Inverclyde
Encyclopedia
Inverclyde is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland
. Together with the Renfrewshire
and East Renfrewshire
council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the historic county
of Renfrewshire
- which current exists as a registration county
and lieutenancy area
- located in the west central Lowlands
. It borders on to the Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire
council areas, and is otherwise surrounded by the Firth of Clyde
.
Inverclyde District
was one of nineteen districts within Strathclyde Region, from 1975 until 1996. Prior to 1975, Inverclyde was governed as part of the local government county
of Renfrewshire
, comprising the burghs of Greenock
, Port Glasgow
and Gourock
, and the former fifth district of the county. Its landward area is bordered by the Kelly, North and South Routen burns to the south west (separating Wemyss Bay
and Skelmorlie
, North Ayrshire
), part of the River Gryfe
and the Finlaystone Burn to the south-east.
It is one of the smallest in terms of area (29th) and population (27th) out of the 32 Scottish unitary authorities. Along with the council areas clustered around Glasgow City it is considered part of Greater Glasgow
in some definitions, although it is physically separated from the city area by open countryside and does not share a border with the city.
The name derives from the extinct barony of Inverclyde
(1897) conferred upon Sir John Burns
of Wemyss Bay
and his heirs.
‡ Taken from Inverclyde Ward 1 figure, minus Kilmacolm settlement population.
. This was rectified in the 2006 review.
and mid-term defections, the current composition of Inverclyde Council is:
• denotes coalition parties
The election resulted in no overall control
of the council, and it is currently administered by a coalition
of Labour, Conservative, UK Liberal Party and one Independent councillor.
The provost is Michael McCormick.
The council gained national notoriety in 2005 following harsh criticism from the Accounts Commission regarding poor leadership and accountability. In November 2005 the council was given a 6 month deadline to reorganise and improve further, following the resignation of the council chief in September and organisational changes in the wake of the original report.
Following this criticism the Chief Executive of Inverclyde Council Robert Cleary stepped down and a new chief executive John Mundell was appointed. The Position of Chief Executive commands a salary of £112,000 Per Annum. There was criticism over the pension benefits the outgoing chief executive received once leaving, he was given six figure severance pay and his pension will be approximately £50,000 per annum.
As of June 2006, changes were still ongoing: Inverclyde Council altered its directorship structure by adding new corporate director positions and removing senior manager positions. It was expected that the £90,000 p/a posts will mostly be filled by new applicants, although existing Council workers were able to apply. There was some criticism with regards to the merging of council services; for instance, Education and Social Work merged and now share the same director. This was frowned upon as at the time the Director responsible for the two merged departments had an educational qualification, not a social work one.
The 2007 council elections took place at the same time as the Scottish Parliament elections
. The Liberal Democrats lost nine seats; Labour gained two, but fell short of a majority. The SNP and Conservatives both entered the council with five and one seats respectively, while an independent candidate also won a place.
, Inverclyde residents enjoy the second-lowest life expectancy in the UK, with only Glasgow City having a shorter projected lifespan per resident. The average Inverclyde male lives for 70.3 years, with females living 78.1 years. There are large health disparities between settlements in Inverclyde with many health indicators being above the Scottish average in certain areas, whilst considerably below in others.
Photographs
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...
. Together with the Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
and East Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. Until 1975 it formed part of the county of Renfrewshire for local government purposes along with the modern council areas of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde...
council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the historic county
Counties of Scotland
The counties of Scotland were the principal local government divisions of Scotland until 1975. Scotland's current lieutenancy areas and registration counties are largely based on them. They are often referred to as historic counties....
of Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire (historic)
Renfrewshire or the County of Renfrew is a registration county, the Lieutenancy area of the Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, and one of the counties of Scotland used for local government until 1975. Renfrewshire is located in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland, south of the River Clyde,...
- which current exists as a registration county
Registration county
A registration county was, in Great Britain and Ireland, a statistical unit used for the registration of births, deaths and marriages and for the output of census information. In Scotland registration counties are used for land registration purposes....
and lieutenancy area
Lieutenancy area
Lieutenancy areas are the separate areas of the United Kingdom appointed a Lord Lieutenant - the representative of the British monarch. In many cases they have similar demarcation and naming to, but are not necessarily conterminate with, the counties of the United Kingdom.-Origin:In England,...
- located in the west central Lowlands
Central Lowlands
The Central Lowlands or Midland Valley is a geologically defined area of relatively low-lying land in southern Scotland. It consists of a rift valley between the Highland Boundary Fault to the north and the Southern Uplands Fault to the south...
. It borders on to the Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland with a population of roughly 136,000 people. It is located in the south-west region of Scotland, and borders the areas of Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire to the north-east and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the East and South...
council areas, and is otherwise surrounded by the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
.
Inverclyde District
Inverclyde District
Inverclyde or Inverclyde District was one of nineteen local government districts in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, which existed between 1975 and 1996. The district was formed by the Local Government Act 1973 from part of the county of Renfrewshire...
was one of nineteen districts within Strathclyde Region, from 1975 until 1996. Prior to 1975, Inverclyde was governed as part of the local government county
Counties of Scotland
The counties of Scotland were the principal local government divisions of Scotland until 1975. Scotland's current lieutenancy areas and registration counties are largely based on them. They are often referred to as historic counties....
of Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire (historic)
Renfrewshire or the County of Renfrew is a registration county, the Lieutenancy area of the Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, and one of the counties of Scotland used for local government until 1975. Renfrewshire is located in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland, south of the River Clyde,...
, comprising the burghs of Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow is the second largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16617 persons...
and Gourock
Gourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
, and the former fifth district of the county. Its landward area is bordered by the Kelly, North and South Routen burns to the south west (separating Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay is a village on the coast of the Firth of Clyde falling within the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The name may derive from the Gaelic uaimh, meaning 'cave'...
and Skelmorlie
Skelmorlie
Skelmorlie is a village in North Ayrshire, Scotland.Although it is the northernmost settlement in the council area of North Ayrshire it is contiguous with Wemyss Bay, which is in Inverclyde. The dividing line is the Kelly Burn, which flows into the Firth of Clyde just south of the Rothesay ferry...
, North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland with a population of roughly 136,000 people. It is located in the south-west region of Scotland, and borders the areas of Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire to the north-east and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the East and South...
), part of the River Gryfe
River Gryfe
The River Gryfe or River Gryffe is a river and tributary of the Black Cart Water, running through the historic county of Renfrewshire and the modern council areas of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde in the west central Lowlands of Scotland, United Kingdom....
and the Finlaystone Burn to the south-east.
It is one of the smallest in terms of area (29th) and population (27th) out of the 32 Scottish unitary authorities. Along with the council areas clustered around Glasgow City it is considered part of Greater Glasgow
Greater Glasgow
Greater Glasgow is an urban settlement in Scotland consisting of all localities which are physically attached to the city of Glasgow, forming with it a single contiguous urban area...
in some definitions, although it is physically separated from the city area by open countryside and does not share a border with the city.
The name derives from the extinct barony of Inverclyde
Baron Inverclyde
Baron Inverclyde, of Castle Wemyss in the County of Renfrew, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1897 for the Scottish shipowner Sir John Burns, 1st Baronet. He had already been created a Baronet in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom in 1889...
(1897) conferred upon Sir John Burns
John Burns, 1st Baron Inverclyde
John Burns, 1st Baron Inverclyde, FRGS was a ship owner. Born in Glasgow he was the son of Sir George Burns, 1st Baronet, a founder of the shipping company G & J Burns and a partner in the Cunard Steamship Co. and his wife, Jane Cleland...
of Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay is a village on the coast of the Firth of Clyde falling within the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The name may derive from the Gaelic uaimh, meaning 'cave'...
and his heirs.
Towns and villages
| Name | Population (2001 census) |
|---|---|
| Gourock Gourock Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde... | 11,511 |
| Greenock Greenock Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland... | 45,467 |
| Inverkip Inverkip Inverkip is a village and parish falling within the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies about southwest of Greenock on the A78 trunk road... | 1,598 |
| Kilmacolm Kilmacolm Kilmacolm is a village and civil parish in the Inverclyde council area and the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies on the northern slope of the Gryffe Valley south-east of Greenock and around west of the city of Glasgow... | 4,000 |
| Port Glasgow Port Glasgow Port Glasgow is the second largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16617 persons... | 16,617 |
| Wemyss Bay Wemyss Bay Wemyss Bay is a village on the coast of the Firth of Clyde falling within the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The name may derive from the Gaelic uaimh, meaning 'cave'... | 2,466 |
| Quarrier's Village Quarrier's Village Quarrier's Village is a small settlement in the civil parish of Kilmacolm in Inverclyde council area and the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west Central Lowlands of Scotland... | > 999 ‡ |
‡ Taken from Inverclyde Ward 1 figure, minus Kilmacolm settlement population.
Council
Until recently, Inverclyde was the only authority in the United Kingdom not to have named electoral wards: whilst the local authority reserved its right to name wards, it failed to supply any to the Local Government Boundary CommissionLocal Government Boundary Commission for Scotland
The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland is an independent body in Scotland created under the Local Government Act 1973...
. This was rectified in the 2006 review.
Composition
Following the Council elections of 2007Inverclyde Council election, 2007
Elections to Inverclyde Council were held on the May 3, 2007 the same day as the Scottish Parliament general election. The election was the first one using six new wards created as a results of the Local Governance Act 2004, each ward will elect three or four councillors using the single...
and mid-term defections, the current composition of Inverclyde Council is:
| Party | Members | |
|---|---|---|
| • | Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... |
8 |
| SNP Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
5 | |
| Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the... |
3 | |
| • | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
1 |
| • | Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
2 |
| • | Liberal Liberal Party (UK, 1989) The Liberal Party is a United Kingdom political party. It was formed in 1989 by a group of individuals within the original Liberal Party who felt that the merger of the party with the Social Democratic Party, to form the Liberal Democrats, had ended the spirit of the Liberal Party, claiming that... |
1 |
• denotes coalition parties
The election resulted in no overall control
No overall control
Within the context of local councils of the United Kingdom, the term No Overall Control refers to a situation in which no single party achieves a majority of seats and is analogous to a hung parliament...
of the council, and it is currently administered by a coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
of Labour, Conservative, UK Liberal Party and one Independent councillor.
The provost is Michael McCormick.
Recent history
Following this criticism the Chief Executive of Inverclyde Council Robert Cleary stepped down and a new chief executive John Mundell was appointed. The Position of Chief Executive commands a salary of £112,000 Per Annum. There was criticism over the pension benefits the outgoing chief executive received once leaving, he was given six figure severance pay and his pension will be approximately £50,000 per annum.
As of June 2006, changes were still ongoing: Inverclyde Council altered its directorship structure by adding new corporate director positions and removing senior manager positions. It was expected that the £90,000 p/a posts will mostly be filled by new applicants, although existing Council workers were able to apply. There was some criticism with regards to the merging of council services; for instance, Education and Social Work merged and now share the same director. This was frowned upon as at the time the Director responsible for the two merged departments had an educational qualification, not a social work one.
The 2007 council elections took place at the same time as the Scottish Parliament elections
Scottish Parliament election, 2007
The 2007 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the third general election to the devolved Scottish Parliament since it was created in 1999...
. The Liberal Democrats lost nine seats; Labour gained two, but fell short of a majority. The SNP and Conservatives both entered the council with five and one seats respectively, while an independent candidate also won a place.
Places of interest
- Ardgowan EstateArdgowan HouseArdgowan House is a late 18th-century mansion and estate on the Firth of Clyde near Inverkip, Scotland. Ardgowan is located in Inverclyde, in the former county of Renfrewshire. The Ardgowan estate has been held by the Stewart family since the early 15th century. The present house was begun in 1797,...
- Arts Guild Theatre
- The Bogal Stone
- CappielowCappielowCappielow is a district of Greenock in Inverclyde, west central Scotland. It is home to Scottish First Division side Greenock Morton F.C. The name Cappielow, taken alone, usually refers to the Cappielow Park stadium, but it can also refer to a small area of housing or the adjoining industrial...
- Castle LevanCastle LevanCastle Levan is a fortified tower house in Levan area of Gourock, Inverclyde, Scotland....
- Clyde Muirshiel Regional ParkClyde Muirshiel Regional ParkClyde Muirshiel Regional Park is the collective name for areas of countryside set aside for conservation and recreation on the South Clyde estuary in Scotland....
- Cornalees Bridge Centre http://www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk
- Custom House Quay and Museum http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/portal/index.php?module=article&view=55&MMN_position=41:36:39
- Duchal HouseDuchal HouseDuchal House is an 18th-century mansion and estate near Kilmacolm, Scotland. It is located in Inverclyde, in the former county of Renfrewshire. Duchal was acquired by the Porterfield family in the 16th century. The present house was built in 1710 and extended in 1768. It is now owned by Lord Maclay...
- Finlaystone HouseFinlaystone HouseFinlaystone House is a mansion and estate near Langbank, in Inverclyde, Scotland. It is located on the Firth of Clyde in the former county of Renfrewshire. Finlaystone was a property of the Dennistoun family, and passed to the Cunninghams in the 15th century. It was the seat of the Earl of...
- GourockGourockGourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
Outdoor Pool http://www.inverclydeleisure.com/html/pools.asp - Granny Kempock StoneGranny Kempock StoneThe megalithic Kempock Stone, popularly known as Granny Kempock , stands on a cliff behind Kempock Street, the main shopping street in Gourock. The stone, or menhir, is grey mica schist and of indeterminate origin, but it has been suggested that it is an old altar to the pagan god Baal, or a...
- Loch ThomLoch ThomLoch Thom is a reservoir which since 1827 has provided a water supply to the town of Greenock in Inverclyde, Scotland. It is named after the civil engineer Robert Thom who designed the scheme which created the reservoir and delivered water via a long aqueduct known as The Cut...
- Lunderston BayLunderston BayLunderston Bay on the east coast of the Firth of Clyde provides a popular beach and picnic area and is part of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. It lies in Inverclyde to the south of Gourock and gives access to a coastal walk continuing further south to Inverkip....
http://www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk - McLean Museum and Art Gallery http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/Museum_Gallery/index.php
- Newark CastleNewark Castle, Port GlasgowNewark Castle is a well-preserved castle sited on the south shore of the estuary of the River Clyde in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, Scotland, where the firth gradually narrows from the Firth of Clyde and navigation upriver is made difficult by shifting sandbanks...
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk - Waterfront Leisure Complex http://www.inverclydeleisure.com/html/water.asp
- Wemyss CastleWemyss CastleWemyss Castle is situated on the cliffs between the villages of East Wemyss and West Wemyss in Fife, Scotland.- History :Accounts date the construction of the castle to the year 1421 when Sir John Wemyss decided to build a fortified castle to replace one destroyed by the Duke of Rothesay at...
Education
The county of Inverclyde has numerous primary schools serving all areas of it's settlements. These are connected to several Secondary schools which serve Inverclyde as follows...- Inverclyde Academy, serving South and East Greenock as well as the villages of InverkipInverkipInverkip is a village and parish falling within the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies about southwest of Greenock on the A78 trunk road...
and Wemyss BayWemyss BayWemyss Bay is a village on the coast of the Firth of Clyde falling within the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The name may derive from the Gaelic uaimh, meaning 'cave'... - Clydeview Academy, serving the West End of Greenock and the town of GourockGourockGourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
- Port Glasgow High School, serving Port GlasgowPort GlasgowPort Glasgow is the second largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16617 persons...
and KilmacolmKilmacolmKilmacolm is a village and civil parish in the Inverclyde council area and the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies on the northern slope of the Gryffe Valley south-east of Greenock and around west of the city of Glasgow... - Notre Dame High School, serving GreenockGreenockGreenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
- St. Columbas High School, Gourock, serving Gourock, Inverkip and Wemyss Bay
- St. Stephen's High School, serving Port Glasgow and Kilmacolm
Demography
According to research by the Chartered Society of PhysiotherapyChartered Society of Physiotherapy
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy , is the professional body and trade union for physiotherapists in the United Kingdom.Formed by four nurses in 1894, the Society now has more than 50,000 members.-Membership:There are four levels of membership:...
, Inverclyde residents enjoy the second-lowest life expectancy in the UK, with only Glasgow City having a shorter projected lifespan per resident. The average Inverclyde male lives for 70.3 years, with females living 78.1 years. There are large health disparities between settlements in Inverclyde with many health indicators being above the Scottish average in certain areas, whilst considerably below in others.
External links
- Inverclyde Council website
- Internet Radio for Inverclyde
- Inverclyde Tourist Group
- Inverclyde photo gallery
- Inverclyde forums
Photographs