Elections to the Highland Council were held on 3 May 2007; the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament and to the 31 other councils in Scotland. Previous elections to the council had been conducted using the single member plurality system (a.k.a. 'First Past the Post'). Changes implemented by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 meant that future local government elections were to be conducted using the Single Transferable Vote , beginning with those in 2007. The 80 Highland Councillors were now to be elected from 22 wards, returning either three or four members.
The election saw Independent councillors retain their plurality, despite losing a significant number of members, and the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party both increasing their representation, with that of the Labour Party decreasing. The Independent and SNP groups subsequently went into coalition to form the Administration of the council.
Incumbent councillors are marked with *
North, West and Central Sutherland
edit
North, West and Central Sutherland – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SNP
George Farlow
19.9%
586
588
599
641
676
687
716
778
Liberal Democrats
Robbie Rowantree
14.0%
410
415
418
461
495
549
598
651
659
Scottish Senior Citizens
Russel Taylor
10.7%
314
325
329
345
365
414
475
514
520
Independent
Linda Munro
10.3%
303
318
358
368
383
391
437
518
524
Independent
David Forbes
10.1%
297
316
330
338
350
365
416
Independent
William Johnston
9.6%
282
288
300
304
308
325
Conservative
Margaret Payne
7.4%
216
222
224
227
232
Labour
Dave Andrews
6.3%
184
185
186
198
Scottish Green
Ailsa Spindler
5.7%
168
172
176
Independent
Kirstie Dawson
3.4%
99
100
Independent
Michael Otter
2.7%
80
Electorate: 4,996 Valid: 2,939 Quota: 735 Turnout: 60.0%
Thurso – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Independent
Donald Mackay *
30.1%
1,001
Independent
John Rosie
21.2%
704
762
781
842
Liberal Democrats
Marion Thurso
16.3%
541
573
599
627
631
824
SNP
Donald Mackintosh
13.0%
433
445
449
465
466
518
Labour
Roger Saxon*
12.3%
408
428
437
454
457
Independent
Ian Grant
3.8%
125
136
156
Conservative
Alexander Bain
3.4%
112
118
Electorate: 6,388 Valid: 3,324 Quota: 832 Turnout: 53.0%
Wick – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
Independent
Bill Fernie *
30.3%
793
Independent
Katrina MacNab *
17.2%
451
505
556
648
SNP
Niall Smith
16.9%
443
457
489
542
Liberal Democrats
Graeme Smith *
15.5%
407
436
458
578
Labour
Jim Oag
14.0%
366
378
399
Independent
Heather Miller
3.7%
98
105
Conservative
Jack Brooker
1.8%
46
48
Independent
Laurel Bush
0.6%
17
19
Electorate: 5,817 Valid: 2,621 Quota: 656 Turnout: 46.3%
Landward Caithness – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
SNP
David Bremner
18.8%
871
888
888
957
Independent
Willie MacKay
18.2%
845
929
Liberal Democrats
David Flear *
17.4%
805
918
918
1,067
Independent
Robert Coghill
14.2%
657
723
723
815
Labour
Bill Mowat
11.5%
532
552
552
Conservative
Colin Sutherland
11.5%
531
558
558
601
Liberal Democrats
Alastair MacDonald*
7.5%
349
Independent
Duncan Winfield
0.9%
41
Electorate: 8,231 Valid: 4,631 Quota: 927 Turnout: 57.3%
East Sutherland and Edderton
edit
East Sutherland and Edderton – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Liberal Democrats
Ian Ross *
22.8%
838
844
855
866
894
943
Labour
Deirdre Mackay
19.2%
703
712
717
745
792
833
840
902
SNP
Derek Louden
13.9%
511
518
524
537
550
576
578
620
Independent
Jim McGillivray
13.1%
482
493
536
550
573
667
669
790
Conservative
Michael Napper
11.5%
423
428
437
449
459
491
493
Independent
Jimmy Melville
6.9%
252
260
283
296
318
Independent
Evelyn MacKenzie
4.2%
155
158
161
178
Independent
Gordon Campbell
3.4%
125
126
135
Independent
Gordon Clunie
3.1%
114
121
Independent
Richard Easson
1.1%
40
Solidarity
Frank Ward
0.7%
27
Electorate: 6,126 Valid: 3,670 Quota: 918 Turnout: 61.1%
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh
edit
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
SNP
Jean Urquhart *
26.1%
1,486
Liberal Democrats
Biz Campbell *
21.8%
1,242
Independent
Richard Greene
13.9%
792
849
858
964
983
1,037
1,147
Independent
Audrey Sinclair
10.7%
608
633
648
658
780
829
882
Conservative
John Scott
7.9%
451
473
483
502
514
618
662
Labour
Christine Conniff
6.2%
354
393
407
423
438
470
Independent
Marie Tait
5.8%
328
354
358
371
377
Independent
Donald Macdonald
4.1%
232
248
264
270
Independent
Alastair Armitstead
3.5%
199
238
242
Electorate: 9,593 Valid: 5,692 Quota: 1,139 Turnout: 60.6%
Cromarty Firth – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Carolyn Wilson *
29.7%
1,348
SNP
Maxine Smith
22.5%
1,021
Liberal Democrats
Martin Rattray
14.3%
647
718
743
764
788
819
942
Independent
Mike Finlayson
9.7%
438
533
545
562
595
644
769
Labour
John MacInnes
9.7%
438
485
495
511
526
544
590
Independent
John Connell*
6.8%
307
364
377
388
408
437
Conservative
Hamish Keir
3.1%
141
158
161
165
Independent
Mary MacDonald
2.3%
104
156
163
167
184
Solidarity
Findlay Walker
1.9%
88
97
105
Electorate: 9,260 Valid: 4,532 Quota: 907 Turnout: 49.6%
Tain and Easter Ross
edit
Tain and Easter Ross – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Independent
Alasdair Rhind *
36.2%
1,406
Liberal Democrats
Richard Durham *
16.2%
627
707
717
768
800
843
892
1,007
SNP
Jim McCreath
12.0%
465
480
498
509
520
537
557
605
Independent
Alan Torrance *
11.2%
436
545
549
558
582
603
674
823
Independent
Murray MacLeod
7.6%
294
375
377
390
410
430
507
Independent
Michael Herd
5.3%
204
228
233
252
262
277
Labour
Sunny Moodie
3.8%
148
160
162
171
173
Conservative
David Rutherford
3.2%
124
140
144
146
Independent
John Boocock
3.0%
116
127
133
Scottish Socialist
Donnie Fraser
1.5%
59
63
Electorate: 7,000 Valid: 3,879 Quota: 970 Turnout: 56.4%
Dingwall and Seaforth
edit
Dingwall and Seaforth – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Margaret Paterson *
23.1%
1,078
Liberal Democrats
Angela MacLean *
21.8%
1,015
SNP
Peter Cairns
18.3%
853
875
887
902
967
Independent
David Chisholm *
13.7%
639
656
669
711
748
755
837
Labour
Michael MacMillan*
11.9%
556
584
603
613
667
672
709
Conservative
Gerald Lowe
4.7%
218
228
234
246
261
264
Scottish Green
David Jardine
4.4%
207
221
231
243
Independent
David Edes
2.2%
102
112
116
Electorate: 8,996 Valid: 4,666 Quota: 934 Turnout: 52.9%
Black Isle – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Billy Barclay *
24.4%
1,233
Independent
Isobel McCallum *
19.5%
985
1,050
Liberal Democrats
David Alston *
19.3%
973
1,006
1,016
SNP
Craig Fraser
11.1%
558
576
579
580
609
696
764
Independent
Okain McLennan
8.6%
433
468
478
480
503
586
745
Conservative
Morris Downie
8.1%
408
429
433
434
453
470
Scottish Green
John Wood
5.3%
267
273
275
277
338
Labour
Chris Birt
3.8%
192
198
199
200
Electorate: 7,959 Valid: 5,049 Quota: 1,010 Turnout: 64.2%
Eilean a' Cheò – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Liberal Democrats
Drew Millar *
21.2%
960
Independent
Hamish Fraser *
17.6%
795
803
833
907
Independent
John Laing *
16.2%
734
742
761
833
833
922
SNP
Ian Renwick
14.8%
669
675
684
712
713
772
Independent
John Murray
11.0%
498
506
534
630
631
693
Labour
Vicki Samuels
7.8%
351
356
365
378
378
Independent
Iain MacDonald*
7.5%
338
343
356
Conservative
John Hodgson
3.9%
178
180
Electorate: 7,990 Valid: 4,523 Quota: 905 Turnout: 57.8%
Caol and Mallaig – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Independent
Bill Clark *
24.8%
975
985
Independent
Allan Henderson
22.4%
881
892
892
909
929
958
1,048
Independent
Eddie Hunter
14.0%
550
558
558
573
621
633
690
704
795
Labour
Mairi MacLean
12.0%
473
477
477
491
502
517
535
550
625
SNP
David Ingham
9.9%
389
395
395
404
418
430
451
459
Independent
Sandra Casey
4.8%
188
194
194
203
216
248
Conservative
Chris Carver
4.0%
156
159
159
169
174
Independent
George MacLeod
3.8%
151
160
160
165
Independent
Alistair MacGregor
2.5%
100
101
101
Independent
Scott Waugh
1.6%
64
Electorate: 6,625 Valid: 3,927 Quota: 982 Turnout: 60.6%
Aird and Loch Ness – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Independent
Margaret Davidson *
24.6%
1,215
Independent
Helen Carmichael
22.8%
1,125
SNP
Drew Hendry
18.1%
892
916
940
964
993
Liberal Democrats
Hamish Wood
11.1%
550
584
607
644
757
759
866
Conservative
Margaret Chown
7.2%
355
373
388
405
422
423
Independent
John Martin
6.5%
322
352
373
462
494
495
598
Labour
Andrew MacKintosh
5.9%
292
305
312
326
Independent
Alexander Nicol
3.9%
192
225
232
Electorate: 8,463 Valid: 4,943 Quota: 989 Turnout: 59.4%
Inverness West – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
SNP
Pauline Munro
28.8%
965
Liberal Democrats
Alex Graham
25.1%
840
Independent
Jimmy MacDonald *
23.2%
778
813
814
900
Labour
Caroline Parr
16.0%
536
561
562
604
Conservative
Mary Fraser
6.9%
230
244
245
Electorate: 6,581 Valid: 3,349 Quota: 838 Turnout: 51.7%
Inverness Central– 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
SNP
Donnie Kerr
21.9%
1,019
Independent
Peter Corbett *
16.6%
776
784
796
809
872
912
Liberal Democrats
Janet Campbell
15.6%
729
743
767
793
843
934
Labour
Bet McAllister
15.4%
720
725
735
884
919
933
Independent
William Smith*
12.3%
575
581
588
597
642
693
Conservative
David Bonsor
5.8%
268
270
273
275
299
Independent
Ivor Bisset
5.4%
252
257
267
270
Labour
Tej Manda
5.1%
237
241
249
Solidarity
George MacDonald
1.9%
88
98
Electorate: 9,704 Valid: 4,664 Quota: 933 Turnout: 49.2%
Inverness Ness-side – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Liberal Democrats
David Henderson
22.5%
1,127
SNP
John Finnie
20.2%
1,016
Independent
Norrie Donald *
14.9%
750
770
772
803
875
981
1,081
Labour
Fraser Parr
13.7%
688
700
701
718
745
775
805
Liberal Democrats
Angus Dick*
9.3%
468
514
516
560
587
630
714
Conservative
Margaret MacDonald
7.1%
361
368
369
374
391
402
Independent
Thomas Lamont
4.6%
232
234
235
251
289
Independent
Steve Rodger
4.5%
226
235
235
247
Independent
Jean Slater
1.6%
82
83
84
Solidarity
Steve Arnott
1.4%
70
70
71
Electorate: 8,800 Valid: 5,020 Quota: 1,005 Turnout: 58.0%
Inverness Millburn – 3 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
Labour
Jimmy Gray *
31.2%
1,123
SNP
Ian Brown
27.9%
1,005
Liberal Democrats
Kenneth MacLeod
14.2%
510
573
595
635
808
Independent
Etta Mackay
11.9%
430
467
486
571
677
Conservative
Donald MacKenzie
9.9%
356
377
383
405
Independent
Willie Fraser
4.9%
178
191
208
Electorate: 6,495 Valid: 3,602 Quota: 901 Turnout: 56.1%
Culloden and Ardersier
edit
Culloden and Ardersier – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
SNP
Robert Wynd *
28.7%
1,335
Independent
Roddy Balfour *
28.1%
1,308
Labour
John Ford *
17.5%
816
887
924
Liberal Democrats
Glynis Sinclair
14.3%
663
763
825
Conservative
John Ross
6.8%
318
346
393
Independent
Jim Ferguson
4.6%
213
272
392
Electorate: 8,721 Valid: 2,387 Quota: 931 Turnout: 54.0%
Nairn – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
SNP
Liz MacDonald *
30.7%
1,576
Independent
Sandy Park *
16.6%
855
946
1,006
1,088
Independent
Laurie Fraser *
13.0%
669
754
852
917
942
1,050
Liberal Democrats
Graham Marsden
10.4%
535
612
635
696
703
808
Independent
Jim Lennon
9.3%
476
521
594
633
645
696
Labour
Ron Stevenson
7.8%
402
434
452
467
470
Conservative
Bob Ross
6.9%
356
373
377
Independent
David Fraser
5.3%
273
320
Electorate: 9,009 Valid: 5,142 Quota: 1,029 Turnout: 58.1%
Inverness South – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
SNP
Roy Pedersen
27.0%
1,058
Liberal Democrats
Thomas Prag
23.0%
902
Labour
John Holden
17.1%
671
721
749
803
Independent
Jim Crawford
13.4%
524
586
613
803
Conservative
Donald MacDonald
10.5%
413
443
461
503
Independent
Barrie Haycock
9.0%
353
384
394
Electorate: 7,287 Valid: 3,921 Quota: 785 Turnout: 54.5%
Badenoch and Strathspey
edit
Badenoch and Strathspey – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
Liberal Democrats
Stuart Black *
31.2%
1,720
SNP
David Fallows
24.4%
1,347
Independent
Gregor Rimell *
13.3%
736
824
871
1,014
1,105
Conservative
Les Durance
9.6%
532
606
623
653
710
Independent
Jaci Douglas
8.8%
484
603
625
770
900
Scottish Senior Citizens
Donald Scobbie
6.4%
350
427
460
500
Independent
Angela Cox
6.3%
347
416
443
Electorate: 9,969 Valid: 5,516 Quota: 1,104 Turnout: 56.2%
Fort William and Ardnamurchan
edit
North, West and Central Sutherland – 4 seats
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Liberal Democrats
Michael Foxley *
20.4%
1,059
Independent
Donald Cameron
18.1%
939
940
972
1,004
1,024
1,123
SNP
Bren Gormley
15.0%
778
780
804
825
862
911
920
966
1,035
Labour
Brian Murphy *
9.7%
501
503
520
536
558
597
609
667
712
Conservative
Andrew Baxter
7.2%
372
373
382
402
437
457
464
503
Independent
Thomas MacLennan*
6.2%
322
323
345
354
375
410
428
Independent
Darren Woods
6.1%
317
317
329
346
365
Independent
Patricia Jordan
5.2%
271
273
298
330
373
418
436
554
657
Independent
Drew McFarlane-Slack*
4.6%
241
242
258
275
Independent
Iain Thornber
3.8%
195
196
207
Independent
Neil Clark*
3.7%
194
195
Electorate: 8,616 Valid: 5,189 Quota: 1,038 Turnout: 61.3%
Post-election changes
edit
On 6 May 2007, Badenoch and Strathspey Cllr Gregor Rimell became a Liberal Democrat and ceased to be an Independent
On 26 October 2007, Tain and Easter Ross Cllr Richard Durham became an Independent after leaving the Liberal Democrats
On 12 December 2007, Tain and Easter Ross Cllr Alan Torrance became a member of the Scottish National Party and ceased to be an Independent
On 3 April 2008, Landward Caithness Cllr David Bremner became an Independent, separate from the Administration, after being expelled from the Scottish National Party
In 2008, Wick Cllr Graeme Smith became a member of the Independent Members Group after leaving the Liberal Democrats
On 13 March 2009, North, West and Central Sutherland Cllr Linda Munro became a Liberal Democrat and ceased to be an Independent
On 17 February 2011 Inverness Central Cllr Janet Campbell became a member of the Independent Members Group after leaving the Liberal Democrats.
On 17 February 2011 Culloden and Ardersier Cllr Glynis Sinclair became an Independent after leaving the Liberal Democrats. She joined the Scottish National Party on 24 May 2011
2007-2011 by-elections
edit
On 23 April 2009 the Liberal Democrat's Alasdair Christie won a by-election which arose following the death of former Independent Councillor Jimmy MacDonald on 31 January 2009
On 7 April 2011 the SNP's Gail Ross won a by-election which arose following the resignation of Independent Councillor Katrina MacNab
Tain and Easter Ross
edit
On 9 June 2011 Independent Fiona Robertson won a by-election which arose following the death of SNP Councillor Alan Torrance
Tain and Easter Ross By-Election (9 June 2011)- 1 seat[ 3]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
SNP
Derek William Louden
33.23%
837
860
928
1,037
Independent
Fiona Robertson
32.20%
811
840
933
1,204
Independent
Ruairidh MacKenzie
18.54%
467
481
547
Liberal Democrats
Antony Gardner
12.19%
307
318
Independent
Michael Herd
3.85%
97
Independent gain from SNP
Swing
Electorate: 6,962 Valid: 2,519 Spoilt: 17 Quota: 1,260 Turnout: 2,536
On 3 November 2011 the Liberal Democrat's Carolyn Caddick won a by-election which arose following the resignation of Labour Councillor John Holden
Inverness South By-Election (3 November 2011)- 1 seat[ 4]
Party
Candidate
FPv%
Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
SNP
Kenneth Archer Gowans
33.94%
885
903
922
967
1,005
1,084
Liberal Democrats
Carolyn Ann Caddick
28.65%
747
761
777
830
971
1,091
Labour
Katherine MacKenzie-Geegan
11.81%
308
319
327
357
379
Conservative
David Louis Kinsley Bonsor
11.12%
290
300
336
339
Scottish Green
Gale Louise Falconer
6.02%
157
172
189
Scottish Christian
Donald MacLeod Boyd
4.83%
126
130
Independent
David McGrath
3.60%
94
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour
Swing
Electorate: 9,760 Valid: 2,607 Spoilt: 13 Quota: 1,304 Turnout: 2,620