The first election to South Lanarkshire 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:[9]
South Lanarkshire operates a cabinet style system, with key decisions being taken by the executive committee, under the leadership of the Council Leader,[10] and approved by the council, chaired by the provost.
The first leader of South Lanarkshire Council, selected from among the sitting councillors, was Tom McCabe who previously held the same office at Hamilton District.[11] When McCabe was elected as an MSP in 1999, the role went to his deputy Eddie McAvoy - brother of one of the region's MPsTommy McAvoy - who held the post for the next 18 years until his retirement ahead of the 2017 election.[12][13] The new leader from 2017 was John Ross.[14]
The ambassadorial role of provost is also filled by one of the serving councillors.[15] Office holders include:
Sam Casserly (1995–1999) - previous provost of Hamilton district[11][16]
Following the defection of East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP Lisa Cameron from the SNP to the Conservatives in October 2023, her husband – Cllr Mark Horsham – stood back from his role as business manager within the SNP group[26] before resigning from the party to sit as an Independent 10 days later. He did not join the 'Independent Group' with the other independent councillors.[27]
In May 2023, East Kilbride West councillor Ali Salamati resigned his seat for work reasons triggering a by-election[28] which Labour won.[29] Therefore, as of 11th July 2023, the composition of the Council is:
The Council Headquarters building, on Almada Street, Hamilton, was built as the Lanark County Buildings in 1963, and designed by county architect David Gordon Bannerman.[33][34][35][36][37] The 17 storey, 200 feet (61 m) tower is the tallest building in the council area, is Category A-listed, and is a highly visible landmark across this part of the Clyde Valley. The modernist design was influenced by the United Nations building in New York City. At the front of the building is the circular council chamber, and a plaza with water features. Between 1975 and 1996 the building had been used as a sub-regional office of Strathclyde Regional Council, with Hamilton District Council using Hamilton Townhouse in that time. On the creation of South Lanarkshire Council in 1996 the new council chose to base itself at the Almada Street building.
Wards
In the council's initial 12 years, individual wards (73 in 1995, adjusted down to 67 in 1999 and 2003) each electing one councillor using the First past the post method.[38][39]
Since the 2007 South Lanarkshire Council election, there are 20 council wards in South Lanarkshire,[40] each serving a population ranging from 13,000 to 20,000[41] and each ward represented on the council by 3 or 4 councillors elected using single transferable vote; in 2007 and 2012 this produced a total of 67 available seats, which was adjusted down to 64 in 2017 along with boundary adjustments, although the same number of wards overall.
Map of South Lanarkshire's 20 wards, using 2017 boundaries
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