We submitted our final proposals on councillor numbers and wards for Argyll and Bute, Highland and North Ayrshire Council areas to Scottish Ministers on 10 June 2021, and for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands Council areas on 28 May 2021.
These final proposals arise from the 2019 Review of Electoral Arrangements which began in January 2019.
The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 required us to review the six councils containing inhabited islands (Argyll and Bute, Highland, North Ayrshire, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands and Na h-Eileanan an Iar) as soon as practicable so that government and the public sector meet the needs of island communities now and in the future.
Details of our proposals are available in the reports below, along with supporting documentation, which provides background to this review.
The Scottish Parliament approved our final proposals for North Ayrshire, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands Council areas and these will be used in the May 2022 local government elections. Our final proposals for Argyll and Bute and Highland Council areas were not approved by Parliament.
Supporting Information
News Release: Final Proposals for Argyll and Bute, Highland and North Ayrshire Council areas submitted to Scottish Ministers
News Release: Final Proposals for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands council areas submitted to Scottish Ministers
Islands Reviews commence (14 January 2019)
Electorate Data and methodology for forecasting electorate
Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, see Part 4
Scottish Elections (Reform) Act 2020
Islands Communities Impact Assessment Summary (2021)
Scottish Statutory Instruments
SSI 2021/369 Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Electoral Arrangements) Regulations 2021
SSI 2021/370 North Ayrshire (Electoral Arrangements) Regulations 2021
SSI 2021/371 Orkney Islands (Electoral Arrangements) Regulations 2021
SSI 2021/372 Shetland Islands (Electoral Arrangements) Regulations 2021
Final Reports and Maps
Argyll and Bute Council Area - Final Report
Argyll and Bute SSI Maps (2021)
Highland Council Area - Final Report
Highland SSI Maps (2021)
North Ayrshire Council Area - Final Report
North Ayrshire SSI Maps (2021)
Na h-Eileanan an Iar Council Area - Final Report
Na h-Eileanan an Iar SSI Maps (2021)
Orkney Islands Council Area - Final Report
Orkney Islands SSI Maps (2021)
Shetland Islands Council Area - Final Report
Shetland Islands SSI Maps (2021)
GIS Data submitted to Ordnance Survey (effective from 5 May 2022)
Orkney Islands - GIS Data Final Recommendations
Shetland Islands - GIS Data Final Recommendations
Na h-Eileanan an Iar - GIS Data Final Recommendations
North Ayrshire - GIS Data Final Recommendations