2007 Aberdeenshire Council election

Elections to Aberdeenshire Council were held on 3 May 2007 the same day as the other Scottish local government elections and the Scottish Parliament general election. The election was the first one using 19 new wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, each ward would elect three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation. The new wards replaced 68 single-member wards which used the plurality (first past the post) system of election.

2007 Aberdeenshire Council election

← 2003 3 May 2007 (2007-05-03) 2012 →

All 68 seats to Aberdeenshire Council
35 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Party Liberal Democrats SNP
Last election 28 seats, 33.5% 18 seats, 27.6%
Seats won 24 22
Seat change Decrease4 Increase4
Popular vote 24,175 33,120
Percentage 25.2% 34.5%
Swing Decrease8.3% Increase6.9%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Conservative Independent
Last election 11 seats, 21.0% 11 seats, 14.5%
Seats won 14 8
Seat change Increase3 Decrease3
Popular vote 19,946 12,182
Percentage 20.8% 12.7%
Swing Decrease0.2% Decrease1.8%

2007 Aberdeenshire Council Election Results Map

The council remained under no overall control and a coalition was formed between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.

Background

edit

Previous election

edit

At the previous election in 2003 the Liberal Democrats won 28 seats, falling 7 seats short of an overall majority. The SNP, Conservative and Independent groups also fell well short of an overall majority.

2003 Aberdeenshire Council election result
Party Seats Vote share
Liberal Democrats 28 33.5%
SNP 18 27.6%
Conservative 11 21.0%
Independent 11 14.5%

Source:[1]

Composition

edit

There was one by-election in the 2003-07 term. The seat was held by the Conservatives.

Composition of Aberdeenshire Council
Party 2003 election Dissolution
Liberal Democrats 28 28
SNP 18 18
Conservative 11 11
Independent 11 11

Source:[2]

Results

edit
2007 Aberdeenshire Council election result
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal Democrats 24 - -  4 35.3 25.2 24,175  8.3
  SNP 22 - -  4 32.4 34.5 33,120  6.9
  Conservative 14 - -  3 20.6 20.8 19,946  0.2
  Independent 8 - -  3 11.8 12.7 12,182  1.8
  Labour 0 - -   0.0 5.4 5,189  2.1
  Scottish Green 0 - -   0.0 1.1 1,097 New
  Solidarity 0 - -   0.0 0.1 112 New
  BNP 0 - -   0.0 0.1 87 New

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 1 May 2003. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

Source:[3][4]

Ward results

edit

Banff and District

edit
Banff and District - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
SNP Ian Gray 24.0 1,088 1,092 1,103 1,142        
Liberal Democrats Jack Mair 15.3 694 704 713 773 773 848 915 1,132
Independent John Cox 15.2 691 707 742 791 791 925 1,055 1,257
Conservative Neil Chalmers 13.6 616 626 640 666 666 741 792  
SNP Kathryn Parr 11.0 500 509 525 554 558 609    
Independent Sandy Buchan 8.4 383 398 438 475 475      
Scottish Green Jonny Barton 6.6 298 301 319          
Independent John Calder 3.8 172 180            
Independent Ian Page 2.1 94              
Electorate: 8,815   Valid: 4,536   Spoilt: 105   Quota: 1,135   Turnout: 53.1%  

Troup

edit
Troup - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
SNP Mitchell Burnett 47.7 1,798  
Conservative John Duncan 24.3 914 1,060
Independent Sydney Mair 20.4 770 975
Liberal Democrats Ian Findlay 7.6 286 422
Electorate: 7,563   Valid: 3,768   Spoilt: 53   Quota: 943   Turnout: 50.9%  

Fraserburgh and District

edit
Fraserburgh and District - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SNP Brian Topping 27.1 1,487            
SNP Ian Tait 20.6 1,131            
Independent Michael Watt 15.1 831 865 869 890 918 1,041 1,370
SNP Andy Ritchie 14.5 795 1,022 1,037 1,046 1,060 1,090 1,165
Independent Dennis Duthie 9.3 509 520 522 554 587 728  
Conservative Bob Sim 8.5 466 482 484 490 522    
Liberal Democrats Dominique-Paul Lonchay 3.0 164 167 168 171      
Independent James Milne 2.0 109 116 116        
Electorate: 11,011   Valid: 5,492   Spoilt: 168   Quota: 1,099   Turnout: 51.8%  

Central Buchan

edit
Central Buchan - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
SNP Sandy Stronach 20.2 1,096              
Independent Norman Smith 19.4 1,054 1,054 1,080 1,142        
Conservative Peter Chapman 17.2 933 933 974 1,022 1,031 1,087    
Independent Albert Howe 14.6 790 790 822 911 933 1,016 1,016 1,283
SNP Norma Thomson 13.2 718 726 771 804 812 870 870  
Labour Carol Donald 5.9 318 318 363 378 381      
Independent Jim Conn 4.9 265 265 290          
Liberal Democrats Betty May 4.7 253 253            
Electorate: 10,020   Valid: 5,427   Spoilt: 91   Quota: 1,086   Turnout: 55.4%  

Peterhead North and Rattray

edit
Peterhead North and Rattray - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SNP Anne Allan 22.4 1,018            
Independent Alan Buchan 20.9 948 948          
SNP Fiona McRae 15.0 682 696 699 713 735 763 1,316
Conservative Robert Thomas 14.4 655 655 659 667 704 803 819
SNP Sandy Allan 12.9 585 666 671 685 718 752  
Liberal Democrats Andrew Hassan 6.3 288 290 292 304 356    
Independent Ian Cowie 5.6 256 257 265 289      
Solidarity Steven Will 2.5 112 113 115        
Electorate: 10,274   Valid: 4,544   Spoilt: 150   Quota: 909   Turnout: 46.0%  

Peterhead South and Cruden

edit
Peterhead South and Cruden - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
SNP Stephen Smith 29.4 1,205        
SNP Stuart Pratt 21.6 888 1,016 1,032    
Liberal Democrats Sam Coull 21.0 861 870 894 895 1,032
Independent Raymond Matthew 13.0 535 542 637 638 767
Conservative Steven Owen 10.3 422 425 443 443  
Independent Veronica Johnston 4.7 193 196      
Electorate: 8,813   Valid: 4,104   Spoilt: 108   Quota: 1,027   Turnout: 48.1%  

Turriff and District

edit
Turriff and District - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
SNP Sandy Duncan 41.9 1,916        
Conservative Alistair Duffus Strachan 17.4 796 882 901 932  
Liberal Democrats Anne Robertson 17.3 790 948 962 1,071 1,372
Independent Alisan Norrie 16.4 748 900 935 971 1,304
Labour Ann Marie Sheal 5.1 232 270 279    
BNP Gary Raikes 1.9 87 119      
Electorate: 8,679   Valid: 4,569   Spoilt: 52   Quota: 1,143   Turnout: 53.5%  

Mid-Formartine

edit
Mid Formartine - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
SNP Allan Hendry 33.6 2,035        
Liberal Democrats Paul Johnston 27.4 1,661        
Conservative Jim Gifford 17.1 1,034 1,141 1,182 1,261  
Liberal Democrats John Kevin Loveday 11.2 677 855 1,134 1,210 1,227
Labour Steve Thomson 7.7 469 558 586 613 618
Independent Howard Kershaw 3.1 188 290 306    
Electorate: 11,047   Valid: 6,064   Spoilt: 59   Quota: 1,213   Turnout: 55.9%  

Ellon and District

edit
Ellon and District - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
SNP Rob Merson 40.5 2,458        
Liberal Democrats Isobel Davidson 23.2 1,407        
Conservative Gillian Louise Owen 14.4 872 1,033 1,053 1,197 1,274
Liberal Democrats Debra Margaret Storr 8.6 524 777 899 1,049 1,326
Labour Ann Thorpe 7.5 456 587 599 648  
Independent Diane Ripley 5.8 352 542 555    
Electorate: 11,186   Valid: 6,069   Spoilt: 69   Quota: 1,214   Turnout: 55.4%  

West Garioch

edit
West Garioch - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP Alison Grant 35.5 1,555          
Liberal Democrats Sheena Margaret Lonchay 22.2 973 1,063 1,085 1,169    
Liberal Democrats Hazel Al-Kowarri 18.4 807 884 899 981 1,027 1,358
Conservative David Clucas 15.8 694 746 775 821 830  
Labour Ricky Simpson 6.0 263 293 303      
Independent Terry Rigby 2.1 93 125        
Electorate: 8,036   Valid: 4,385   Spoilt: 58   Quota: 1,097   Turnout: 55.7%  

Inverurie and District

edit
Inverurie and District - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP Bryan Hunter Stuart 29.6 1,515          
Liberal Democrats Mike Raeburn 25.7 1,316          
Liberal Democrats Martin Kitts-Hayes 16.9 865 975 1,172      
Conservative Richard Cowling 14.9 762 823 837 864 928 1,190
Labour Ellis Thorpe 11.1 567 637 659 693 737  
Independent John Sangster 1.7 87 165 175 192    
Electorate: 9,361   Valid: 5,148   Spoilt: 86   Quota: 1,030   Turnout: 56.3%  

East Garioch

edit
East Garioch - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
SNP Fergie Hood 31.9 1,420      
Liberal Democrats Martin Anthony Ford 23.7 1,054 1,118    
Liberal Democrats Nan Cullinane 21.8 968 1,025 1,030 1,206
Conservative Gordon Naismith 15.5 687 726 726 769
Labour Sheila Henderson 7.1 317 345 345  
Electorate: 8,185   Valid: 4,446   Spoilt: 56   Quota: 1,112   Turnout: 54.9%  

Westhill and District

edit
Westhill and District - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Liberal Democrats Gurudeo Singh Saluja 27.3 1,558          
Conservative Ron McKail 22.9 1,306          
SNP Amanda Allan 21.6 1,230          
Independent Mark Cullen 14.8 845 896 945 967 1,031 1,407
Liberal Democrats Sheila Thomson 8.1 460 736 774 794 935  
Labour Ona Ramsay 5.3 301 325 333 344    
Electorate: 10,567   Valid: 5,700   Spoilt: 39   Quota: 1,141   Turnout: 55.0%  

Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford

edit
Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SNP Joanna Strathdee 30.7 1,839            
Conservative Moira Ingleby 27.3 1,635            
Liberal Democrats Richard C Stroud 16.4 978 1,077 1,145 1,170 1,280    
Liberal Democrats Alistair Ross 13.6 812 907 979 1,012 1,088 1,143 1,378
Labour Bryan Begg 6.3 375 424 444 456 501 508  
Scottish Green Jake Williams 4.2 251 340 376 421      
Independent David Hutchison 1.5 91 135 177        
Electorate: 11,162   Valid: 5,981   Spoilt: 82   Quota: 1,197   Turnout: 54.7%  

Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside

edit
Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Conservative Marcus Humphrey 29.3 1,444        
Liberal Democrats Peter Argyle 26.1 1,286        
Conservative Bruce Luffman 20.5 1,009 1,160 1,172 1,218 1,625
SNP Carol Douglas 20.1 991 1,009 1,021 1,078  
Labour Angus Murdoch 4.0 196 202 213    
Electorate: 8,467   Valid: 4,926   Spoilt: 75   Quota: 1,232   Turnout: 59.5%  

Banchory and Mid-Deeside

edit
Banchory and Mid-Deeside - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Conservative Jill Webster 35.6 1,570        
SNP Linda Clark 24.2 1,068 1,140      
Liberal Democrats Karen Clark 18.0 795 876 885 1,029 1,691
Liberal Democrats Jean Henretty 15.3 300 790 798 857  
Labour Andy Brown 6.8 300 326 331    
Electorate: 7,996   Valid: 4,409   Spoilt: 46   Quota: 1,103   Turnout: 56.3%  

North Kincardine

edit
North Kincardine - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SNP Alastair Bews 27.8 1,426            
Conservative Carl H Nelson 18.4 946 972 1,008 1,065      
Liberal Democrats Paul Melling 16.8 864 957 978 1,124      
Liberal Democrats Ian Mollison 12.1 619 652 689 799 863 875 1,119
Independent Henry Irvine-Fortescue 11.2 575 613 659 707 713 723  
Labour Jim Milne 10.5 540 586 596        
Independent Michelle Reid-Hay 3.2 162 194          
Electorate: 9,980   Valid: 5,132   Spoilt: 37   Quota: 1,027   Turnout: 52.4%  

Stonehaven and Lower Deeside

edit
Stonehaven and Lower Deeside - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Conservative Wendy Agnew 24.9 1,433                    
SNP Graeme Clark 18.9 1,086 1,107 1,112 1,117 1,126 1,154          
Liberal Democrats Mike Sullivan 11.0 636 656 657 668 684 700 701 741 797 931 1,105
Conservative Sandy Wallace 10.9 629 730 735 737 751 760 760 779 823 853  
Liberal Democrats Peter Bellarby 9.8 563 590 596 605 620 633 633 723 780 880 980
Labour Bridget O'Hare 8.0 463 470 473 479 482 493 493 524 558    
Independent Bob Michie 4.9 282 299 314 333 366 430 430 470      
Scottish Green Karen Anne Allan 4.2 242 253 258 264 272 285 286        
Independent George Alexander Forbes Emslie 2.8 160 177 182 189 201            
Independent Ken Venters 1.9 108 116 132 139              
Independent Dermot John Hearty 1.5 85 87 89                
Independent David Wood 1.3 73 79                  
Electorate: 10,770   Valid: 5,760   Spoilt: 90   Quota: 1,153   Turnout: 54.8%  

Mearns

edit
Mearns - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
SNP Jean Dick 23.0 1,262              
Conservative George Carr 20.5 1,123              
Liberal Democrats Tom Fleming 16.6 909 940 945 1,046 1,144      
Liberal Democrats Bill Howatson 13.8 759 775 778 815 850 879 1,021 1,291
Labour Gill Bayfield 7.1 392 406 407 442 455 459    
Independent David Nelson 7.1 391 404 407 432 596 601 659  
Independent Robert Gairn Davidson 6.2 342 355 358 403        
Scottish Green Kate Anderson 5.6 306 336 338          
Electorate: 10,436   Valid: 5,484   Spoilt: 48   Quota: 1,097   Turnout: 53.3%  

Aftermath

edit

As no party group had the required 35 seats to have an overall majority, the council remained under no overall control and after negotiations, a coalition was formed between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.

Cllr Ian Tait resigned from the SNP on 28 July 2008 and now sits as an Independent Scottish Nationalist.

Cllr Debra Storr resigned from the Liberal Democrats on 18 November 2008 and on 5 March 2009 she joined the Scottish Green Party. She was a member of the Democratic Independent Group on the council.

Cllr Martin Ford resigned from the Liberal Democrats on 23 November 2008 and on 5 March 2009 he joined the Scottish Green Party. He is a member of the Democratic Independent Group on the council.

On 23 January 2009, Cllr Sam Coull resigned from the Liberal Democrats. Since 5 March 2009 he sits as a member of the Democratic Independent Group

On 23 January 2009, Cllr Paul Johnston left the Liberal Democrat Council Group. He was subsequently expelled from the Liberal Democrats. Since 5 March 2009 he sits as a member of the Democratic Independent Group.

Cllr Andy Ritchie resigned from the SNP on 1 April 2009 and now sits as an Independent.

Cllr Mark Cullen is also a member of the Democratic Independent Group on the council.

On 21 February 2012 Banff and District Cllr John Cox ceased to be an Independent and joined the Scottish National Party.

By-elections

edit

Troup by-election

edit

There was a Troup by-election held on 1 May 2008 to fill the vacancy which arose with the death of the SNP's Michael Burnett on 4 February 2008. The by-election was won by the SNP's Bob Watson.

Troup - 1 seat [5]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
SNP Bob Watson 62.83 1,721
Conservative Lisa Watt 18.80 515
Liberal Democrats Edward Acton 18.36 503
SNP hold Swing
Electorate: 7,589   Valid: 2,739   Spoilt: 16   Quota: 1,371   Turnout: 2,755 (36.3%)  

Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside by-election

edit

There was an Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside by-election held on 23 April 2009 to fill the vacancy which arose with the resignation of the Conservative's Bruce Luffman in 2009. The by-election was won by the Liberal Democrat's Rosemary Bruce.

Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside - 1 seat [6]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Conservative Jo Pick 31.47 1,144 1,148 1,152 1,241 1,468
Liberal Democrats Rosemary Bruce 26.66 969 975 981 1,180 1,566
Independent William Forbes 23.16 842 845 855 1,003  
SNP George Parkinson 16.97 617 621 636    
BNP Roy Jones 1.21 44 44      
Independent David Hutchison 0.52 19        
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Electorate: 8,357   Valid: 3,635   Spoilt: 20   Quota: 1,819   Turnout: 3,655 (43.7%)  

References

edit
  1. ^ "Scottish Council Elections 2003" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  2. ^ Teale, Andrew. "Huntly East Ward - Aberdeenshire". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Scottish Council Elections 2007" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  4. ^ Teale, Andrew. "Local Election Results 2007". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
edit