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2022 South Ayrshire Council election

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2022 South Ayrshire Council election
← 2017 5 May 2022 (2022-05-05) 2027 →
All 28 seats to South Ayrshire Council
15 seats needed for a majority
Registered92,112
Turnout49.7%
  First party Second party
 
Leader Martin Dowey Peter Henderson
Party Conservative SNP
Leader's seat Ayr West Girvan and South Carrick
Last election 12 seats, 43.4% 9 seats, 30.2%
Seats before 11 9
Seats won 10 9
Seat change Decrease 2 Steady
Popular vote 14,520 14,838
Percentage 33.3% 34.1%
Swing Decrease 10.1% Increase 3.9%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Ind
Leader Brian McGinley N/A
Party Labour Independent
Leader's seat Ayr East N/A
Last election 5 seats, 15.2% 2 seats, 10.7%
Seats before 5 3
Seats won 5 4
Seat change Steady Increase 2
Popular vote 7,276 5,313
Percentage 16.7% 12.2%
Swing Increase 1.5% Increase 1.5%
Leader before election

Peter Henderson
(SNP)
No overall control

Leader after election

Martin Dowey
(Conservative)
No overall control

Elections to South Ayrshire Council took place on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

Despite shedding almost a quarter of their vote and coming second in the popular vote, the Conservatives retained their position as the largest party returning 10 councillors - two less than in the previous election. Both the Scottish National Party (SNP) – who topped the popular vote – and Labour made no gains or losses to remain as the second and third parties respectively. The number of independents returned increased from two to four.

Following the election the Conservatives formed a minority administration, replacing the previous SNP-Labour-Independent administration which was formed as a result of the previous election in 2017.

Background

[edit]

Previous election

[edit]
Main article: 2017 South Ayrshire Council election

At the previous election in 2017, the Conservatives won the most seats returning 12 councillors. The Scottish National Party (SNP) maintained their position as the second-largest party while boundary changes saw Labour lose out as they lost four seats to return five councillors. Two independents were also returned.[1][2]

2017 South Ayrshire Council election result
Party Seats Vote share
Conservatives 12 43.4%
SNP 9 30.2%
Labour 5 15.2%
Independent 2 10.7%

Source:[1][2]

Electoral system

[edit]

The election used the eight wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 28 councillors elected. Each ward elected either three or four members, using the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system – a form of proportional representation – where candidates are ranked in order of preference.[3]

Composition

[edit]

There was one change to the composition of the council following the previous election in 2017. Conservative councillor Hugh Hunter was de-selected in the run-up to the 2022 elections and resigned from the party to stand as an independent.[4][5]

Composition of South Ayrshire Council
Party 2017 result Dissolution
Conservative 12 11
SNP 9 9
Labour 5 5
Independents 2 3

Retiring Councillors

[edit]
Retiring councillors
Council Ward Party Retiring Councillor
Troon Conservative Peter Convery
Prestwick Conservative Margaret Toner
Labour Helen Moonie
Ayr North SNP Douglas Campbell
Ayr West SNP Siobhian Brown
Kyle Labour Andy Campbell
Girvan and South Carrick Conservative Ian Fitzsimmons

Source:[2][6]

Candidates

[edit]

The total number of candidates increased from 45 in 2017 to 61 mainly due to the increased number of parties contesting the election. Unlike the previous vote, the Conservatives fielded the highest number of candidates at 19 – seven more than they had in 2017. Both the SNP and Labour also fielded at least one candidate in every ward but the 13 candidates fielded by the SNP and the eight fielded by Labour was one less than in 2017. The Liberal Democrats named six candidates in this election after fielding none in South Ayrshire in 2017. The number of independent candidates increased from nine in 2017 to 10 but the Greens did not contest the election as they did five years previous. Both the Scottish Family Party and the Alba Party fielded their first ever candidates in a South Ayrshire election.[2][6][7]

Results

[edit]
2022 South Ayrshire Council election
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 10 0 2 Decrease 2 35.7 32.6 14,520 Decrease 10.1
  SNP 9 0 0 Steady 32.1 33.4 14,849 Increase 3.9
  Labour 5 0 0 Steady 17.8 16.3 7,276 Increase 1.5
  Independent 4 2 0 Increase 2 14.2 15.3 6,820 Increase 1.5
  Liberal Democrats 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 1.5 671 New
  Alba 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.6 275 New
  Scottish Family 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.2 108 New
Total 28 43,488

Source: [8]

Note: Votes are the sum of first preference votes across all council wards. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 4 May 2017. This is because STV has an element of proportionality which is not present unless multiple seats are being elected. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at the dissolution of Scotland's councils.[9][10]

Ward summary

[edit]
Results of the 2022 South Ayrshire Council election by ward
Ward % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs % Cllrs Total
Cllrs
Con SNP Lab Ind Others
Troon 37.3 2 35.9 1 19.2 1 2.8 0 4.7 0 4
Prestwick 25.5 1 34.8 1 15.4 1 23.2 1 1.2 0 4
Ayr North 20.5 1 45.9 2 24.1 1 6.3 0 3.2 0 4
Ayr East 30.0 1 39.2 1 16.5 1 12.1 0 2.3 0 3
Ayr West 39.6 2 21.9 1 10.9 0 22.8 1 4.8 0 4
Kyle 36.7 1 33.9 1 23.0 1 6.4 0 3
Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton 35.5 1 32.0 1 12.4 0 17.7 1 2.5 0 3
Girvan and South Carrick 28.0 1 24.9 1 8.8 0 37.2 1 1.2 0 3
Total 32.6 10 33.4 9 16.3 5 15.3 4 2.2 0 28

Source: [8]

Seats changing hands

[edit]

Below is a list of seats which elected a different party or parties from 2017 in order to highlight the change in political composition of the council from the previous election. The list does not include defeated incumbents who resigned or defected from their party and subsequently failed re-election while the party held the seat.

Seats changing hands
Seat 2017 2022
Party Member Party Member
Prestwick Conservative Hugh Hunter Independent Hugh Hunter[Note 1]
Ayr West Conservative Derek McCabe Independent Bob Shields
Notes
  1. ^
    Note 1: In 2017, Hugh Hunter was elected as a Conservative candidate but was later deselected and stood as an independent in 2022.[5]

Ward results

[edit]

Troon

[edit]

The Conservatives (2), the SNP (1) and Labour (1) retained the seats they won at the previous election.

Troon - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
SNP Craig MacKay (incumbent) 23.0 1,607              
Labour Philip Saxton (incumbent) 19.2 1,342 1,352 1,405          
Conservative Bob Pollock (incumbent) 16.2 1,131 1,134 1,146 1,147 1,209 1,463    
Conservative Kenneth Bell 14.5 1,015 1,016 1,029 1,029 1,074 1,275 1,335 1,497
SNP Annie McIndoe 12.8 898 1,080 1,120 1,122 1,184 1,192 1,193  
Conservative Rose Hall 6.5 459 459 466 466 496      
Liberal Democrats Judith Godden 4.7 329 333 373 376        
Independent Linda Lunan 2.8 198 200            
Electorate: 13,025   Valid: 6,979   Spoilt: 128   Quota: 1,396   Turnout: 54.6%  

Source: [11][12]

Prestwick

[edit]

The Conservatives held one of the two seats they won at the previous election and lost one to independent candidate Hugh Hunter while the SNP and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election. In 2017, Hugh Hunter was elected as a Conservative candidate.

Prestwick - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
SNP Ian Cochrane (incumbent) 25.5 1,685              
Independent Hugh Hunter (incumbent) 23.2 1,544              
Conservative Martin Kilbride 17.0 1,132 1,135 1,195 1,236 1,239 1,726    
Labour Cameron Ramsay 15.3 1,020 1,038 1,077 1,086 1,100 1,114 1,181 1,591
SNP Norrie Smith 9.2 614 928 955 958 995 997 1,002  
Conservative Derek Stillie 7.3 488 488 516 539 544      
Alba John Caddis 1.1 78 84 90 91        
Conservative Owen Daniel North 1.0 71 72 79          
Electorate: 12,507   Valid: 6,642   Spoilt: 107   Quota: 1,329   Turnout: 54.0%  

Source: [13][14]

Ayr North

[edit]

The SNP (2), Labour (1) and the Conservatives (1) retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

Ayr North - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SNP Laura Brennan-Whitefield (incumbent) 38.8 1,913            
Labour Ian Cavana (incumbent) 24.0 1,185            
Conservative Ian Davis (incumbent) 13.7 675 687 715 719 723 745 1,046
SNP Mark Dixon 6.9 344 1,143          
Conservative David Paterson 6.8 336 341 349 352 354 367  
Independent Andrew Russell 6.2 309 326 346 365 403 462 481
Liberal Democrats Mason Graham 1.6 80 90 137 156 172    
Alba Denise Sommerville 1.6 79 90 94 124      
Electorate: 12,973   Valid: 4,921   Spoilt: 166   Quota: 985   Turnout: 39.2%  

Source: [15][16]

Ayr East

[edit]

The SNP, Labour and the Conservatives retained the seats they won at the previous election.

Ayr East - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
SNP Chris Cullen (incumbent) 27.8 1,377                
Conservative Mary Kilpatrick (incumbent) 19.4 959 960 980 1,003 1,024 1,068 1,565    
Labour Brian McGinley (incumbent) 16.4 814 820 860 888 919 992 1,021 1,108 1,408
SNP Ian Douglas 11.2 556 676 684 703 727 779 783 791  
Conservative Alan Lamont 10.5 520 520 525 545 560 584      
Independent Chic Brodie 4.7 232 233 236 268 364        
Independent Andrew Bryden 3.7 185 187 204 245          
Independent David John Ramsay 3.6 180 181 189            
Liberal Democrats Deirdre Kennedy 2.2 113 114              
Electorate: 10,276   Valid: 4,936   Spoilt: 95   Quota: 1,235   Turnout: 49.0%  

Source: [17][18]

Ayr West

[edit]

The Conservatives retained two of the three seats they won at the previous election and lost one to independent candidate Bob Shields while the SNP retained their only seat.

Ayr West - 4 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Conservative Martin Dowey (incumbent) 27.1 2,271                
Independent Bob Shields 22.8 1,909                
SNP George Weir 14.5 1,217 1,218 1,237 1,252 1,275 1,282 1,870    
Labour John Duncan 10.9 915 930 961 981 1,117 1,140 1,165 1,247  
Conservative Lee Lyons (incumbent) 8.3 699 1,113 1,164 1,199 1,235 1,646 1,649 1,652 1,893
SNP Margaret Weir 7.3 614 614 624 628 653 655      
Conservative Derek McCabe (incumbent) 4.0 341 465 503 515 548        
Liberal Democrats Jamie Ross 3.5 295 305 341 349          
Scottish Family Gordon Hawley Bryce 1.2 108 111 118            
Electorate: 14,541   Valid: 8,369   Spoilt: 133   Quota: 1,674   Turnout: 58.5%  

Source: [19][20]

Kyle

[edit]

The SNP, Labour and the Conservatives retained the seats they won at the previous election.

Kyle - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP Julie Dettbarn (incumbent) 33.9 1,635          
Labour Duncan Townson 23.0 1,110 1,236        
Conservative Stephen Ferry 19.8 955 964 967 971 1,072 1,836
Conservative Arthur Spurling (incumbent) 16.8 814 823 826 830 879  
Liberal Democrats John Aitken 4.8 235 288 299 365    
Alba Geoff Bush 1.4 71 154 156      
Electorate: 10,625   Valid: 4,820   Spoilt: 57   Quota: 1,206   Turnout: 45.9%  

Source: [21][22]

Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton

[edit]

The SNP, the Conservatives and independent candidate Brian Connolly retained the seats they won at the previous election.

Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
SNP William James Grant (incumbent) 31.9 1,370          
Conservative Ian Campbell (incumbent) 20.9 895 903 914 1,435    
Independent Brian Connolly (incumbent) 17.6 756 857 892 920 1,043 1,402
Conservative Laura McEwan 14.5 623 629 635      
Labour Nicola Saxton 12.4 532 598 651 690 752  
Liberal Democrats Stephen Ralph 2.4 106 130        
Electorate: 9,316   Valid: 4,282   Spoilt: 74   Quota: 1,071   Turnout: 46.8%  

Source: [23][24]

Girvan and South Carrick

[edit]

Independent candidate Alec Clark, the SNP and the Conservatives held the seats they won at the previous election.

Girvan and South Carrick - 3 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Independent Alec Clark (incumbent) 31.4 1,277            
SNP Peter Henderson (incumbent) 24.8 1,008 1,071          
Conservative Gavin Scott 14.1 573 600 601 607 684 753 1,371
Conservative Linda Kane 13.8 563 591 592 594 620 734  
Labour Aaron Gilpin 8.8 358 398 410 423 508    
Independent Todor Joseph Radic 5.6 230 286 296 321      
Alba Eileen Spence 1.1 47 51 61        
Electorate: 8,849   Valid: 4,056   Spoilt: 75   Quota: 1,015   Turnout: 46.7%  

Source: [25][26]

Aftermath

[edit]

It had initially been expected that the ruling SNP-Labour-Independent administration would continue to run the council, but discussions broke down between the parties amid Labour's claims of a "political stitch-up". As a result, the SNP planned to run the council as a minority administration on a "collaboration and consensus basis".[27] However, the Conservative group formed a minority administration and took control of the council[28] after the first full-council meeting thanks to Labour abstentions. The party also had the support of two of the local authority's four independents.[29]

In June 2023, both the SNP and Labour groups made changes to their leadership. Cllr Peter Henderson, leader of the SNP group, retired as a councillor due to "personal ill-health" which triggered a by-election in Girvan and South Carrick. He was replaced by Cllr William Grant as the SNP group leader. Labour group leader Cllr Brian McGinley was replaced in the role by Cllr Duncan Townson.[30][31]

Ayr East councillor Chris Cullen defected from the SNP to the Alba Party in October 2023 saying the party had "failed to deliver on independence".[32]

At some point in late 2023 or early 2024, Ayr North councillor Mark Dixon left the SNP to sit as an independent. He has stated on social media that he is now a member of the Greens but the party do not allow members who have defected from other parties to formally sit under their banner so he remains an independent on the council.[8][33]

In July 2024, Cllr Stephen Ferry resigned from the Conservatives to sit as an independent councillor and from his position as education portfolio holder. A deal was subsequently struck between the Conservative administration and Cllr Grant – who resigned from his position as SNP group leader and from the party to sit as an independent – which would see him return as education portfolio holder, a position he held while the SNP were in administration before the 2022 election.[34]

Girvan and South Carrick by-election

[edit]

Cllr Henderson stood down on 30 June 2023 and a by-election took place on 21 September 2023.[35] This resulted in a Conservative gain from the SNP and Alan Lamont was elected on the fourth count.[36]

Girvan and South Carrick (21 September 2023) - 1 seat
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
Conservative Alan Lamont 47.5 1,315 1,323 1,346 1,497
SNP Joseph McLaughlin 28.1 778 802 824 947
Labour Nicola Saxton 18.0 499 507 551  
Liberal Democrats Jamie Ross 3.9 108 113    
Alba Denise Sommerville 2.5 70      
Electorate: 8,648   Valid: 2,770   Spoilt: 32   Quota: 1,386   Turnout: 32.4%  

Source:[37]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "South Ayrshire Council". BBC News. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - South Ayrshire". Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Notice of Election" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  4. ^ Wilson, Stuart (9 November 2021). "Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party to drop Prestwick councillor Hugh Hunter from 2022 local election team". Daily Record. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b Wilson, Stuart (13 February 2022). "Former South Ayrshire Conservative councillor Hugh Hunter confirms Independent bid for May election". Daily Record. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  6. ^ a b Wilson, Stuart (30 March 2022). "Scottish council elections 2022: South Ayrshire candidates revealed for May 5 vote". Daily Record. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Notice of Election Agents" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Faulds, Allan. "South Ayrshire Council 2022". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  9. ^ Faulds, Allan (25 September 2021). "The Local STV Voting System Explained". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Single Transferable Vote". Electoral Reform Society. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 1 Troon" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 1 Troon" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 2 Prestwick" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 2 Prestwick" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 3 Ayr North" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 3 Ayr North" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 4 Ayr East" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 4 Ayr East" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 5 Ayr West" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 5 Ayr West" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 6 Kyle" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  22. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 6 Kyle" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 7 Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 7 Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Declaration of Results Report Ward 8 Girvan and South Carrick" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Candidate Votes Per Stage Report Ward 8 Girvan and South Carrick" (PDF). South Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  27. ^ Dyson, Kevin (10 May 2022). "SNP to run South Ayrshire as minority administration as Labour claim 'political stitch-up'". Daily Record. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  28. ^ Wilson, Stuart (19 May 2022). "BREAKING: Tories take control of South Ayrshire Council". Daily Record. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  29. ^ Richards, Xander; Robertson, Adam (26 May 2022). "Every Scottish council with a Tory-Labour deal - see the full list". The National. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  30. ^ Lyon, Adam (9 June 2023). "South Ayrshire SNP leader Peter Henderson to retire this month". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  31. ^ Dyson, Kevin (9 June 2023). "South Ayrshire Council: All change for SNP and Labour leadership". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  32. ^ "SNP councillor Chris Cullen defects to Alba in Ash Regan's wake". BBC News. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  33. ^ "Councillor Mark Dison". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  34. ^ "SNP stunned as leader quits and is set to prop up Conservative administration in South Ayrshire". Daily Record. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  35. ^ Gibson, Darren (16 August 2023). "Girvan and South Carrick: By-election taking place in Ward 8". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  36. ^ Dyson, Kevin (22 September 2023). "Conservatives snatch precious seat from SNP in South Ayrshire by-election". Daily Record. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  37. ^ Faulds, Allan. "By-Election Result: Girvan and South Carrick". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
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