Islands council areas of Scotland
Encyclopedia
Between 1975 and 1996 there were three islands council areas of Scotland
:
The islands council areas were the only unitary councils created under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
, which came into force in 1975. Notably, they were the only unitary authorities created by the local government reforms of the 1970s in Great Britain; which otherwise applied a two-tier structure. They did not form districts within the regions of Scotland
because their remoteness made it unviable.
Single-tier council areas were not created throughout the rest of Scotland until 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
, which came into force in 1996. In most of Scotland, from 1975 to 1996, local government areas consisted of regions and districts
.
The islands areas still exist, but have no special status. They are now simply classed as three of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, having identical powers and responsibilities as the mainland councils.
councils which were abolished in 1975. The Western Isles area combined areas which were previously within the county council areas of Ross and Cromarty
and Inverness-shire
.
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...
:
- Orkney
- Shetland
- Western Isles
The islands council areas were the only unitary councils created under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
The Local Government Act 1973 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, that reformed local government in Scotland, on May 16, 1975....
, which came into force in 1975. Notably, they were the only unitary authorities created by the local government reforms of the 1970s in Great Britain; which otherwise applied a two-tier structure. They did not form districts within the regions of Scotland
Regions of Scotland
Regions of Scotland can refer to:*Local government areas of Scotland 1973 to 1996 - system of regions and districts*Subdivisions of Scotland - unitary authority areas, in use 1996 to present...
because their remoteness made it unviable.
Single-tier council areas were not created throughout the rest of Scotland until 1996, under 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....
, which came into force in 1996. In most of Scotland, from 1975 to 1996, local government areas consisted of regions and districts
Regions and districts of Scotland
The local government areas of Scotland were redefined by the Local Government Act 1973 and redefined again by the Local Government etc Act 1994....
.
The islands areas still exist, but have no special status. They are now simply classed as three of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, having identical powers and responsibilities as the mainland councils.
Pre-1975
The Orkney and Shetland areas were also the areas of countyCounties 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....
councils which were abolished in 1975. The Western Isles area combined areas which were previously within the county council areas of Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty is a variously defined area in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is a registration county and a lieutenancy area in current use...
and Inverness-shire
Inverness-shire
The County of Inverness or Inverness-shire was a general purpose county of Scotland, with the burgh of Inverness as the county town, until 1975, when, under the Local Government Act 1973, the county area was divided between the two-tier Highland region and the unitary Western Isles. The Highland...
.