the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the nine wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 30 councillors being elected, a reduction of 2 members from 2012. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system.

Following the 2012 election, the controlling administration consisted of 14 Labour members, 2 Conservatives and 1 Independent (Cllr Buchanan). Opposition is 13 SNP members and 2 Independent (Cllrs Spears and McCabe). The Council Leader is Cllr Craig C Martin, Provost is Cllr Reid and the Depute Provost Cllr Patrick.

2017 Falkirk Council election
← 2012 4 May 2017 (2017-05-04) 2022 →
All 30 seats to Falkirk Council
16 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Cecil Meiklejohn Craig Martin John Patrick
Party SNP
Labour
Conservative
Leader's seat Falkirk North
Carse, Kinnaird & Tryst
 Falkirk South
Last election 13 seats, 40.6% 14 seats, 43.8% 2 seats, 6.3%
Seats before 13 14 2
Seats won 13 14 2
Seats after 12 9 7
Seat change -1 -5 +5
  Fourth party
 
Leader Billy Buchannan
Party
Independent
Leader's seat Bonnybridge and Larbert
Last election 3 seats, 9.4%
Seats before 1
Seats won 3
Seats after 2
Seat change -1
Council Leader before election

Craig Martin

Labour

 Council Leader after election

Cecil Meiklejohn
SNP

Election result summary

Falkirk Local Election Result 2017
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  SNP 12 0 1 -1 40.0 38.8 20,861
 
Labour
 9 0 5 -5 30.0 23.1 12,421
 
Conservative
 7 5 0 +5 23.3 24.5 13,168
 
Independent
 2 0 1 -1 6.7 9.8 5,308
 
Scottish Green
 - - - - 0.0 3.6 1,933
 
Other parties
 - - - - 0.0 0.1 63

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections in May 2012. The number of Falkirk Council seats was reduced by 2 in the 2017 election. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Ward results

Bo'ness and Blackness

  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2017: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
  • 2012-2017 Change: Conservative gain one seat from SNP
Bo'ness and Blackness – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
SNP Ann Ritchie (incumbent) 27.97 1,510      
Conservative
 Lynn Munro 26.15 1,412      
Labour
 David Aitchison 20.49 1,106 1,116.38 1,130.17 1,381.23
SNP Alan Gilbert 14.1 761 880.73 882.71 892.69
Scottish Green
 Mari-Ellena Corvi 5.78 312 324.72 333.19 360.08
Labour
 Michael Burnett 5.52 298 302.24 312.82  
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,399   Spoilt: 137   Quota: 1350   Turnout: 5,536 (46.8%)  

Grangemouth

  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent
  • 2017: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xIndependent
  • 2012-2017 Change: 1 less seat compared to 2012. Labour lose seat.
Grangemouth – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP David Balfour (incumbent) 26.95 1,510          
Labour
 Allyson Black (incumbent) 23.22 1,301 1,309.44 1,332.73 1,483.53    
Conservative
 James Bundy 18.38 1,030 1,031.79 1,040 1,074.58 1,094.4  
Independent
 Robert Spears (incumbent) 17.49 980 988.08 1,004.58 1,247.12 1,274.46 1,834.19
SNP Margaret-Ann Milne 12.06 676 756.82 799.39      
Scottish Green
 Judith McLaughlin 1.91 107 109.72        
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,604   Spoilt: 99   Quota: 1,402   Turnout: 5,703 (44.3%)  

[1]

Denny and Banknock

  • 2012: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
  • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
  • 2012-2017 Change: Conservative gain 1 seat from Independent
Denny and Banknock – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
SNP Paul Garner (incumbent) 26.3 1,664                  
Labour
 Jim Blackwood (incumbent) 15.27 965 976.27 976.51 996.75 1,019.23 1,020.57 1,233.78 1,359.61    
Conservative
 Nigel Harris 14.49 916 918.16 918.16 924.16 950.16 950.39 964.43 1,068.91 1,086.46 1,314.59
SNP Fiona Collie 13.98 884 1,200.27 1,210.99 1,255.15 1,274.11          
Independent
 Brian McCabe (incumbent) 10.87 687 719.13 722.85 737.57 780.57 782.45 811.89 984.92 1,002.97  
Independent
 Alexander John Waddell 8.26 522 528.47 529.47 537.7 615.95 616.69 640.97      
Labour
 Khalid Hamid 4.97 314 322.87 323.11 333.35 355.83 356.51        
Independent
 Anne Montgomery 3.65 231 232.92 235.16 247.4            
Scottish Green
 Cheryl Brind 1.89 119 122.84 125.08              
Solidarity Sean Mellon 0.3 19 21.64                
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 6,321   Spoilt: 95   Quota: 1,265   Turnout: 6,416 (44.1%)  

Carse, Kinnaird & Tryst

  • 2012: 2xLab; 2xSNP
  • 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab; 1xCon
  • 2012-2017 Change: Conservative gain 1 seat from Labour
Carse, Kinnaird & Tryst – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Conservative
 Jim Flynn 27.85 1,968            
SNP Gary Bouse 27.18 1,921            
Labour
 Joan Coombes * 13.53 956 1,069.44 1,098.21 1,154.31 1,229.31 1,251.22 2,106.01
SNP Laura Murtagh 13.3 940 955.48 1,350.04 1,374.34 1,530.07    
Labour
 Martin Murray 12.03 850 964.01 980.63 997.67 1,050.7 1,070.97  
Scottish Green
 Chris Marsh 4.12 291 328.16 358.51 408.87      
Independent
 Safia Ali 1.99 141 198.71 206.1        
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 7,067   Spoilt: 133   Quota: 1,414   Turnout: 7,200 (44%)  
  • = Outgoing Councillor for Grangemouth ward.

Bonnybridge and Larbert

  • 2012: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xIndependent
  • 2017: 1xSNP; 1xCon; 1xIndependent
  • 2012-2017 Change: Conservative gain 1 seat from Labour
Bonnybridge and Larbert – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP Tom Coleman (incumbent)† 33.7 1,898          
Conservative
 David Grant 24.31 1,368 1,389.43 1,404.2 1,427.07    
Independent
 Billy Buchanan (incumbent) 20.15 1,134 1,225.91 1,271.58 1,394.9 1,400.54 1,902.47
Labour
 Linda Gow (incumbent) 15.71 884 963.51 992.13 1,110.3 1,115.96  
Scottish Green
 David Robertson 3.84 216 384.58 417.2      
Independent
 Janine Rennie 2.27 128 153.3        
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,628   Spoilt: 51   Quota: 1,408   Turnout: 5,679 (45.1%)  

Falkirk North

  • 2012: 2xSNP; 2xLab
  • 2017: 2xSNP; 2xLab
  • 2012-2017 Change: No change
Falkirk North – 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP David Alexander (incumbent) 35.82 2,326          
Labour
 Denis Goldie * 17.22 1,118 1,160.83 1,208.1 1,313.84    
SNP Cecil Meiklejohn (incumbent) 16.33 1,060 1,864.91        
Conservative
 Wendy Chandrachud 14.11 916 933.22 948.14 978.61 979.61  
Labour
 Robert Bissett 12.95 841 908.11 962.4 1,102.62 1,113.75 1,563.47
Scottish Green
 Debra Pickering 3.56 231 263.23 519.28      
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 6,492   Spoilt: 196   Quota: 1,299   Turnout: 6,688 (41%)  
  • = Outgoing Councillor for Falkirk South.

Falkirk South

  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
  • 2017: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
  • 2012-2017 Change: 1 less seat compared to 2012. Labour lose seat.
Falkirk South – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
SNP Lorna Binnie 35.68 2,216
Conservative
 John Patrick (incumbent) 32.09 1,993
Labour
 Pat Reid *††† 27.15 1,686
Scottish Green
 Donnie Buchanan 5.07 315
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 6,210   Spoilt: 71   Quota: 1,553   Turnout: 6,281 (48.3%)  
  • = Sitting Councillor from Falkirk North.

Lower Braes

  • 2012: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2012-2017 Change: No change
Lower Braes – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Conservative
 Malcolm Nicol (incumbent) 34.49 1,864              
SNP Adanna McCue 30.19 1,632              
Labour
 Alan Nimmo (incumbent) 14.06 760 894.04 944.99 961.84 970.94 1,066.33 1,146.65 1,446.12
Independent
 Ricky Wilson 10.34 559 633.98 669.5 684.89 725.99 779.78 993.11  
Independent
 Steven Jackson (incumbent) 5.27 285 339.93 359.32 369.06 421.23 472.93    
Scottish Green
 Chris Brind 3.02 163 181.68 282.9 293.23 303.1      
Independent
 Sam Hemple 1.81 98 121.07 128.28 137.12        
UKIP
 Stuart Martin 0.81 44 89.04 91.96          
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,405   Spoilt: 50   Quota: 1,352   Turnout: 5,455 (46.2%)  

Upper Braes

  • 2012: 2xLab; 1xSNP
  • 2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
  • 2012-2017 Change: Conservative gain 1 seat from Labour
Upper Braes – 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Conservative
 James Kerr†† 30.22 1,701            
Labour
 John McLuckie (incumbent)†† 23.85 1,342 1,441.91          
SNP Gordon Hughes (incumbent) 18.27 1,028 1,036.61 1,040.73 1,066.78 1,093.98 1,218.31 2,112.31
SNP Farah Farzana 14.84 835 837.07 838.76 890.08 910.68 978.8  
Independent
 Jim Robertson 6.4 360 401.68 409.18 449.03 602.12    
Independent
 Neil Durning 3.25 183 224.17 228.32 262      
Scottish Green
 Tom McLaughlin 3.18 179 193.12 196.92        
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 5,628   Spoilt: 104   Quota: 1,408   Turnout: 5,732 (46.5%)  

Changes since 2017

  • † On 30 November 2017 Bonnybridge and Larbert SNP Cllr Tom Coleman died following a short illness.[2] A by-election was held on 15 February 2018 and the seat was retained by his son, Niall.
  • †† On 21 September 2018 Upper Braes Labour Cllr John McLuckie and Conservative Cllr James Kerr were suspended by both of their respective parties and became Independents having been charged by the police following an investigation into planning irregularities in Falkirk although both being cleared at a later date.[3]
  • †††On 29 July 2021 Falkirk South Labour Cllr Pat Reid announced he was resigning his seat.[4] A by-election will be held on 14 October and was gained by Emma Russell of the SNP.[5]

By-elections since 2017

Bonnybridge and Larbert By-election (15 February 2018)[6][7]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
SNP Niall Coleman 38.6 1,295 1,300 1,354 1,619 1,866
Conservative
 George Stevenson 32.4 1,088 1,096 1,115 1,280
Labour
 Linda Gow 24.2 813 821 858
Scottish Green
 David Robertson 3.7 124 129
UKIP
 Stuart Martin 1.0 35
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 3,355   Spoilt: 30   Quota: 1,678   Turnout: 3,385 (26.5%)  
Falkirk South By-election (14 October 2021)[8][9]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
SNP Emma Russell 38.6 1,691 1,844 2,019 2,472
Conservative
 Sarah Patrick 32.4 1,678 1,694 1,903  
Labour
 James Marshall 24.2 678 733    
Scottish Green
 Stuart Duffin 3.7 267      
Electorate: TBC   Valid: 4,313   Spoilt: 44   Quota: 2,157   Turnout: 4,364 (32.5%)  

References

  1. ^ "Ward 2 – Grangemouth". Falkirk Council. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  2. ^ Buchanan, Jill (1 December 2017). "Death of Falkirk Provost Tom Coleman". Falkirk Herald. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Falkirk councillors charged over planning concerns". BBC News. 21 September 2018. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019.
  4. ^ Paterson, Kirsty (29 July 2021). "Long-serving former Falkirk Provost Pat Reid resigns". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021.
  5. ^ "SNP victory in Falkirk Council by-election".
  6. ^ Pitcaithly, Mary (16 February 2018). "Bonnybridge and Larbert by-election result". Falkirk Council. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report" (PDF). Falkirk Council. 15 February 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 October 2021.
  8. ^ Pitcaithly, Mary (16 February 2018). "Falkirk South by-election result". Falkirk Council. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report" (PDF). Falkirk Council. 15 February 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 October 2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2017_Falkirk_Council_election&oldid=1196541334"