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Grampian

Coordinates: 57°13′41″N 2°59′17″W / 57.228°N 2.988°W / 57.228; -2.988
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the former local government region of Scotland. For other uses, see Grampian (disambiguation).
"Grampian Region" redirects here. For the region in Victoria, Australia, see Grampians (region).

Grampian
Roinn a' Mhonaidh
Coat of arms of Grampian
Coat of arms
Location of Grampian
Government
 • TypeRegional Council
Area
 • Total8,697.72 km2 (3,358.21 sq mi)
 • RankRanked 3rd
Population
 • Estimate 
(2020)
584,550
 • RankRanked 3rd

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.

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

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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

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

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

[edit]

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]

Party in control Years
Conservative 1975–1986
No overall control 1986–1996

Leadership

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The conveners of the council were:[7]

Councillor Party From To
Sandy Mutch Conservative 1975 1982
John Sorrie Conservative 1982 1986
Geoff Hadley Independent 1986 1990
Bob Middleton Labour 1990 1994
Rhona Kemp Liberal Democrats 1994 1995
Gordon McDonald SNP 1995 1996

Elections

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Election results were as follows:[6]

Year Seats Conservative Labour Liberal Democrats[a] SNP Independent / Other Notes
1974 53 28 13 2 0 10
1978 53 33 13 0 2 5
1982 54 28 15 6 3 2
1986 57 16 17 13 8 3
1990 57 10 19 11 14 3
1994 57 8 12 18 17 2
  1. ^ Includes Liberal and Social Democratic Party prior to 1988, with the two parties having formed the SDP–Liberal Alliance between 1981 and 1988.
  • 1982 results map
    1982 results map
  • 1986 results map
    1986 results map
  • 1990 results map
    1990 results map
  • 1994 Scotland results
    1994 Scotland results

Modern day use

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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

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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

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

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References

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  1. ^ "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1973 c. 65, retrieved 3 January 2023
  2. ^ "The Educational Endowments (Grampian Region) Transfer Scheme Order 1996". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  3. ^ "No. 23789". The Edinburgh Gazette. 26 May 1995. p. 1332.
  4. ^ "Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 39, retrieved 3 January 2023
  5. ^ "Grampian Regional Council". Grampian-Houston Association. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Grampian Regional Council". Grampian-Houston Association. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Praise after fire service merger". The Herald. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Scottish TV and Grampian TV to merge identities". Press Gazette. 2 March 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  10. ^ "County HQ plans go on show". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 10 July 1971. p. 17. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  11. ^ Dunbar, John (27 December 1974). "New HQ waits for council changeover". Aberdeen Press and Journal. p. 9. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Woodhill House, Westburn Road, Aberdeen". Aberdeen City Council. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
[edit]
  • Media related to Grampian at Wikimedia Commons

57°13′41″N 2°59′17″W / 57.228°N 2.988°W / 57.228; -2.988

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