Governance and Politics
The council has 68 councillors, elected in 19 multi-member wards by Single Transferable Vote. The 2012 elections resulted in the following representation :
| Ward | Members | Representation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Banff and District | 3 | 2 SNP, 1 Con |
| 2. Troup | 3 | 1 SNP, 1 Con, 1 Ind |
| 3. Fraserburgh and District | 4 | 2 SNP, 2 Ind |
| 4. Central Buchan | 4 | 2 SNP, 1 Ind, 1 Con |
| 5. Peterhead North and Rattray | 4 | 2 SNP, 2 Ind |
| 6. Peterhead South and Cruden | 3 | 2 SNP, 1 Ind |
| 7. Turriff and District | 3 | 1 Lib Dem, 1 SNP, 1 Ind |
| 8. Mid Formartine | 4 | 2 SNP, 1 Ind, 1 Con |
| 9. Ellon and District | 4 | 2 SNP, 1 Lib Dem, 1 Con |
| 10. West Garioch | 3 | 1 SNP, 1 Lib Dem, 1 Con |
| 11. Inverurie and District | 4 | 2 SNP, 1 Lib Dem, 1 Con |
| 12. East Garioch | 3 | 1 SNP, 1 Lib Dem, 1 Green |
| 13. Westhill and District | 4 | 2 SNP, 1 Con, 1 Lib Dem |
| 14. Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford | 4 | 1 Con, 1 Ind, 1 Lib Dem, 1 SNP |
| 15. Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside | 3 | 1 Con, 1 Lib Dem, 1 SNP |
| 16. Banchory and Mid Deeside | 3 | 1 Lib Dem, 1 SNP, 1 Con |
| 17. North Kincardine | 4 | 1 Con, 1 Lab, 1 Lib Dem, 1 SNP |
| 18. Stonehaven and Lower Deeside | 4 | 1 Con, 1 Lab, 1 Lib Dem, 1 SNP |
| 19. Mearns | 4 | 1 Con, 1 Lib Dem, 1 Ind, 1 SNP |
The overall political composition of the council was as follows:
The Council's net expenditure is £750.1m a year (2008/09). Education takes the largest share of expenditure (55%), followed by Social Work and Housing (19%), Transportation and Infrastructure (11%), and Joint Services such as Fire and Police (10%). 22% of revenue is raised locally through the Council Tax. Average Band D Council Taxis the eighth lowest in mainland Scotland at £966 (2003/04). The current Chief Executive of the Council is Colin Mackenzie and the elected Head of the Council is Anne Robertson. The council has devolved power to six area committees: Banff and Buchan; Buchan; Formartine; Garioch; Marr; and Kincardine and Mearns. (Boundary map)
Read more about this topic: Aberdeenshire
Famous quotes containing the words governance and/or politics:
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To han the governance of hous and land,
And of his tonge and his hand also;”
—Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?–1400)
“Politics is not an end, but a means. It is not a product, but a process. It is the art of government. Like other values it has its counterfeits. So much emphasis has been placed upon the false that the significance of the true has been obscured and politics has come to convey the meaning of crafty and cunning selfishness, instead of candid and sincere service.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)