Grampian

Former local government region of Scotland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grampian

Grampian (Scottish Gaelic: Roinn a' Mhonaidh) was one of nine local government regions of Scotland. It was created in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and took its name from the Grampian Mountains. The regional council was based in Aberdeen.

Quick Facts Roinn a' Mhonaidh, Government ...
Grampian
Roinn a' Mhonaidh
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Government
  TypeRegional Council
Area
  Total
8,697.72 km2 (3,358.21 sq mi)
  RankRanked 3rd
Population
  Estimate 
(2020)
584,550
  RankRanked 3rd
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The region was abolished in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which divided the region into the three single-tier council areas of Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, and Moray.

History

The Grampian region was created in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which created a two-tier structure of local government across Scotland. Grampian covered the combined area of four former counties, which were abolished for local government purposes at the same time:[1]

Grampian was divided into five districts: City of Aberdeen, Banff and Buchan, Gordon, Kincardine and Deeside and Moray.[2]

Grampian region was abolished in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 which replaced regions and districts with unitary authorities. The region was divided into three single-tier council areas. The former City of Aberdeen and Moray districts each became council areas (although 'City of Aberdeen' was renamed 'Aberdeen City' to coincide with the reforms),[3] and Banff and Buchan, Gordon, and Kincardine and Deeside merged into a new Aberdeenshire council area.[4]

Geography

The Grampian region was encompassed almost all of what could be considered the north-east of Scotland.

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The region takes its name from the Grampian Mountains
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Street in Old Aberdeen
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Plainstones in Elgin
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Stonehaven

Aberdeen was the major city of the region. Other major towns are the former royal burgh of Elgin, the major fishing port of Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Inverurie, Westhill, Stonehaven, Forres, Ellon and Portlethen. Grampian Regional Council was based at Woodhill House, Westburn Road, Aberdeen.[5]

Political control

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Perspective

The first election to the regional council was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 16 May 1975. Political control of the council from 1975 was as follows:[6]

More information Party in control, Years ...
Party in controlYears
Conservative1975–1986
No overall control1986–1996
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Leadership

The conveners of the council were:[7]

More information Councillor, Party ...
CouncillorPartyFromTo
Sandy MutchConservative19751982
John SorrieConservative19821986
Geoff HadleyIndependent19861990
Bob MiddletonLabour19901994
Rhona KempLiberal Democrats19941995
Gordon McDonaldSNP19951996
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Elections

Election results were as follows:[6]

More information Year, Seats ...
Year Seats Conservative Labour Liberal Democrats[a] SNP Independent / Other Notes
19745328132010
1978533313025
1982542815632
19865716171383
199057101911143
19945781218172
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  1. Includes Liberal and Social Democratic Party prior to 1988, with the two parties having formed the SDP–Liberal Alliance between 1981 and 1988.

Modern day use

Grampian continues to have a regional NHS board. The region also had a regional fire and rescue service and Police service before they were merged into Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland respectively in 2013.[8] Grampian also had its own Television region called Grampian Television until it was dissolved and incorporated in STV North in 2006.[9]

Successor council areas

More information Council area, Composition in terms of districts specified by the 1994 act ...
Council area Composition in terms of districts specified by the 1994 act
Aberdeen City (Named 'City of Aberdeen' by the 1994 act but changed its name to 'Aberdeen City' prior to the changes coming into force) City of Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire Banff and Buchan, Gordon, Kincardine and Deeside
Moray Moray
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Premises

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Woodhill House, Regional Headquarters

The regional council was based at Woodhill House in the western suburbs of Aberdeen. The site had formerly been occupied by a large house, which had been bought by the old Aberdeenshire County Council in 1967. The new building was designed in 1971 to be a headquarters for the county council, to replace its old offices at County Buildings in the centre of Aberdeen. The possibility that local government reform may be coming was taken into account in the design of the building, which was completed and occupied in phases from early 1975 onwards.[10][11] An official opening ceremony for the building was held in May 1977.[12]

On the abolition of the regional council in 1996 the building passed to the new Aberdeenshire Council.

See also

References

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