2022 Clackmannanshire Council election

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2022 Clackmannanshire Council election
← 2017 5 May 2022 (2022-05-05) 2027 →
All 18 seats to
Clackmannanshire Council

10 seats needed for a majority
Registered40,241
Turnout43.8%
  First party Second party
 
SNP
Lab
Leader Ellen Forson Kenny Earle
Party SNP
Labour
Leader's seat Clackmannanshire South Clackmannanshire South
Last election 8 seats, 37.1% 5 seats, 27.8%
Seats before 8 5
Seats won 9 5
Seat change Increase 1 Steady
Popular vote 6,765 12,786
Percentage 39.4% 23.8%
Swing Increase 2.3% Decrease 4.0%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Con
Grn
Leader Bryan Quinn
Party
Conservative
Scottish Green
Leader's seat Clackmannanshire South
Last election 5 seats, 24.9% 0 seats, 6.5%
Seats before 4 0
Seats won 3 1
Seat change Decrease 2 Increase 1
Popular vote 3,996 1,438
Percentage 23.2% 8.4%
Swing Decrease 1.4% Increase 1.9%
Leader before election

Ellen Forson
(SNP)
No overall control

Leader after election

Ellen Forson
(SNP)
No overall control

Elections to Clackmannanshire Council took place on 5 May 2022, the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV)—a form of proportional representation—in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

For the third consecutive election, the

Greens
their first seat in a Clackmannanshire election.

The minority SNP administration retained control of the council with incumbent council leader Cllr Ellen Forson re-elected to the post. Cllr Donald Balsillie was elected Provost and Cllr Phil Fairlie was selected as the council's first convener.

Background

Previous election

Main article: 2017 Clackmannanshire Council election

At the previous election in 2017, the

Conservatives made a net gain of four to hold five seats.[1][2]

2017 Clackmannanshire Council election result
Party Seats Vote share
SNP 8 37.1%
Labour
 5 27.8%
Conservatives
 5 24.9%

Source:[1][2]

Electoral system

The election used the five wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 18 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the single transferable vote (STV)—a form of proportional representation—electoral system where candidates are ranked in order of preference.[3]

Composition

The only change to the composition of the council came in March 2018 when Conservative councillor Chris Dixon resigned from the party and sat as an independent.[2][4] Three by-elections were held and resulted in two SNP holds[5][6] and a Conservative hold.[7]

Composition of Clackmannanshire Council
Party 2017 election Dissolution
SNP 8 8
Labour
 5 5
Conservative
 5 4
Independent
 0 1

Retiring councillors

Retiring councillors
Ward Party Retiring councillor
Clackmannanshire West
Labour
 George Matchett
SNP Tina Murphy
Les Sharp
Clackmannanshire North Labour Dave Clark
SNP Helen Lewis
Clackmannanshire Central Labour Derek Stewart
Conservative
 Mike Watson
Clackmannanshire South
Independent
 Chris Dixon
Clackmannanshire East SNP Graham Lindsay

Source:[2][8]

Candidates

The total number of candidates increased from 35 in 2017 to 36. The SNP again stood the most candidates at nine. However, this was two less than they had fielded in 2017. Similarly, the number of Labour candidates was less than 2017, with eight candidates standing across the five wards—one fewer than 2017. The Conservatives stood six candidates—up one from 2017—while the Greens also contested every ward, standing five candidates—the same number as they had in 2017. The number of Liberal Democrats standing (three) was one fewer than in 2017 and the number of independent candidates (three) increased by two. For the first time, the Alba Party contested an election in Clackmannanshire, standing two candidates.[2][8]

Result

2022 Clackmannanshire Council election result
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  SNP 9 1 0 Increase 1 50.0 39.4 6,765 Increase 2.3
 
Labour
 5 0 0 Steady 27.8 23.8 4,091 Decrease 4.0
 
Conservative
 3 0 2 Decrease 2 16.7 23.2 3,996 Decrease 1.7
 
Scottish Green
 1 1 0 Increase 1 5.6 8.4 1,438 Increase 1.9
 
Independent
 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 2.5 423 Increase 2.1
  Liberal Democrats 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 2.0 350 Decrease 1.1
  Alba 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.7 128 New
Total 18 17,191

Source:[8]

Note: Votes are the sum of first preference votes across all council wards. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 4 May 2017. This is because STV has an element of proportionality which is not present unless multiple seats are being elected. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at the dissolution of Scotland's councils.[9][10]

Ward summary

Results of the 2022 Clackmannanshire Council election by ward
Ward % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs Total
Cllrs
SNP
Lab
Con
Green
 Others
Clackmannanshire West 43.6 2 26.8 1 22.8 1 4.0 0 2.7 0 4
Clackmannanshire North 41.4 2 18.7 1 21.9 1 5.7 0 12.3 0 4
Clackmannanshire Central 43.5 2 34.7 1 17.3 0 4.5 0 3
Clackmannanshire South 37.9 2 23.1 1 16.5 0 19.5 1 3.0 0 4
Clackmannanshire East 30.8 1 19.6 1 37.3 1 6.3 0 6.0 0 3
Total 39.4 9 23.8 5 23.2 3 8.4 1 5.2 0 18

Source:[8]

Seats changing hands

Below is a list of seats which elected a different party or parties from 2017 in order to highlight the change in the political composition of the council from the previous election. The list does not include defeated incumbents who resigned or defected from their party and subsequently failed re-election while the party held the seat.

Seats changing hands
Seat 2017 2022
Party Member Party Member
Clackmannanshire Central
Conservative
 Mike Watson SNP Jane McTaggart
Clackmannanshire South Conservative Chris Dixon[Note 1]
Green
 Bryan Quinn
Notes
  1. ^
    In 2017, Chris Dixon was elected as a Conservative candidate but later resigned from the party.[2][4]

Ward results

Clackmannanshire West

The SNP (2), Conservatives (1) and Labour (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

Clackmannanshire West - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
SNP Phil Fairlie 24.0 875  
Conservative
 Darren Lee 22.8 830  
Labour
 Mark McLuckie 21.6 787  
SNP Graham Lindsay 19.6 715 844
Labour
 Daniel Rooney 5.2 190 192
Scottish Green
 Cara Quinn 4.0 147 153
Liberal Democrats Laura Quin 2.7 99 101
Electorate: 8,936   Valid: 3,643   Spoilt: 111   Quota: 729   Turnout: 42.0%  

Source:[11][12]

Clackmannanshire North

The SNP (2), Conservatives (1) and Labour (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

Clackmannanshire North - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP Donald Balsillie 26.4 1,062          
Conservative
 Martha Benny 21.9 884          
Labour
 William Keogh 18.7 754 764 784 790 795 852
SNP Fiona Law 15.0 605 799 800 848    
Independent
 Ian Millar 7.0 280 285 297 309 314 345
Scottish Green
 Clare Andrews 5.7 231 253 256 269 287 326
Liberal Democrats Gordon Bruce 3.2 128 132 148 148 150  
Alba Eva Comrie 2.1 84 93 95      
Electorate: 8,643   Valid: 4,028   Spoilt: 111   Quota: 806   Turnout: 47.9%  

Source:[13][14]

Clackmannanshire Central

The SNP and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the SNP also gained one seat from the Conservatives.

Clackmannanshire Central - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SNP Wendy Hamilton 30.4 730            
Conservative
 Kate Mason 17.3 416 417 426 437 455 476  
Labour
 Carolynne Hunter 13.3 320 324 332 370      
SNP Jane McTaggart 13.1 314 419 472 481 506 519 584
Labour
 Janine Rennie 12.0 288 291 305 469 757    
Labour
 Huw Sherrard 9.4 225 227 234        
Scottish Green
 John Hosie 4.5 109 119          
Electorate: 6,301   Valid: 2,402   Spoilt: 95   Quota: 601   Turnout: 39.6%  

Source:[15][16]

Clackmannanshire South

The SNP (2) and Labour (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the Greens gained a seat from the Conservatives.

Clackmannanshire South - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Labour
 Kenneth Earle 23.1 877            
SNP Ellen Forson 21.0 800            
Scottish Green
 Bryan Quinn 19.5 742 768          
SNP Craig Holden 16.9 643 662 697 701 720 747 800
Conservative
 William Marlin 16.5 629 653 653 654 658 688  
Independent
 Hugh van Lierop 1.8 68 77 78 79 92    
Alba Matthew Reilly 1.2 44 47 47 47      
Electorate: 9,357   Valid: 3,803   Spoilt: 100   Quota: 761   Turnout: 41.7%  

Source:[17][18]

Clackmannanshire East

The SNP, Conservatives and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

Clackmannanshire East - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP Scott Harrison 30.8 1,021          
Conservative
 Denis Coyne 30.4 1,008          
Labour
 Kathleen Martin 19.6 650 685 692 709 760 951
Conservative
 Neil Gault 6.9 229 232 384 405 417 435
Scottish Green
 Marion Robertson 6.3 209 302 305 323 377  
Liberal Democrats Angus Myles 3.7 123 136 140 153    
Independent
 Les Calderwood 2.3 75 82 85      
Electorate: 7,004   Valid: 3,315   Spoilt: 46   Quota: 829   Turnout: 48.0%  

Source:[19][20]

Aftermath

Incumbent council leader Ellen Forson said the result was "a vindication of all the hard work" the SNP administrations had done over the past decade. The party again formed a minority administration with Cllr Forson re-elected as council leader and Cllr Graham Lindsay elected as depute leader. The role of Provost was split following the creation of the convener post. The Provost would remain a ceremonial post, with the convener taking on the administrative responsibilities. Cllr Phil Fairlie was elected as the council's first convener, with Cllr Donald Balsillie elected as Provost. Cllr Craig Holden took on the roles of deputy convener and deputy Provost.[21][22][23]

Following the election, the leadership of the Labour group changed. Cllr Kenny Earle and Cllr Kathleen Martin stood down as leader and deputy leader respectively. Cllr Janine Rennie was selected to replace Earle as leader while Cllr Mark McLuckie was chosen as deputy leader.[24]

In December 2022, Clackmannanshire South councillor Craig Holden resigned from the SNP group citing a difference of opinions and became an independent. He had previously represented the ward as an independent councillor between 2007 and 2012.[25] Cllr Holden was replaced as deputy Provost by Cllr Jane McTaggart and as deputy convener by Cllr Balsillie in February 2023.[26]

References

  1. ^ a b "Clackmannanshire Council". BBC. 5 May 2017. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - Clackmannanshire". Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Notice of election". Clackmannanshire Council. 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Councillor Chris Dixon". Clackmannanshire Council. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  5. ^ "The SNP's Helen Lewis wins Clackmannanshire North by-election". Alloa Advertiser. 2 March 2018. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Newly-elected Jane McTaggart ready to roll sleeves up". Alloa Advertiser. 2 April 2019. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Conservatives' Denis Coyne wins Clackmannanshire East by-election". Alloa Advertiser. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d Faulds, Allan (24 February 2024). "Clackmannanshire Council 2022". Ballot Box Scotland. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  9. ^ Faulds, Allan (25 September 2021). "The Local STV Voting System Explained". Ballot Box Scotland. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Single Transferable Vote". Electoral Reform Society. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 1 Clackmannanshire West" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 1 Clackmannanshire West" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 2 Clackmannanshire North" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 2 Clackmannanshire North" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 3 Clackmannanshire Central" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 3 Clackmannanshire Central" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 4 Clackmannanshire South" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 4 Clackmannanshire South" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 5 Clackmannanshire East" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 5 Clackmannanshire East" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 6 May 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  21. ^ Bakonyi, Rajmund (6 May 2022). "Scottish Council Elections: Clackmannanshire returns nine SNP councillors". Alloa Advertiser. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  22. ^ Bakonyi, Rajmund (27 May 2022). "SNP form administration at Clackmannanshire Council". Alloa Advertiser. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  23. ^ Bakonyi, Rajmund (25 May 2022). "Duties of Clackmannanshire provost could be split". Alloa Advertiser. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  24. ^ Van Reenen, Danyel (23 May 2022). "Clacks Labour appoint new leader and deputy leader". Alloa Advertiser. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  25. ^ Faulds, Chris (20 December 2022). "Alloa councillor to stand as independent after leaving SNP". Alloa Advertiser. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  26. ^ "Minutes of meeting of the Clackmannanshire Council held in the Council Chamber, Kilncraigs, Alloa, on Thursday 2 February 2023 at 9.30 am" (PDF). Clackmannanshire Council. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
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