Sutherland District Council election
1977 Sutherland District Council election
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All 14 seats to Sutherland District Council 8 seats needed for a majority |
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Registered | 10,352 |
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Turnout | 64.0% |
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| First party | | | Ind | | Party | Independent | | Last election | 12 seats, 100.0% | | Seats won | 14 | | Seat change | 1[note 1] | | Popular vote | 2,989 | | Percentage | 100.0% | | Swing | | | |
Council Control before election Independent | Council Control after election Independent | |
Elections to Sutherland District Council were held on 3 May 1977, on the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. This was the second election to the district council following the local government reforms in 1974.
The election used the original 12 wards created by the Formation Electoral Arrangements in 1974 and two wards added to the district council due to boundary alterations between Sutherland and Caithness District Councils. Each ward elected one councillor using first-past-the-post voting.[1]
As with other elections in the Highland region, no candidates were affiliated with any political parties and the 14 councillors elected were all independents. In total, nine of the 14 wards were uncontested.
Background
Prior to the election, alterations were made to the area controlled by Sutherland and Caithness District Councils. An area in the west of Caithness including Tongue, Farr and Strathy was transferred to Sutherland. Before reorganisation in 1974, the area had been part of Sutherland County. As a result, the Tongue and Farr ward was transferred from Caithness and a new Strathy ward was created.[1][2]
Results
1977 Sutherland District Council election result Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Independent | 14 | 8 | 7 | 1[note 1] | 100.0 | 100.0 | 2,989 | |
Source:[3][4]
Ward results
Dornoch Burgh
Dornoch Burgh Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | D. S. Frier | Unopposed |
Registered electors | 668 | |
| Independent gain from Independent |
Source:[3][4]
Dornoch East and West
Dornoch East and West Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | I. G. Munro | 330 | 66.7 |
| Independent | D. A. MacRae | 97 | 19.6 |
| Independent | R. K. Smith | 68 | 13.7 |
Majority | 233 | 47.1 |
Turnout | 495 | 63.2 |
Registered electors | 787 | |
| Independent gain from Independent |
Source:[3][4]
Creich East and West
Creich East and West Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | A. M. Gilmour | Unopposed |
Registered electors | 849 | |
| Independent hold |
Source:[3][4]
Kincardine
Kincardine Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | E. M. A. Munro | Unopposed |
Registered electors | 537 | |
| Independent gain from Independent |
Source:[3][4]
Rogart and Golspie Rural
Rogart and Golspie Rural Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | D. Gordon | 211 | 54.0 |
| Independent | C. C. D. Kinghorn | 180 | 46.0 |
Majority | 31 | 8.0 |
Turnout | 391 | 63.6 |
Registered electors | 616 | |
| Independent gain from Independent |
Source:[3][4]
Golspie Village
Golspie Village Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | D. I. MacRae | 391 | 60.9 | 4.4 |
| Independent | K. F. MacLean | 251 | 39.1 | New |
Majority | 140 | 21.8 | 25.3 |
Turnout | 642 | 66.5 | 10.3 |
Registered electors | 965 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | 4.4 | |
Source:[3][4]
Lairg
Lairg Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | W. G. Johnston | 266 | 62.9 | 2.6 |
| Independent | N. G. MacDonald | 157 | 37.1 | 2.6 |
Majority | 109 | 25.8 | 5.2 |
Turnout | 423 | 59.5 | 12.0 |
Registered electors | 714 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | 2.6 | |
Source:[3][4]
Assynt and Stoer
Assynt and Stoer Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | F. H. W. Matheson | Unopposed |
Registered electors | 661 | |
| Independent gain from Independent |
Source:[3][4]
Eddrachillis and Durness
Eddrachillis and Durness Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | L. MacKenzie | Unopposed |
Registered electors | 820 | |
| Independent hold |
Source:[3][4]
Clyne
Clyne Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | R. MacLeod | 424 | 70.9 | New |
| Independent | W. Sutherland | 174 | 29.1 | 37.8 |
Majority | 250 | 41.8 | N/A |
Turnout | 598 | 62.9 | 7.4 |
Registered electors | 953 | | |
| Independent gain from Independent | Swing | 54.3 | |
Source:[3][4]
Loth and Kildonan South
Loth and Kildonan South Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | R. R. MacDonald | 228 | 51.8 | 5.5 |
| Independent | I. MacKay | 212 | 48.2 | New |
Majority | 16 | 3.6 | 11.0 |
Turnout | 440 | 68.4 | 2.2 |
Registered electors | 646 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | 5.5 | |
Source:[3][4]
Kildonan North
Kildonan North Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | J. O. F. MacKay | Unopposed |
Registered electors | 712 | |
| Independent hold |
Source:[3][4]
Tongue and Farr
Tongue and Farr Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | K. S. B. Henderson | Unopposed |
Registered electors | 867 | |
| Independent gain from Independent |
Source:[3][4]
Strathy
Strathy Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Independent | E. B. M. Jardine | Unopposed |
Registered electors | 557 | |
| Independent win (new seat) |
Source:[3]
Notes
- ^ a b Ammendments to the boundary with Caithness District Council resulted in one ward transferring from Caithness to Sutherland and new ward being created. As a result, there were two more seats on Sutherland District Council than the previous election. These seats resulted in an independent win and an independent gain from independent.
References
- ^ a b "Formation Electoral Arrangements". Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Amendment at Tongue and Farr, Caithness District, Sutherland District, LGBCS report no 11, 1977" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Botchel, J. M.; Denver, D. T. (1977). The Scottish District Elections 1977: Results and Statistics (PDF). Dundee: Election Studies, University of Dundee. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Botchel, J. M.; Denver, D. T. (1975). The Scottish Local Government Elections 1974: Results and Statistics (PDF). Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press. Retrieved 28 January 2024.