{{Short description|Local authority for Orkney, Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox legislature | name = Orkney Islands Council | coa_pic = 2007 Flag of Orkney.svg | coa_caption = Flag | coa_res = 80px | logo_pic = Orkney Islands Council.svg | logo_res = 120px | logo_caption = Council logo | foundation = 16 May 1975 | preceded_by = | house_type = | leader1_type = Convener | leader1 = Graham Bevan | party1 = <br>Independent | election1 = 16 May 2022 | leader2_type = Leader | leader2 = Heather Woodbridge | party2 = <br>Independent | election2 = 20 February 2024 | leader3_type = Chief Executive | leader3 = Oliver Reid | party3 = <!-- Non-political role --> | election3 = 23 January 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=New Chief Executive welcomed |url=https://www.orkney.gov.uk/latest-news/new-chief-executive-welcomed/ |website=Orkney Islands Council |access-date=30 August 2025 |date=23 January 2023}}</ref> | seats = 21 councillors | structure1 = {{align|center|Results of the 2022 election:}}250px | structure1_res = | structure1_alt = Orkney Islands Council composition | political_groups1 = {{legend|{{party colour|Independent politician}}|Independent (19)}} {{legend|{{party color|Scottish Greens}}|Green (2)}} | committees1 = | joint_committees = | voting_system1 = Single transferable vote | last_election1 = 5 May 2022 | next_election1 = 2027 | term_length = Full council elected every 5 years | meeting_place = Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall, KW15{{nbsp}}1NY | session_room = OIC Reception - geograph.org.uk - 3619685.jpg | session_alt = | website = {{URL|www.orkney.gov.uk}} | motto = Boreas domus mare amicus (Latin: ''"The north our home, the sea our friend"'') }} '''Orkney Islands Council''' (Scottish Gaelic: ''Comhairle Arcaibh'') is the local authority for the Orkney Islands, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It was established in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and was largely unaffected by the Scottish local government changes of 1996. The council is based in Kirkwall.
It provides services in the areas of environmental health, roads, social work, community development, organisational development, economic development, building standards, trading standards, housing, waste, education, burial grounds, port and harbours and others.<ref>[https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Council/C/council.htm Council], orkney.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2015.</ref> The council collects Council Tax.
The council is also the harbour authority for Orkney and its marine services division manages the operation of the islands' 29 piers and harbours.<ref>[http://www.orkneyharbours.com/aboutus.asp Marine Services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704223944/http://www.orkneyharbours.com/aboutus.asp |date=4 July 2015 }}, orkneyharbours.com. Retrieved 3 July 2015.</ref>
==History== Orkney had been administered by Commissioners of Supply from 1667 and then by Orkney County Council from 1890 to 1975. The county council was abolished in 1975 and replaced by the Orkney Islands Council, which also took over the functions previously exercised by Orkney's lower-tier authorities, being the town councils of the two burghs of Kirkwall and Stromness, and the councils of the area's landward districts. The new council created in 1975 was an islands council of an area legally called Orkney.<ref name=1973act>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|accessdate=17 April 2023}}</ref>
Further local government reform in 1996 introduced single-tier council areas across all of Scotland. The councils of the three island areas created in 1975, including Orkney, continued to provide the same services after 1996, but their areas were re-designated as council areas. The geographic area's legal name was changed from Orkney to 'Orkney Islands' as part of the 1996 reforms, allowing the council to retain the name 'Orkney Islands Council'.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=17 April 2023}}</ref> The council has been a member of the Islands Forum since 2022.
In 2023 the council saw a motion to review Orkney's relationship to the United Kingdom, with council leader James Stockan claiming Orkney does not get fair funding and sought to emulate the relationship the Channel Islands have with the government. Some of the other alternatives proposed included emulating the Faroe Islands' autonomy, becoming an overseas territory like the Falklands, or seeing the territory returned to Norway.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stewart |first1=Andrew |title=Orkney council to look at proposals to become territory of Norway |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-66066448 |website=BBC |access-date=30 January 2025}}</ref>
==Political control== The first election was held in 1974, with the council initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 16 May 1975. A majority of the seats on the council have been held by independent councillors since 1975.<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 "Orkney Islands" in search box to see specific results.)</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years |- | {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || 1975–present |}
===Leadership=== The council appoints a convener, who chairs full council meetings and acts as the civic figurehead. In 2017 the council introduced the additional role of leader of the council to act as the council's political leader.<ref name=BBC15Jan2024/><ref name=TO16May2017/> The leaders since 2017 have been:
{| class=wikitable ! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To |- | James Stockan<ref>{{cite web |title=Senior appointments made by Council |url=https://www.orkney.gov.uk/latest-news/senior-appointments-made-by-council/ |website=Orkney Islands Council |access-date=30 August 2025 |date=16 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=BBC15Jan2024>{{cite news |title=Orkney Islands Council leader James Stockan to step down |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67983803 |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=15 January 2024}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|16 May 2017 || align=right|5 Feb 2024 |- | Heather Woodbridge<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 20 February 2024 |url=https://www.orkney.gov.uk/media/ez1ho0ai/minute-special-general-meeting-of-council-20-february-2024.pdf |website=Orkney Islands Council |access-date=30 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Eichler |first1=William |title=Orkney names Scotland's youngest council leader |url=https://www.localgov.co.uk//Orkney-names-Scotlands-youngest-council-leader-/58900 |access-date=22 February 2024 |work=localgov.co.uk |date=21 February 2024}}</ref><ref name=BBC20Feb2024>{{cite news |title=Orkney appoints Scotland's youngest council leader |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-68278738 |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=20 February 2024}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|20 Feb 2024 || align=right| |}
On her appointment in February 2024, Heather Woodbridge was the youngest local authority leader in Scotland, being 29 years old.<ref name=BBC20Feb2024/>
The first convener of Orkney Islands Council, George Marwick, had been the last vice-convener of the old Orkney County Council.<ref name=P&J20May1975/> The conveners since Orkney Islands Council formally came into being in 1975 have been: {| class=wikitable ! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To |- | George Marwick<ref name=P&J20May1975>{{cite news |last1=Hewison |first1=Bill |title=Reaping oil harvest - to benefit community |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000578%2F19750520&page=8 |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=Press and Journal |date=20 May 1975 |location=Aberdeen |page=8 |quote=The convener of the new Orkney Islands Council, Mr George Marwick, who was vice-convener on the old council...}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Orkney council convener ousted in shock result |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000578%2F19780503&page=1 |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=Press and Journal |date=3 May 1978 |location=Aberdeen |page=1}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|16 May 1975 || align=right|May 1978 |- | Edwin Eunson<ref>{{cite news |title=Mink farm refusal criticised |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000540%2F19780819&page=5 |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=The Scotsman |date=19 August 1978 |location=Edinburgh |page=5}}</ref><ref name=P&J21May1990>{{cite news |title=Orkney D-day on crucial issue |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000578%2F19900521&page=15 |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=Press and Journal |date=21 May 1990 |location=Aberdeen |page=15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Edwin Eunson |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/edwin-eunson-0t2x2v2zxvj |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=The Times |date=19 April 2007}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|1978 || align=right|May 1990 |- | John (Jackie) Tait<ref name=P&J21May1990/><ref>{{cite news |title=Orkney confers highest honour on three sons |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000578%2F19900719&page=21 |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=Press and Journal |date=19 July 1990 |location=Aberdeen |page=21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=David |title=Labour leaders to include SNP in Euro nominations |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000540%2F19930911&page=4 |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=The Scotsman |date=11 September 1993 |location=Edinburgh |page=4 |quote=...John Tait (Ind), the convener of Orkney Islands Council...}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hire-fee review |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000578%2F19940422&page=41 |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=Press and Journal |date=22 April 1994 |location=Aberdeen |page=41 |quote=...convener Jackie Tait...}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|22 May 1990 || align=right|1994 |- | Hugh Halcro-Johnston<ref>{{cite news |title=New team takes over in Orkney |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000578%2F19940525&page=31 |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=Press and Journal |date=25 May 1994 |location=Aberdeen |page=31}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Arnold |first1=Leigh |title=Labour are the main winners as handful of Scots local authorities change hands |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000578%2F20030503&page=12 |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=Press and Journal |date=3 May 2003 |location=Aberdeen |page=12}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|24 May 1994 || align=right|May 2003 |- | Stephen Hagan<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 15 May 2003 |url=http://www.orkney.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=202 |website=Orkney Islands Council |access-date=30 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031231115533/http://www.orkney.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=202 |archive-date=31 December 2003}}</ref><ref name=TO16May2012/> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|15 May 2003 || align=right|May 2012 |- | Steven Heddle<ref name=TO16May2012>{{cite news |title=Steven Heddle elected as OIC convener |url=https://orcadian.co.uk/steven-heddle-elected-as-oic-convener/ |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=The Orcadian |date=16 May 2012}}</ref><ref name=TSP18May2017>{{cite web |title=Congratulations to new Orkney Islands Council leadership |url=https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/votes-and-motions-search/S5M-05647 |website=The Scottish Parliament |access-date=30 August 2025 |date=18 May 2017}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|May 2012 || align=right|May 2017 |- | Harvey Johnston<ref name=TO16May2017>{{cite news |title=Harvey Johnston is OIC's new convener |url=https://orcadian.co.uk/harvey-johnston-oics-new-convener/ |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=The Ordacian |date=16 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=TSP18May2017/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Andrew |title=Outgoing convener of Orkney council addresses final full council meeting with a poem |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands-islands/4216277/outgoing-convener-of-orkney-council-addresses-final-full-meeting-with-a-poem/ |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=Press and Journal |date=26 April 2022}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|16 May 2017 || align=right|May 2022 |- | Graham Bevan<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 16 May 2022 |url=https://www.orkney.gov.uk/media/apvb4pge/minute-statutory-general-meeting-16-may-2022.pdf |website=Orkney Islands Council |access-date=30 August 2025}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|16 May 2022 || align=right| |}
===Composition=== Following the 2022 election, the composition of the council was:<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Government Election – 5 May 2022 |url=https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Council/C/local-government-election-5-may-2022.htm |publisher=Orkney Islands Council |access-date=30 March 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" ! colspan=2| Party ! Councillors |- | {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=center|19 |- | {{Party name with colour|Scottish Greens}} || align=center|2 |- ! colspan=2|Total ! align=center|21 |}
The next election is due in 2027.<ref>{{cite web |title=Orkney Islands |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=orkney_islands |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref>
==Elections== {{main|Orkney Islands Council elections}} Since the last boundary changes in 2022, the council has comprised 21 councillors representing 6 wards, with each ward electing three or four councillors. Elections are held every five years.<ref>{{cite legislation Scotland|type=ssi|ssi=The Orkney Islands (Electoral Arrangements) Regulations 2021|year=2021|number=371|access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref>
===Wards=== {{see also|:Category:Wards of Orkney}}
* East Mainland, South Ronaldsay and Burray * Kirkwall East * Kirkwall West and Orphir * North Isles * Stromness and South Isles * West Mainland
==Premises== The council is based at the Council Offices on School Place in Kirkwall. The building comprises the former Kirkwall Grammar School and the neighbouring former Paterson Church, with modern extensions linking the older buildings. The former Grammar School was built {{circa|1890}} and converted to become the council's offices in 1978.<ref>{{cite news |title=Council move in |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=13 July 2023 |work=Aberdeen Press and Journal |date=25 March 1978 |page=23}}</ref><ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB36809|desc=School Place, Orkney Islands Council Offices, formerly Kirkwall Grammar School, including boundary walls|cat=B|access-date=13 July 2023}}</ref> The Paterson Church, or East Church, was built in 1847 and converted and incorporated into the council offices in the early 2000s.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB46013|desc=School Place, Paterson Church / East Church, including boundary walls and railings|cat=B|access-date=13 July 2023}}</ref>
==See also== * Constitutional status of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles * Lerwick Declaration
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Scotland subdivisions}} {{Orkney Islands}} {{Orkney elections}} {{Wards of Orkney}} {{Former local government regions of Scotland}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Organisations based in Orkney Category:Local authorities of Scotland Category:Politics of Orkney Category:Kirkwall