Angus Council is the local authority for Angus, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland.

Angus Council

Comhairle Aonghais
Coat of arms or logo
Coat of arms
Logo
Council logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Linda Clark, SNP
George Meechan, Independent
since 22 April 2025[1]
Kathryn Lindsay
since 1 January 2024[2][3]
Structure
Seats28 councillors
Political groups
Administration (13)
  Conservative (8)
  Independent (4)
  Labour (1)
Other parties (15)
  SNP (11)
  Independent (4)
Length of term
Full council elected every 5 years
Elections
Single transferable vote
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Town and County Hall, 26 Castle Street, Forfar, DD8 1BA
Website
www.angus.gov.uk

History

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The first election to Angus District Council was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 16 May 1975. A shadow authority was again elected in 1995 ahead of the change to council areas which came into force on 1 April 1996.

Governance

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The council's civic head is the Provost of Angus, a role which is largely ceremonial in Angus. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council.

Political control

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Political control since 1975 has been as follows:[4]

Angus District Council
Party in control Years
No overall control 1975–1977
Conservative 1977–1980
No overall control 1980–1984
SNP 1984–1996
Angus Council
Party in control Years
SNP 1996–2007
No overall control 2007–2012
SNP 2012–2017
No overall control 2017–2022
SNP 2022–2025
No overall control 2025–present

Leadership

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The leaders since 1996 have been:[5]

Councillor Party From To
Ian Hudghton SNP 1 Apr 1996 1998
Rob Murray SNP 1998 May 2007
Bob Myles Independent May 2007 May 2012
Ian Gaul SNP May 2012 May 2017
Bob Myles Independent 16 May 2017 May 2018
David Fairweather Independent 14 Jun 2018 24 May 2022
Beth Whiteside SNP 24 May 2022 10 December 2024
Bill Duff SNP 10 December 2024 22 April 2025
George Meechan Independent 22 April 2025

Composition

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Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to April 2025, the composition of the council was:

Party Councillors
SNP 11
Conservative 8
Independent 8
Labour 1
Total 28

The next election is due in 2027.[6]

Elections

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Election results since 1995 have been as follows:

Year Seats SNP Independent / Other Conservative Labour Liberal Democrats Notes
1995 26 21 1 2 0 2
1999 29 21 3 2 1 2
2003 29 17 6 2 1 3
2007 29 13 6 5 2 3
2012 29 15 8 4 1 1
2017 28 9 9 8 0 2
2022 28 13 7 7 1 0

Wards

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Map of the area's wards (2017 configuration)

Angus is divided into 8 wards:[7]

Ward
Number
Ward Name Location Seats
1 Kirriemuir and Dean   3
2 Brechin and Edzell   3
3 Forfar and District   4
4 Monifieth and Sidlaw   4
5 Carnoustie and District   3
6 Arbroath West, Letham and Friockheim   4
7 Arbroath East and Lunan   3
8 Montrose and District   4

Premises

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Angus House, Orchardbank, Forfar, DD8 1AN: Angus Council's main offices since 2007

Council meetings are generally held at Forfar Town and County Hall at The Cross in the centre of Forfar.[8] In 2007 the council moved its main offices to a new building called Angus House on Silvie Way in the Orchardbank Business Park on the outskirts of Forfar.[9] The council also has offices in Arbroath.[10]

 
County Buildings: County Council's headquarters 1890–1975, then District Council's headquarters 1975–1996

Previously the council's main offices had been at County Buildings, on Market Street in Forfar. When the county council was established in 1890 the name County Buildings was used for the Forfar Sheriff Court, built 1871, which was the council's first meeting place.[11] The council later moved its main offices into the adjoining converted former prison of 1843, which subsequently became known as County Buildings instead. County Buildings continued to serve as the headquarters of the county council until 1975 and the successor Angus District Council from 1975 to 1996.[12] County Buildings continues to be used as secondary offices by the modern Angus Council.[13]

References

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  1. ^ ""Angus Council SNP administration toppled after no confidence vote"". Rayo Tay FM. 22 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  2. ^ Brown, Graham (1 November 2023). "Angus Council announces new chief executive". The Courier. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Angus Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board, 21 February 2024" (PDF). Angus Council. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Council minutes". Angus Council. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Angus". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Ballotbox Scotland, 2022 Local Elections, Angus Council 2022". Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  8. ^ "Council Meeting" (PDF). Angus Council. 5 December 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Angus House open for business". Angus Council. 8 February 2007. Archived from the original on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Council offices". Angus Council. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map, Forfarshire Sheet XXXVIII.3, 1902". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  12. ^ "No. 23777". The Edinburgh Gazette. 5 May 1995. p. 1151.
  13. ^ Brown, Graham (8 May 2024). "Angus House: Why the council is considering selling its half-empty Forfar HQ". The Courier. Retrieved 5 August 2024.