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{{Short description|Council area of Scotland}}{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}

factoids

| seat_type = Admin HQ| seat = Falkirk| government_footnotes = | governing_body = Falkirk Council| leader_title = ControlScottish National Party>SNP minority (council NOC) List of MPs for constituencies in Scotland 2017->MPsMartyn Day (politician)>Martyn Day

• John McNally| subdivision_type = Sovereign state| subdivision_name = United Kingdom

Country}}Subdivisions of Scotland>Council areaLieutenancy areas of Scotland>Lieutenancy area| subdivision_name1 = Scotland| subdivision_name3 = Stirling and FalkirkMembers of the 5th Scottish Parliament>MSPs| leader_name2 = *Michelle Thomson

• Michael Matheson| unit_pref = Imperial| area_footnotes =

ARE=S12000014}}ARK=S12000014}}| population_footnotes = POP=S12000014 }}Scotland}}RNK=S12000014}}| population_density_km2 = autoONS coding system>ONS code| area_code = S12000014| iso_code = GB-FAL| website = | footnotes = }}Falkirk ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ɔː|l|k|ɜːr|k}}; {{IPA-sco|ˈfɔːkɪrk|}}; ) is one of 32 unitary authority council areas of Scotland. It was formed on 1 April 1996 by way of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 from the exact boundaries of Falkirk District, one of three parts of the Central region created in 1975, which was abolished at that time. Prior to the 1975 reorganisation, the majority of the council area was part of the historic county of Stirlingshire, and a small part, namely Bo’ness and Blackness, was part of the former county of West Lothian.The council area borders with North Lanarkshire, Stirling and West Lothian, and, across the Firth of Forth to the northeast, Clackmannanshire and Fife. The largest town is Falkirk; other settlements, most of which surround Falkirk within {{convert|6|miles}} of its centre, include Bo’ness, Bonnybridge, Denny, Grangemouth, Larbert, Polmont, Shieldhill, Camelon and Stenhousemuir.The council is led by the SNP which won 12 seats in the 2022 Council Election. The incumbent leader of is councillor Cecil Meiklejohn; the provost is Robert Bissett and the deputy provost is David Balfour.

History

The town of Falkirk was made a burgh in 1600, and was then governed by a town council (also known as the corporation) until 1975.WEB, Falkirk Burgh,www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10359442#tab02, A Vision of Britain through Time, GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, 2 March 2023, Scotland’s counties, burghs and landward districts were abolished in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, and replaced with upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. A new Falkirk District was created as one of three districts within the Central Region. The new district was significantly larger than the old Falkirk burgh, covering the whole area of eight former districts and part of a ninth, which were all abolished at the same time:LEGISLATION UK, act, Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, 1973, 65, 2 March 2023, From Stirlingshire:

• Central No. 2 District, excluding most of Kilsyth parish
• Denny and Dunipace Burgh
• Eastern No. 1 District
• Eastern No. 2 District
• Eastern No. 3 District
• Falkirk Burgh
• Grangemouth Burgh

From West Lothian:

• Bo’ness Burgh
• Bo’ness District

The resulting area could also be defined in terms of parishes as:{{London Gazette|issue=16274|page=357|date=19 October 1945|city=e}}{{London Gazette|issue=16269|page=337|date=2 October 1945|city=e}}

• Airth
• Bo’ness and Carriden
• Denny
• Dunipace
• Falkirk
• Grangemouth
• Kilsyth: Banknock polling district only
• Larbert
• Muiravonside
• Slamannan

The new district and its neighbour Stirling were together made a new Stirling and Falkirk lieutenancy area. The last Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire became the first Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk.LEGISLATION UK, si, The Lord-Lieutenants Order 1975, 1975, 428, 16 April 2023, Local government was reformed again in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which abolished the regions and districts which had been created in 1975, replacing them with unitary council areas. Central Region was abolished and each of the area’s three districts, including Falkirk, became council areas.LEGISLATION UK, act, Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, 1994, 39, 2 March 2023,

Settlements

{hide}Location map+|Scotland Falkirk {{Location map~|Scotland Falkirk|coordinates = {{coord|56.0011|-3.7835}}|position=left|label=Falkirk|label_size=}}{{Location map~|Scotland Falkirk|coordinates = {{coord|56.012|-3.717}}|position=left|label=Grangemouth|label_size=}}{{Location map~|Scotland Falkirk|coordinates = {{coord|56.01681|-3.60891}}|position=left|label=Bo’ness|label_size=}}{{Location map~|Scotland Falkirk|coordinates = {{coord|56.02291|-3.82602}}|position=left|label=Larbert|label_size=}}{{Location map~|Scotland Falkirk|coordinates = {{coord|56.028|-03.806}}|position=right|label=Stenhousemuir|label_size=}}{{Location map~|Scotland Falkirk|coordinates = {{coord|56.018|-3.907}}|position=left|label=Denny|label_size=}}{{Location map~|Scotland Falkirk|coordinates = {{coord|55.999|-3.887}}|position=left|label=Bonnybridge|label_size=}}{{Location map~|Scotland Falkirk|coordinates = {{coord|55.990785|-3.706423}}|position=left|label=Polmont|label_size=}}{{Location map~|Scotland Falkirk|coordinates = {{coord|55.980660|-03.716608}}|position=left|label=Brightons|label_size=}}{{Location map~|Scotland Falkirk|coordinates = {{coord|55.969956|-03.697666}}|position=bottom|label=Maddiston|label_size=}} }}Largest settlements by population:{| class=“wikitable sortable“|+!Settlement!Population ({{United Kingdom statistics year|ScotSettlement}}){{Scotland settlement population citation}}|Falkirkname|POP=Falkirk}}|Grangemouthname|POP=Grangemouth}}|Bo’nessname|POP=Bo’ness}}|Larbertname|POP=Larbert}}|Stenhousemuirname|POP=Stenhousemuir}}Denny, Falkirk>Dennyname|POP=Denny}}|Bonnybridgename|POP=Bonnybridge}}|Polmontname|POP=Polmont}}|Brightonsname|POP=Brightons}}|Maddistonname|POP=Maddiston}}

Governance

factoids

Local government in Scotland#Leader of the Council>Leader| leader2 = Cecil MeiklejohnScottish National Party>SNPWEBSITE=FALKIRK COUNCIL, 2 March 2023, | leader3_type = Chief Executive| leader3 = Kenneth Lawrie| party3 = WEBSITE=FALKIRK COUNCIL, 2 March 2023, | members = 30 councillors| house1 =| house2 =| structure1 = | structure1_res = 250px| political_groups1 =| structure2 =| structure2_res =| political_groups2 =Scottish National Party>SNP11hex={{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}Scottish Labour>Labour9hex={{party color|Scottish Labour}}}}Scottish Conservatives>Conservative5hex={{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}}}Independent politician>Independent5hex={{party color|Independent politician}}}}| committees1 =| committees2 =| joint_committees =| voting_system1 = Single transferable vote| voting_system2 =2022 Falkirk Council election>5 May 2022| next_election1 = 6 May 2027| session_room = | session_res =| meeting_place = Falkirkwww.falkirk.gov.uk}}| footnotes =}}

Political control

The first election to Falkirk 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. Political control since 1975 has been as follows:WEB, Compositions calculator,www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825, The Elections Centre, 3 March 2023, Falkirk District Council{| class=“wikitable”!colspan=“2“|Party in control!!YearsNo overall control}} 1975–1977Scottish National Party}} 1977–1980Scottish Labour}} 1980–1992No overall control}} 1992–1996Falkirk Council{| class=“wikitable”!colspan=“2“|Party in control!!YearsScottish Labour}} 1996–1999No overall control}} 1999–

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:WEB, Council minutes,www.falkirk.gov.uk/coins/calendar.asp, Falkirk Council, 2 March 2023, {| class=wikitable! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! ToDavid Alexander (Scottish politician)>David Alexander {{party name with colourFeb 2001 align=right|May 2007Scottish Labour}} align=rightJan 2010Scottish Labour}} align=right4 May 2017Scottish National Party}} align=right

Premises

From the district council’s creation in 1975, it was based at the Municipal Buildings on West Bridge Street in Falkirk, which had been built for the former Falkirk Town Council and had been formally opened on 21 January 1966.WEB, Falkirk, West Bridge Street, Municipal Buildings,canmore.org.uk/site/369130/falkirk-west-bridge-street-municipal-buildings, Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland, 3 March 2023, The building was part of a complex which also included a courthouse, a clinic, and an events venue and theatre called Falkirk Town Hall. Prior to 1966 the town council had been based at the old Municipal Buildings at 12–14 Newmarket Street in the town centre, which had been built in 1879.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB31207|desc=Social Work Department (former Municipal Buildings) Newmarket Street |cat=C|access-date=3 March 2023}}After deciding the 1966 building was uneconomic to repair and maintain, the council vacated the Municipal Buildings in 2020 pending their demolition.WEB, Common Good: Municipal Buildings,say.falkirk.gov.uk/tcc/common-good-municipal-buildings/, Falkirk Council, 3 March 2023, The attached Falkirk Town Hall closed in 2023.NEWS, Paterson, Kirsty, Falkirk town hall set for demolition as councillors make final decision after consultation,www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/falkirk-town-hall-set-demolition-29301688, 3 March 2023, Daily Record, 24 February 2023, Discussions on a possible replacement headquarters for the council are continuing as at 2023, with the council’s offices in the meantime being distributed across several buildings throughout the area.WEB, Offices and Municipal Buildings,www.falkirk.gov.uk/places/, Falkirk Council, 3 March 2023, NEWS, Paterson, Kirsty, Falkirk Council: New town hall will be on Callendar Square site,www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/politics/council/falkirk-council-new-town-hall-will-be-on-callendar-square-site-4154822, 16 July 2023, Falkirk Herald, 23 May 2023,

Elections

Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the single transferable vote system, introduced by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Election results since 1995 have been as follows:{| class=“wikitable” style=text-align:center!rowspan=2|Year!rowspan=2|Seats!width=“80“|SNP!width=“80“|Labour!width=“80“|Conservative!width=“80“|Independent / Other!rowspan=2|Notes!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish National Party}}; width: 3px;” |!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Labour}}; width: 3px;” |!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;” |!style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}; width: 3px;” |1995 Falkirk Council election>1995 36 8 23 2 3 align=left|1999 Falkirk Council election>1999 32 9 15 2 6 align=leftYEAR=1998ACCESSDATE=3 MARCH 2023, 2003 Falkirk Council election>2003 32 9 14 2 7 align=left|2007 Falkirk Council election>2007 32 13 14 2 3 align=leftYEAR=2006ACCESSDATE=3 MARCH 2023, 2012 Falkirk Council election>2012 32 13 14 2 3 align=left|2017 Falkirk Council election>2017 30 12 9 7 2 align=leftYEAR=2016ACCESSDATE=3 MARCH 2023, 2022 Falkirk Council election>2022 30 12 9 5 4 align=left|!!!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish National Party}}; width: 3px;” |!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Labour}}; width: 3px;” |!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;” |!style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}; width: 3px;” |!

Wards

(File:Falkirk UK ward map 2017 (blank).svg|thumb|Map of the area’s wards (2017 configuration))For the purposes of elections to Falkirk Council, the area is divided geographically into a number of wards which then elect either three or four councillors each by the Single Transferable Vote system. The electoral system of local councils in Scotland is governed by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, an Act of the Scottish Parliament which first introduced proportional representation to councils. These electoral wards are as follows:{|class=“wikitable sortable”! Wardnumber! Name ! Location! Seats| 1Bo’ness and Blackness (ward)>Bo’ness and Blackness100px)| 3| 2Grangemouth (ward)>Grangemouth100px)| 3| 3Denny and Banknock (ward)>Denny and Banknock100px)| 4| 4Carse, Kinnaird & Tryst (ward)>Carse, Kinnaird and Tryst100px)| 4| 5Bonnybridge and Larbert (ward)>Bonnybridge and Larbert100px)| 3| 6Falkirk North (ward)>Falkirk North100px)| 4| 7Falkirk South (ward)>Falkirk South100px)| 3| 8Lower Braes (ward)>Lower Braes100px)| 3| 9Upper Braes (ward)>Upper Braes100px)| 3

Communities

The area is divided into 23 community council areas, eleven of which have community councils as at 2023, being those with asterisks.WEB, Executive report, 17 January 2023,www.falkirk.gov.uk/coins/viewDoc.asp?c=e%97%9Dc%90r%7C%8A, Falkirk Council, 3 March 2023, {{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Airth Parish
• Avonbridge and Standburn
• Banknock, Haggs and Longcroft
• Blackness
• Bonnybridge
• Bo’ness
• Brightons
• Camelon, Bantaskine and Tamfourhill
• Carron and Carronshore
• Denny and District
• Falkirk Central
• Falkirk South
• Grahamston, Middlefield and Westfield
• Grangemouth
• Langlees, Bainsford and New Carron
• Larbert, Stenhousemuir and Torwood
• Lower Braes
• Maddiston
• Polmont
• Reddingmuirhead and Wallacestone
• Shieldhill and California
• Slamannan and Limerigg
• Whitecross

{{div col end}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

• Falkirk Council Website

{{Falkirk Towns & Villages}}{{Falkirk elections}}{{Wards of Falkirk}}{{Scotland subdivisions}}{{Former local government regions of Scotland}}{{Authority control}}