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Falkirk (council area)
Encyclopedia
Falkirk is one of the 32 unitary authority
council areas in Scotland
. It borders onto North Lanarkshire
to the south west, Stirling
to the north west, West Lothian
to the south east and, across the Firth of Forth
to the north east, Fife
and Clackmannanshire
. The council area was formed on 1 April 1996 from the exact boundaries of Falkirk District Council by way of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
. Prior to 1975 the majority of the council area was part of the county of Stirlingshire
and a small part, namely Bo'ness
and Blackness
, was part of the former county of West Lothian
.
From 2003–2007 the Council was led by an SNP/Independent coalition, but after the 2007 elections a Labour/Ind coalition of 16 councillors equalled the SNP/ Tory/ Independent 16, so a pack of cards was cut. Labour's card was higher than the SNP's.To form a stable administration Labour then formed a coalition with the 4 members of the Conservative and Independent Partnership.This Labour/Conservative /Independent coalition hold 18 seats compared to the 13 Snp and 1 non aligned Independent. The leader of the administration is Councillor Craig Martin.
which represent aggregations of both council wards
and community council
areas. Forums are usually held every eight weeks or so and their membership consists of all councillors representing the area, a representative from each community council, the local unit commander
from Central Scotland Police
and nominees from other local community groups.
Braes Area Forum
Denny, Bonnybridge & Banknock Area Forum
Falkirk Area Forum
Grangemouth Area Forum
Larbert & Stenhousemuir Area Forum
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
council areas in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It borders onto North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. It borders onto the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains much of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It also borders Stirling, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire...
to the south west, Stirling
Stirling (council area)
Stirling is one of the 32 unitary local government council areas of Scotland, and has a population of about 87,000 . It was created under the Local Government etc Act 1994 with the boundaries of the Stirling district of the former Central local government region, and it covers most of the former...
to the north west, West Lothian
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
to the south east and, across the Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...
to the north east, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
and Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire, often abbreviated to Clacks is a local government council area in Scotland, and a lieutenancy area, bordering Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Fife.As Scotland's smallest historic county, it is often nicknamed 'The Wee County'....
. The council area was formed on 1 April 1996 from the exact boundaries of Falkirk District Council by way of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
The Local Government etc. Act 1994 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which created the current local government structure of 32 unitary authorities covering the whole of Scotland....
. Prior to 1975 the majority of the council area was part of the county of Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling is a registration county of Scotland, based around Stirling, the former county town. It borders Perthshire to the north, Clackmannanshire and West Lothian to the east, Lanarkshire to the south, and Dunbartonshire to the south-west.Until 1975 it was a county...
and a small part, namely Bo'ness
Bo'ness
Bo'ness, properly Borrowstounness, is a coastal town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies on a hillside on the south bank of the Firth of Forth within the Falkirk council area, north-west of Edinburgh and east of Falkirk. At the 2001 census, Bo'ness had a resident population of 13,961...
and Blackness
Blackness, Falkirk
Blackness is a small village and harbour at Blackness Bay, an inlet of the Firth of Forth in Scotland. It lies east-southeast of Bo'ness, west-northwest of South Queensferry and north-east of Linlithgow, within the council area of Falkirk....
, was part of the former county of West Lothian
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
.
From 2003–2007 the Council was led by an SNP/Independent coalition, but after the 2007 elections a Labour/Ind coalition of 16 councillors equalled the SNP/ Tory/ Independent 16, so a pack of cards was cut. Labour's card was higher than the SNP's.To form a stable administration Labour then formed a coalition with the 4 members of the Conservative and Independent Partnership.This Labour/Conservative /Independent coalition hold 18 seats compared to the 13 Snp and 1 non aligned Independent. The leader of the administration is Councillor Craig Martin.
Area Forums
The council area is further divided into six Area ForumsArea committee
Many large local government councils in the United Kingdom have a system of area committees, with responsibility for services in a particular part of the area covered by the council....
which represent aggregations of both council wards
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
and community council
Community council
A community council is a public representative body in Great Britain.In England they may be statutory parish councils by another name, under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, or they may be non-statutory bodies...
areas. Forums are usually held every eight weeks or so and their membership consists of all councillors representing the area, a representative from each community council, the local unit commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
from Central Scotland Police
Central Scotland Police
Central Scotland Police is the territorial police force responsible for the Scottish council areas of Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire . The headquarters of the force are at Randolphfield House in Stirling....
and nominees from other local community groups.
Communities
Bo'ness Area Forum- BlacknessBlackness, FalkirkBlackness is a small village and harbour at Blackness Bay, an inlet of the Firth of Forth in Scotland. It lies east-southeast of Bo'ness, west-northwest of South Queensferry and north-east of Linlithgow, within the council area of Falkirk....
- Bo'nessBo'nessBo'ness, properly Borrowstounness, is a coastal town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies on a hillside on the south bank of the Firth of Forth within the Falkirk council area, north-west of Edinburgh and east of Falkirk. At the 2001 census, Bo'ness had a resident population of 13,961...
Braes Area Forum
- AvonbridgeAvonbridgeAvonbridge is a small village which lies within the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is south-southeast of the town of Falkirk. Avonbridge sits just inside the council boundary line between Falkirk and West Lothian councils....
- BrightonsBrightonsBrightons is a village in the east of the Falkirk council area of Scotland. It is south-east of Falkirk, south of Grangemouth and east of Linlithgow...
- CaliforniaCalifornia, FalkirkCalifornia is a former pit village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. It lies between Shieldhill and Avonbridge on the uplands which form the southern edge of the council area....
- LauriestonLaurieston, FalkirkLaurieston is a village in the Falkirk council area in Central Scotland. It is east Falkirk, south-west of Grangemouth and west of Polmont.Laurieston is located on the A803 road between Falkirk and Polmont...
- LimeriggLimeriggLimerigg is a village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. It lies on the B825 road between Slamannan and Caldercruix surrounded by extensive woodlands on the northern side and lying next to the Black Loch, which formerly fed the Monkland Canal, and close to the former boundary between...
- MaddistonMaddistonMaddiston is a village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. It lies west-southwest of Linlithgow, south of Polmont and south-east of Rumford at the south-east edge of the Falkirk urban area....
- PolmontPolmontPolmont is a village in the Falkirk council area of Central Scotland. It lies towards the east of the town of Falkirk, north of the Union Canal, which runs adjacent to the village....
- Redding
- ReddingmuirheadReddingmuirheadReddingmuirhead is a village located in Stirlingshire, Falkirk council area, Central Scotland. A few hundred yards uphill from the village of Redding, it is between Shieldhill and Brightons....
- Rumford
- ShieldhillShieldhillShieldhill is a village within the Falkirk council area in Central Scotland. The village is south-east of Falkirk, south-west of Polmont and north of the village of California....
- SlamannanSlamannanSlamannan is a village in the south of the Falkirk council area in Central Scotland. It is south-west of Falkirk, east of Cumbernauld and north-east of Airdrie....
- StandburnStandburnStandburn is a small village which lies within the Falkirk council area in central Scotland. It is located south-west of Maddiston, north-east of Avonbridge and south east of Falkirk...
- WallacestoneWallacestoneWallacestone is a village in the area of Falkirk, central Scotland. It lies south-west of Polmont, south-east of Falkirk and north-east of California.The population of Wallacestone is was recorded as 746 residents according to the 2001 census.-History:...
- WestquarterWestquarterWestquarter is a village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is west of Polmont and south-east of the town of Falkirk.Westquarter can be accessed from the north via the A803 road and from the south via the B805 road....
- WhitecrossWhitecross, FalkirkWhitecross is a small village within the Falkirk council area, close to the boundary of West Lothian council in Scotland. It lies west-southwest of Linlithgow and south-east of Polmont on the west bank of the River Avon....
Denny, Bonnybridge & Banknock Area Forum
- Allandale
- BanknockBanknockBanknock is a village within the Falkirk council area in Central Scotland. The village is west-southwest of Falkirk, east-northeast of Kilsyth and north-northeast of Cumbernauld....
- BonnybridgeBonnybridgeBonnybridge is a small town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. It is west of Falkirk, north-east of Cumbernauld and south-southwest of Stirling. The town is situated near the Bonny Water which runs through the town and lies north of the Forth and Clyde Canal...
- DennyDenny, FalkirkDenny is a town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland, formerly in the county of Stirlingshire. It is situated west of Falkirk, and north-east of Cumbernauld, adjacent to both the M80 and M876 motorways...
- DennyloanheadDennyloanheadDennyloanhead is a village located in the Falkirk council area, Central Scotland, that is between Head of Muir and Longcroft.The main features include the Crown Hotel and Casserta's chip shop. There is another pub called the Railway Inn....
- DunipaceDunipaceDunipace is a village in the west of the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is south of Stirling and north-west of Falkirk. The village is situated on the north bank of the River Carron and adjoins the town of Denny to the south of the river....
- HaggsHaggsHaggs is a small village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is situated south-west of Bonnybridge, nort-northeast of Kilsyth and south-southwest of Denny, on the east side of the A80 road which separates it from Banknock....
- LongcroftLongcroft, FalkirkLongcroft is a small village in the Falkirk council area in Scotland. The village is located west-southwest of Falkirk along a stretch of the A803 road between Haggs and Dennyloanhead. The main features of the village include the Masonic Arms pub and hotel....
Falkirk Area Forum
- BainsfordBainsfordBainsford is a small village within the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is situated in the Forth Valley, north of the town of Falkirk. It is positioned between the River Carron and the Forth and Clyde Canal to the north and south respectively....
- CamelonCamelonCamelon is a large settlement within the Falkirk council area, Scotland. The village is in the Forth Valley, west of Falkirk, south of Larbert and east of Bonnybridge...
- Falkirk (town)FalkirkFalkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
- Hallglen/Glen Village
- TamfourhillTamfourhillTamfourhill is a working-class residential suburb of Falkirk within the Falkirk , Scotland. It is located approximately 1.5 miles west of the city centre.The Falkirk Wheel is located just to the northwest of the village...
- WoodlandsWoodlands, FalkirkWoodlands is a large, prosperous central area of Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, which is mainly residential. Much of the ward is taken up by leafy streets where property prices are among the highest in Central Scotland and includes Lochgreen, Slamannan, Rosebank, Gartcows and Southern...
Grangemouth Area Forum
- GrangemouthGrangemouthGrangemouth is a town and former burgh in the council area of Falkirk, Scotland. The town lies in the Forth Valley, on the banks of the Firth of Forth, east of Falkirk, west of Bo'ness and south-east of Stirling. Grangemouth had a resident population of 17,906 according to the 2001...
- SkinflatsSkinflatsSkinflats is a small village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. It is located north-west of Grangemouth, east of Carronshore and north-east of Falkirk...
Larbert & Stenhousemuir Area Forum
- AirthAirthAirth is a Royal Burgh, village, former trading port and civil parish in Falkirk, Scotland. It is north of Falkirk town and sits on the banks of the River Forth. Airth lies on the A905 road between Grangemouth and Stirling and is overlooked by Airth Castle, the village retains two market crosses...
- CarronCarron, FalkirkCarron is a small village within the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is situated in the Forth Valley, north of Falkirk, north-west of Grangemouth and south-east of Stenhousemuir. Carron directly adjoins the neighbouring village of Carronshore to the east.The village sits north of...
- CarronshoreCarronshoreCarronshore is a small village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village lies in the Forth Valley, north of the town of Falkirk and directly to the east of neighbouring village Carron.The village sits north of the River Carron....
- Dunmore
- LarbertLarbertLarbert is a small town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The town lies in the Forth Valley above the River Carron which flows from the west. Larbert is 3 miles from the shoreline of the Firth of Forth and 2.5 miles northwest of Falkirk, the main town in the area...
- LethamLetham, FalkirkLetham is a small former mining village in Falkirk district, Scotland. It is located less than 2 miles from the town of Airth....
- StenhousemuirStenhousemuirStenhousemuir is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley within the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The town is north-northwest of Falkirk and directly adjoins to Larbert in the west. The villages of Carron and Carronshore adjoin Stenhousemuir to the east but...
- TorwoodTorwoodTorwood is a small village located north-northwest of Larbert, north-west of Falkirk and south-southeast of Stirling. Torwood lies within the Falkirk Council area of Scotland....
Council political composition
| Party | Councillors | |
| Labour | 14 | |
| Scottish National Party | 13 | |
| Independent | 3 | |
| Conservative | 2 |