City of Edinburgh Council

{{short description|Local government body in Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Use British English|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox legislature | name = City of Edinburgh Council | native_name = ''Comhairle Baile Dhùn Èideann'' | legislature = | coa_pic = Coat of Arms of the Edinburgh City Council.svg | coa_caption = Coat of arms | coa_res = 145px | logo_pic = City of Edinburgh Council logo, 2020.svg | logo_caption = Logo | logo_res = 215px | foundation =  | preceded_by = City of Edinburgh District Council | house_type = Unitary authority | leader1_type = Lord Provost | leader1 = Robert Aldridge | party1 = Liberal Democrat | election1 = 26 May 2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=Edinburgh appoints new Lord Provost |url=https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/13480/edinburgh-appoints-new-lord-provost |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=www.edinburgh.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> | leader2_type = Leader | leader2 = Jane Meagher | party2 = Labour | election2 = 19 December 2024 | leader3_type = Chief Executive | leader3 = Paul Lawrence | party3 =  | election3 = 17 June 2024<ref>{{cite news |title=Paul Lawrence starts as City of Edinburgh Council's chief executive |url=https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/paul-lawrence-starts-as-city-of-edinburgh-councils-chief-rxecutive |access-date=30 July 2024 |work=Scottish Housing News |date=17 June 2024}}</ref> | seats = 63 councillors | structure1 = File:Scotland Edinburgh Local Authority April 2025.svg | structure1_res = 280 | structure1_alt = Edinburgh City Council composition | political_groups1 = '''Administration (11)''' :{{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Labour (11) '''Other parties (52)''' :{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}|border=darkgray}} Scottish National Party (17)}} :{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Liberal Democrats}}|border=darkgray}} Liberal Democrats (14) :{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Greens}}|border=darkgray}} Green (11) :{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}|border=darkgray}} Conservative (10) | committees1 = | joint_committees = | voting_system1 = Single transferable vote | last_election1 = 5 May 2022 | next_election1 = 6 May 2027 | meeting_place = Edinburgh City Chambers | session_room = Edinburgh City Chambers.jpg | session_alt = Edinburgh City Chambers | website = {{URL|https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk}} | motto = Nisi Dominus Frustra }}

The '''City of Edinburgh Council''' (Scottish Gaelic: ''Comhairle Baile Dhùn Èideann'') is the local government authority covering the City of Edinburgh council area. Almost half of the council area is the built-up area of Edinburgh, capital of Scotland. With a population of {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000036}} in {{UK subdivision statistics year}},<ref>{{UK subdivision statistics citation}}</ref> it is the second most populous local authority area in Scotland.

The council took on its current form in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, replacing the '''City of Edinburgh District Council''' of the Lothian region, which had been created in 1975. The history of local government in Edinburgh, however, stretches back much further. Around 1130, David I made the town a royal burgh and a burgh council, based at the Old Tolbooth is recorded continuously from the 14th century.

The council is currently based in Edinburgh City Chambers with a main office nearby at Waverley Court.

==History== ===Origins=== The date of Edinburgh's formation as a burgh is unknown, but it is referred to as a royal burgh from the reign of David I (reigned 1124–1153). The town council of the burgh was granted the right to appoint its own sheriff by James III in a charter dated 16 November 1482. This had the effect of making the town a county of itself, separating it from the jurisdiction of the surrounding county of Midlothian (which was formally called the "county of Edinburgh" or Edinburghshire until 1947).<ref name="Chalmers">{{Cite book |last=Chalmers |first=George |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hywv0eVoI-8C&pg=PA579 |title=Caledonia |date=1889 |publisher=Alexander Gardner |location=Paisley |page=579 |chapter=Edinburghshire: Of its establishment as a shire |access-date=24 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/edinburgh-burgh-records/1403-1528/pp314-339 |title=Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh, 1403–1528 |date=1869 |publisher=Scottish Burgh Records Society |editor-last=Marwick |editor-first=J. D. |location=Edinburgh |pages=314–339 |chapter=Appendix: Abstracts of charters and other documents |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> The burgh was subsequently described as the "city and county of the city of Edinburgh" to distinguish it from the surrounding "county of Edinburgh" (Midlothian).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_dU9AAAAcAAJ&pg=RA7-PP3 |title=The Parliamentary Register |date=1776 |publisher=J. Almon |location=London |page=429 |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref>

Until 1975 the governing body of the city was formally called the "Lord Provost, Magistrates and Council of the City and Royal Burgh of Edinburgh", but was generally termed "Edinburgh Corporation".<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Edinburgh and Leith Corporations Gas Act 1888|year=1888|chapter=129|accessdate=27 December 2022}} "...the lord provost, magistrates and council of the city of Edinburgh... hereinafter referred to as "the Corporation"..."</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=5 April 1957 |title=City and Royal Burgh of Edinburgh |page=1 |work=Edinburgh Evening News |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=27 December 2022 |quote=...the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council of the City and Royal Burgh of Edinburgh as local planning authority..}}</ref> As such, the Edinburgh Corporation was responsible for local government services, such as the Edinburgh Corporation Transport Department (Edinburgh Corporation Tramways until 1928).

===Edinburgh Corporation===

Bodies such as the Merchant Company of Edinburgh, the Incorporated Trades of Edinburgh and The High Constables of Edinburgh formed part of the corporation, contributing councillors and law enforcement officers. The Edinburgh Corporation had the power to institute these organisations via the granting of a "Seal of Cause". This empowered the societies as "a legal corporation with power to hold property, make its own by-laws and regulations". Other organisations to receive the "Seal of Cause" include The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh, who received their seal on 2 July 1800.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1735 Royal Burgess Golf Society - Scottish Golf History |url=http://www.scottishgolfhistory.org/oldest-golf-clubs-societies/1735-royal-burgess-golf-society/ |access-date=9 February 2019 |website=scottishgolfhistory.org}}</ref> The history of the corporation lives on elsewhere around the city, for example in the name of the members of Muirfield golf club, who were granted a charter by the corporation in 1800 becoming "The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers". The Corporation also awarded trophies to Edinburgh institutions, such as the silver arrow presented as a prize for archery in 1714 to the Royal Company of Archers, and the silver golf club presented to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1744 Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers - Scottish Golf History |url=https://www.scottishgolfhistory.org/oldest-golf-clubs-societies/1744-honourable-company-of-edinburgh-golfers/ |website=www.scottishgolfhistory.org}}</ref>

The Edinburgh Corporation had the power to make Burgesses (freemen) of the City of Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Corporation awarded its Burgess Tickets through the Lord Dean of Guild, an office in the Corporation holding the distinction of second citizen of Edinburgh, after the Lord Provost. Like the Corporation of the City of London, Burgess Tickets were often awarded along with a 'Freedom Casket' – a container to hold the ticket.

In 1975, Edinburgh Corporation was abolished under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which abolished the counties and burghs of Scotland as administrative areas and brought in a two-tier system of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. A new district called "City of Edinburgh" was created, covering the former city and county of the city of Edinburgh as well as the former burgh of Queensferry, the district of Kirkliston and part of Winchburgh (from West Lothian), and the district of Currie and the parish of Cramond (from Midlothian).<ref name="1973act">{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|accessdate=27 December 2022}}</ref> The governing body for the new district was called "City of Edinburgh District Council" and had responsibilities including town planning, cleansing and libraries.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=19676|page=769|date=30 May 1975|city=e}}</ref> The district was included within the Lothian region, and Lothian Regional Council had responsibilities including water, education, social work and transport.<ref name=1973act/>

===City of Edinburgh===

In 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, the Lothian Regional Council was abolished and the City of Edinburgh became a unitary (single-tier) council area. The council became "City of Edinburgh Council" and provides all local government services within the council area.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=27 December 2022}}</ref>

Today Edinburgh's council remains headed by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, with six Bailies appointed by the council at large. Many of Edinburgh council ceremonies and traditions date back to the days of the Edinburgh Corporation, such as the Edinburgh Ceremony of the Keys, where the Lord Provost symbolically hands the keys to the City of Edinburgh to the monarch, who hands them back to the Lord Provost proclaiming "that they cannot be placed in better hands than those of the Lord Provost and Councillors of my good City of Edinburgh".<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 July 2010 |title=Queen presides over Ceremony of the Keys in Edinburgh |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10601718 |access-date=13 April 2020}}</ref>

The council continues to meet in the Edinburgh City Chambers and also holds and maintains properties from the days of the corporation, such as Lauriston Castle (which is used to host the Lord Provost's garden party), the Assembly Rooms and the Church Hill Theatre. Although no longer formally part of the City of Edinburgh Council, it retains a relationship with the Merchants Company, Incorporated Trades and High Constables of Edinburgh. The office of Lord Dean of Guild now operates from the Merchant Company of Edinburgh, and continues to issue Burgess tickets to create Burgesses of Edinburgh alongside the City of Edinburgh Council.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Company of Merchants of the City of Edinburgh | Court of Deans of Guild of Scotland |url=http://www.deansofguildscotland.co.uk/guildries/edinburgh/ |website=www.deansofguildscotland.co.uk}}</ref>

==Political control== The council has been under no overall control since 2007. Since 2022 the council has been led by a Labour minority administration with informal support from the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.<ref>{{cite news |title=Edinburgh City Council to be controlled by Labour |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-61593373 |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=26 May 2022}}</ref><ref name=BBC19Dec2024/>

The first election to the City of Edinburgh 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 reforms which came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1975 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Edinburgh" in search box to see specific results.)</ref>

'''City of Edinburgh District Council''' {| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years |- | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1975–1977 |- | {{Party name with colour|Scottish Conservatives}} || 1977–1980 |- | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1980–1984 |- | {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 1984–1992 |- | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1992–1996 |}

'''City of Edinburgh Council''' {| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years |- | {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 1996–2007 |- | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2007– |}

===Leadership=== The role of Lord Provost of Edinburgh is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The first leader following the 1996 reforms, Keith Geddes, was the last leader of the old Lothian Regional Council.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=David |title=Forsyth may act in jobs row |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000540%2F19950712&page=4 |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=The Scotsman |date=12 July 1995 |location=Edinburgh |page=4}}</ref> The leaders of the City of Edinburgh Council since 1996 have been:

{| class=wikitable ! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To |- | Keith Geddes<ref>{{cite news |title=A first day display of political flower power |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000740%2F19950414&page=11 |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=14 April 1995 |page=11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=David |title=Man who gambled all now looking for a job |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000540%2F19990511&page=5 |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=The Scotsman |date=11 May 1999 |location=Edinburgh |page=5}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|1 Apr 1996 || align=right|6 May 1999 |- | Donald Anderson<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Andrew |title=Edinburgh cranks up for the big hoe-down |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000540%2F19990526&page=9 |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=The Scotsman |date=26 May 1999 |location=Edinburgh |page=9}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New leader answers your questions |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/5283146.stm |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=25 August 2006}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|May 1999 || align=right|24 Aug 2006 |- | Ewan Aitken<ref>{{cite web |title=Executive minutes, 29 August 2006 |url=https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/Data/Executive/20060829/Agenda/minute_290806.pdf |website=City of Edinburgh Council |access-date=20 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=OneCity Consortium Biographies |url=https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/24942/onecity-constortium-members-biographies |website=City of Edinburgh Council |access-date=20 August 2025 |page=2}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|29 Aug 2006 || align=right|May 2007 |- | Jenny Dawe<ref>{{cite web |title=Executive minutes, 24 May 2007 |url=https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/Data/Executive/20070524/Agenda/minute_240507.pdf |website=City of Edinburgh Council |access-date=20 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Swanson |first1=Ian |title=Election 2012: Labour emerge as biggest party in Edinburgh Council |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/election-2012-labour-emerge-as-biggest-party-in-edinburgh-council-1629788 |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=The Scotsman |date=4 May 2012}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Liberal Democrats}} || align=right|24 May 2007 || align=right|May 2012 |- | Andrew Burns<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 17 and 24 May 2012 |url=https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/Data/City%20of%20Edinburgh%20Council/20120517/Agenda/minute_17_may_2012.pdf |website=City of Edinburgh Council |access-date=20 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Scottish council election: SNP wins most seats in Edinburgh |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-39817414 |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=5 May 2017}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|17 May 2012 || align=right|May 2017 |- | Adam McVey<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 22 June 2017 |url=https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/Data/City%20of%20Edinburgh%20Council/20170622/Agenda/minute_of_22_june_2017.pdf |website=City of Edinburgh Council |access-date=20 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Angie |title=Council elections 2022: SNP looks to create coalition in Edinburgh |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-61350352 |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=6 May 2022}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=right|22 Jun 2017 || align=right|May 2022 |- | Cammy Day<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 19 and 26 May 2022 |url=https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/g6405/Printed%20minutes%2019th-May-2022%2010.00%20City%20of%20Edinburgh%20Council.pdf?T=1 |website=City of Edinburgh Council |access-date=20 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Labour council leader quits over alleged messages |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gxp093gwno |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=9 December 2024}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|26 May 2022 || align=right|9 Dec 2024 |- | Jane Meagher<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 19 December 2024 |url=https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/g7294/Printed%20minutes%2019th-Dec-2024%2010.00%20City%20of%20Edinburgh%20Council.pdf?T=1 |website=City of Edinburgh Council |access-date=20 August 2025}}</ref><ref name=BBC19Dec2024>{{cite news |title=Labour retains Edinburgh Council leadership |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg9rwze1qzo |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=19 December 2024}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|19 Dec 2024 || align=right| |}

===Composition=== Following the 2022 election and subsequent changes up to August 2025, the composition of the council was:<ref name=Thorncliffe/>

{| class="wikitable" ! colspan=2| Party ! Councillors |- | {{Party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=center|17 |- | {{Party name with colour|Scottish Liberal Democrats}} || align=center|14 |- | {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=center|11 |- | {{Party name with colour|Scottish Conservatives}} || align=center|10 |- | {{Party name with colour|Scottish Greens}} || align=center|10 |- | {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=center|1 |- ! colspan=2|Total ! align=center|63 |} The next election is due in 2027.<ref name=Thorncliffe>{{cite web |title=Edinburgh |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=edinburgh |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=20 August 2025}}</ref>

==Elections== {{main|City of Edinburgh Council elections}} Members of the council represent 17 wards. As a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, multi-member wards were introduced for the 2007 election, each electing three or four councillors by the single transferable vote system, to produce a form of proportional representation. Previously each of 58 wards elected one councillor by the first past the post system of election.

The last election to the council was held on Thursday, 5 May 2022. Due to an increase in the city's population, five extra seats on the council were added in 2017, along with some minor ward boundary changes.<ref>[https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2016/09/edinburgh-to-have-five-more-councillors-from-next-year/# Edinburgh to have five more councillors from next year], Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter, 14 September 2016</ref> Election results since 1995 have been as follows:<ref name=compositions/>

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center !rowspan=2|Year !rowspan=2|Seats !width="80"|SNP !width="80"|Labour !width="80"|Liberal Democrats !width="80"|Greens !width="80"|Conservative !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 Liberal Democrats}}; width: 3px;" | !style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Greens}}; width: 3px;" | !style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" | |- | 1995 || 58 || 0 || 34 || 10 || 0 || 14 || align=left|Labour majority |- | 1999 || 58 || 1 || 31 || 13 || 0 || 13 || align=left|New ward boundaries.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The City of Edinburgh (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1998|year=1998|number=3182|accessdate=27 December 2022}}</ref> Labour majority |- | 2003 || 58 || 0 || 30 || 15 || 0 || 13 || align=left|Labour majority |- | 2007 || 58 || 12 || 15 || 17 || 3 || 11 || align=left|New ward boundaries.<ref>{{cite legislation Scotland|type=ssi|ssi=The City of Edinburgh (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006|year=2006|number=537|accessdate=27 December 2022}}</ref> Lib Dem / SNP |- | 2012 || 58 || 18 || 20 || 3 || 6 || 11 || align=left|Labour / SNP |- | 2017 || 63 || 19 || 12 || 6 || 8 || 18 || align=left|New ward boundaries.<ref>{{cite legislation Scotland|type=ssi|ssi=The City of Edinburgh (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2016|year=2016|number=270|accessdate=27 December 2022}}</ref> SNP / Labour minority coalition |- | 2022 || 63 || 19 || 13 || 12 || 10 || 9 || align=left|Labour minority with Conservative and Lib Dem support. |- ! ! !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 Liberal Democrats}}; width: 3px;" | !style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Greens}}; width: 3px;" | !style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" | ! |}

==Council area== {{Infobox settlement  | name = City of Edinburgh Council area | official_name = | native_name = {{lang|gd|Comhairle Baile Dhùn Èideann}} | native_name_lang =  | other_name = | image_skyline = 250px | image_flag = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = Council logo | image_map = | map_caption = <! The council area map at commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edinburgh_UK_location_map.svg uses the geographic limits: West: 3.47W East: 3.05W North: 56.05N South: 55.80N which gives centre coordinates: 55.925N 3.26W > | coordinates = {{Coord|55.925|-3.26|type:adm2nd_region:GB|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | seat_type = Admin HQ | seat = Edinburgh | government_footnotes =  | governing_body = City of Edinburgh Council | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | subdivision_type = Sovereign state | subdivision_name = {{flag|United Kingdom}} | subdivision_type1 = {{nowrap|Country}} | subdivision_type2 = Council area | subdivision_type3 = Lieutenancy area | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Scotland}} | subdivision_name3 = Edinburgh | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes =  | area_total_km2 = {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000036}} | area_rank = Ranked {{Scottish council area rank|GSS=S12000036}} | population_footnotes =  | population_total = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000036}} | population_as_of = {{United Kingdom statistics year|Scotland}} | population_rank = Ranked {{Scottish council population rank|GSS=S12000036}} | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | area_code_type = GSS code | area_code = S12000036 | iso_code = GB-EDH | website = {{Official URL}} | footnotes = }}

{{Location map+|Edinburgh |caption={{left|City of Edinburgh Council area showing the largest settlements. The territory of the council area includes much undeveloped land (denoted by cream colour) to the west of the built-up area (grey colour), but little to the south or east.}} |float=right |width=500 |places = {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55|57|12|N|03|11|21|W}}|position=left|label='''Edinburgh'''|label_size=}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.990|-3.398}}|position=right|label='''South Queensferry'''|label_size=}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.956|-3.403}}|position=right|label='''Kirkliston'''|label_size=}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.922|-3.379}}|position=bottom|label='''Ratho'''|label_size=}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55|56|21.80|N|3|24|28.97|W}}|position=left|label='''Newbridge'''|label_size=}}

{{Location map~|Scotland Fife|coordinates = {{coord|56.46|-3.45|}}|position=left|label=''Fife''|marksize=0|label_size=120}} {{Location map~|Scotland Fife|coordinates = {{coord|56.20|-2.65|}}|position=right|label=''East Lothian''|marksize=0|label_size=120}} {{Location map~|Scotland Fife|coordinates = {{coord|56.035|-2.90|}}|position=left|label=''Midlothian''|marksize=0|label_size=120}} {{Location map~|Scotland Fife|coordinates = {{coord|55.925|-3.62|}}|position=right|label=''Scottish Borders''|marksize=0|label_size=120}} {{Location map~|Scotland Fife|coordinates = {{coord|56.08|-3.78|}}|position=right|label=''West Lothian''|marksize=0|label_size=120}} }}

The council area borders the Firth of Forth to the north, East Lothian to the east, Midlothian to the south east, Scottish Borders to the south, and West Lothian to the west. About 45% of the council area is the urban area of Edinburgh, which is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth, particularly including the areas north of the A720 City of Edinburgh bypass.

Edinburgh's city status attaches to the whole council area, despite the area including more rural parts outside the main urban area. The landscape changes to farmland, much of which is designated as green belt, at the north-western and western edge of the main urban area (beyond the River Almond, Cammo estate, West Craigs and Gogar within the Almond ward), and the council area extends around {{convert|4|miles}} further west from the urban area, taking in the hamlets of Ingliston and Turnhouse adjacent to Edinburgh Airport, the separate villages of Kirkliston, Newbridge, Ratho Station, and the town of South Queensferry beside the Forth Bridges. These are all considered to be separate localities in the Scottish Government's statistics on the basis of being separate urban areas.<ref name="NRS2020">[https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//statistics/settlements-localities/set-loc-20/set-loc-2020-data.xlsx Data Tables] [Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland], National Records of Scotland, 31 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022</ref><ref name="NRS">{{Cite web |title=NRS – Background Information Settlements and Localities |url=https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//geography/products/2012-setts-locals-back-info.pdf |access-date=17 February 2018 |website=National Records of Scotland}}</ref>

South of this, the Pentland Hills ward has a similar semi-rural profile: its furthest point is over {{convert|7|miles}} from the A720, and Wester Hailes is its only component neighbourhood within the bypass. However, aside from the village of Ratho and Riccarton (location of Heriot-Watt University), the increasingly distant suburbs in this area along the A70 road – Baberton, Juniper Green, Currie and Balerno – are considered to be part of the locality of Edinburgh as their postcodes remain in a 'chain' with the rest of the city.<ref name="NRS2020" /><ref name="NRS" /> Almond and Pentland Hills are by far the largest of the council's wards by area due to their low population density balancing against that of inner-city wards.<ref name="Trends">[https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/24263/population-distribution-and-density Population distribution and density in Edinburgh {{!}} Recent trends and comparisons with other cities across Scotland and the UK], City of Edinburgh Council, October 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2022</ref>

In contrast to the hinterland in the west, the local authority boundary with East Lothian in the east of the city (north of the end of the bypass within the Portobello/Craigmillar ward) is at the Brunstane Burn at Eastfield; the adjoining town of Musselburgh, and Wallyford beyond, are not within the council borders of Edinburgh, but are considered part of the Edinburgh settlement (urban area).<ref name="NRS2020" /><ref name="NRS" /> Thus the local authority area cannot be described wholly as an urban environment, whilst parts of the urban area of Edinburgh lie outside the council area.<ref name="Trends" />

===Settlements=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+Largest settlements by population !Settlement !Population ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref> |- |Edinburgh |{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Edinburgh}} |- |South Queensferry |{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=South Queensferry}} |- |Kirkliston |{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Kirkliston}} |- |Ratho |{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Ratho}} |- |Newbridge |{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Newbridge and Ratho Station}} |}

===Languages=== The 2022 Scottish Census reported that out of 501,271 residents aged three and over, 117,936 (23.5%) considered themselves able to speak or read the Scots language.<ref>[https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/webapi/opentable?id=019a1a62-eab8-76fc-98d0-f7e8423a5077]</ref> This puts Edinburgh as the council area with the third lowest proficiency in Scots, mainly due to the large migrant population, not born in Scotland.

The 2022 Scottish Census reported that out of 501,266 residents aged three and over, 6,576 (1.3%) considered themselves able to speak or read Gaelic.<ref>[https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/webapi/opentable?id=019a2022-ecdd-77ea-96ad-569f0c5b3786]</ref>

==Premises== Before 1368 the city was run from a {{lang|la|pretorium}} (a Latin term for tolbooth), and later from around 1400 from the Old Tolbooth next to St Giles' Cathedral. A tolbooth is the main municipal building of a Scottish burgh providing council meeting chambers, a court house and a jail. The Old Tolbooth of Edinburgh was unique in that it housed both the Edinburgh Town Council and the Scottish Parliament. As a royal burgh the council was convened by a lord provost, who was assisted by a team of bailies.

The Tolbooth had fallen into a state of disrepair by the 1560s, and was cramped, housing both the expanding Town Council of Edinburgh, and the Parliament of Scotland. Queen Mary believed the situation was intolerable, and requested extensive renovations. By 1639 Edinburgh Town Council paid for a new building, called Parliament House, to be constructed nearby for the Parliament to meet in so they would no longer have to share the Old Tolbooth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Records of the Parliaments of Scotland |url=https://www.rps.ac.uk/ |website=www.rps.ac.uk}}</ref>

In 1753 Edinburgh Town Council commissioned the construction of a new Royal Exchange as a meeting place for the city merchants, intended to rival the Royal Exchange of London. However the merchants preferred to carry on meeting at the Mercat Cross. Given the conditions of the Old Tolbooth and the underused status of the Royal Exchange, the council moved into the north range of the Royal Exchange in 1811 while a new fit for purpose permanent presence could be planned, and the Old Tolbooth was demolished. The former location of the Old Tolbooth (fully demolished in 1817) is now marked by the Heart of Midlothian, a heart-shaped sett in the paving of Edinburgh's Royal Mile. The only remaining part of the Old Tolbooth is a door which Walter Scott recovered and added to his home Abbotsford.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Edinburgh, 245-329 High Street, City Chambers | Canmore |url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/52307/edinburgh-245-329-high-street-city-chambers |website=canmore.org.uk}}</ref>

thumb|Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street: Council's administrative headquarters since 2007

After the Canongate suburb merged into the city of Edinburgh in 1856, and the Canongate Tolbooth was abandoned, the north range of the Royal Exchange became too crowded once again and in 1893 the council bought back the rest of the old Royal Exchange building and renamed it as the Edinburgh City Chambers. The City Chambers continues to be the council's meeting place and official headquarters. In 2006 the council built a new building called Waverley Court at 4 East Market Street to be the council's administrative offices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact |url=https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/contact |access-date=28 December 2022 |website=City of Edinburgh Council}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Edinburgh, 4 East Market Street, Waverley Court, City of Edinburgh Council Headquarters |url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/292732/edinburgh-4-east-market-street-waverley-court-city-of-edinburgh-council-headquarters |access-date=28 December 2022 |website=Canmore |publisher=Historic Environment Scotland}}</ref>

{{Infobox UK legislation | short_title = City of Edinburgh Council (Portobello Park) Act 2014 | type = Scottish Act | parliament = Scottish Parliament | long_title = An Act of the Scottish Parliament to change the status of Portobello Park so as to permit the City of Edinburgh Council to appropriate it for the purposes of the Council's functions as an education authority; and for connected purposes. | year = 2014 | citation = 2014 asp 15 | introduced_by = | territorial_extent = | royal_assent = 1 August 2014 | commencement = | expiry_date = | repeal_date = | amends = | replaces = | amendments = | repealing_legislation = | related_legislation = | status = | legislation_history = | theyworkforyou = | millbankhansard = | original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/15/contents/enacted | revised_text = | use_new_UK-LEG = yes | UK-LEG_title = City of Edinburgh Council (Portobello Park) Act 2014 | collapsed = yes }} With the passage of the '''{{visible anchor|City of Edinburgh Council (Portobello Park) Act 2014}}''' (asp 15), the council can appropriate Portobello Park for educational purposes.<ref>{{Cite legislation Scotland | type = act | year = 2014 | chapter = 15 | act = City of Edinburgh Council (Portobello Park) Act 2014}}</ref>

==Controversies== The council has been at the centre of several corruption scandals in recent years, including allegations of possible fraud, wrong-doing and incompetence in the Property Conservation Department in the BBC Scotland documentary ''Scotland's Property Scandal'' in 2011;<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 September 2011 |title=Corruption claims against Edinburgh City Council |url=https://blog.tendersdirect.co.uk/2011/09/20/corruption-claims-against-edinburgh-city-council/}}</ref> four men pleading guilty to corruption in the allocation of public building work contracts at the Council in 2015;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Four plead guilty to Edinburgh building contracts corruption |url=https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/articles/four-plead-guilty-to-edinburgh-building-contracts-corruption |website=Scottish Construction Now}}</ref> and mis-spending of £400,000 of public money, and a subsequent bullying campaign against the whistleblower who brought this corruption to light in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Joseph |date=25 June 2021 |title=Edinburgh whistleblower wins 'David and Goliath' court battle against council |work=EdinburghLive |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/abused-edinburgh-whistelblower-wins-david-20906589}}</ref>

==Wards== {{Location map+|Edinburgh |caption={{left|Map of the council's ward boundaries as of 2017.}} |overlay_image=Edinburgh UK ward map 2017 (blank).svg |float=right |width=400 |places = {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.964|-3.371}}|position=right|label='''1'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.882|-3.353}}|position=right|label='''2'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.945|-3.311}}|position=right|label='''3'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.974|-3.230}}|position=right|label='''4'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.961|-3.232}}|position=right|label='''5'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.942|-3.265}}|position=right|label='''6'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.926|-3.272}}|position=right|label='''7'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.896|-3.242}}|position=right|label='''8'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.923|-3.245}}|position=right|label='''9'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.924|-3.225}}|position=right|label='''10'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.950|-3.208}}|position=right|label='''11'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.963|-3.192}}|position=right|label='''12'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.973|-3.179}}|position=right|label='''13'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.952|-3.161}}|position=right|label='''14'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.931|-3.188}}|position=right|label='''15'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.905|-3.163}}|position=right|label='''16'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} {{Location map~|Edinburgh|coordinates = {{coord|55.937|-3.124}}|position=right|label='''17'''|label_size=130|marksize=0}} }}

{|class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Ward number ! Ward name<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2019 |title=United Kingdom: Scotland {{!}} Council Areas and Electoral Wards |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/scotland/wards/ |access-date=28 March 2021 |website=City Population}}</ref> ! Seats ! Population (2019) |- |1 |Almond |4 |36,730<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002919 Electoral Ward: Almond], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |2 |Pentland Hills |4 |32,703<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002920 Electoral Ward: Pentland Hills], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |3 |Drum Brae/Gyle |3 |23,534<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002921 Electoral Ward: Drum Brae/Gyle], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |4 |Forth |4 |31,823<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002922 Electoral Ward: Forth], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |5 |Inverleith |4 |34,236<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002923 Electoral Ward: Inverleith], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |6 |Corstorphine/Murrayfield |3 |24,192<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002924 Electoral Ward: Corstorphine/Murrayfield], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |7 |Sighthill/Gorgie |4 |33,826<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002925 Electoral Ward: Sighthill/Gorgie], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |8 |Colinton/Fairmilehead |3 |25,257<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002926 Electoral Ward: Colinton/Fairmilehead], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |9 |Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart |3 |23,715<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002927 Electoral Ward: Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |10 |Morningside |4 |32,586<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002928 Electoral Ward: Morningside], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |11 |City Centre |4 |32,410<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002929 Electoral Ward: City Centre], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |12 |Leith Walk |4 |34,651<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002930 Electoral Ward: Leith Walk], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |13 |Leith |3 |24,207<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002931 Electoral Ward: Leith], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |14 |Craigentinny/Duddingston |4 |29,927<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002932 Electoral Ward: Craigentinny/Duddingston], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |15 |Southside/Newington |4 |37,696<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002933 Electoral Ward: Southside/Newington], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |16 |Liberton/Gilmerton |4 |35,480<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002934 Electoral Ward: Liberton/Gilmerton], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- |17 |Portobello/Craigmillar |4 |31,957<ref>[https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fstatistics.gov.scot%2Fid%2Fstatistical-geography%2FS13002935 Electoral Ward: Portobello/Craigmillar], Scottish Government Statistics</ref> |- ! !Total ! 63 !524,930 |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:The City of Edinburgh Council}} Category:Politics of Edinburgh Edinburgh Category:Organisations based in Edinburgh