2022 Stirling Council election
Elections to Stirling Council were held on 5 May 2022, the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the seven wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 23 councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system.
The election saw Labour increase their representation on the council by two. The SNP lost one seat and the Greens retained their single seat. The Conservatives saw their representation on the council drop by two seats. The Liberal Democrats failed to win representation and one independent candidate won a seat.
Background
Previous election
At the previous election in 2017, the Conservatives won 9 seats, an increase of 5 and a vote share increase of 17.2%. Also on 9 seats was the SNP. Next were Labour, who won the next largest amount of seats, winning 4. The sole Green councillor, also held their seat. In the aftermath of the 2017 election a new coalition was agreed between the SNP and Labour with Labour Councillor Christine Simpson becoming Provost of Stirling and the SNP's Graham Houston becoming depute convener of the council.Source:
Electoral system
The election used the 7 wards created following the fifth statutory review of electoral arrangements conducted by Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland in 2016, with 23 councillors elected. Each ward elected either three or four councillors, using the single transferable vote electoral system – a form of proportional representation – where candidates are ranked in order of preference.Results
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 4 May 2017. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.Ward results
Trossachs and Teith
- 2017: 2xCon; 1xSNP
- 2022: 2xCon; 1xSNP
- 2017-2022: No change
Forth and Endrick
- 2017: 2xCon; 1xSNP
- 2022: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
- 2017-2022 Change: 1 Lab gain from Con
Dunblane and Bridge of Allan
- 2017: 2xCon; 1xSNP; 1xGreen
- 2022: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xGreen; 1xLab
- 2017-2022 Change: 1 Lab gain from Con
Stirling North
- 2017: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab
- 2022: 2xSNP; 1xCon; 1xLab
- 2012-2017: No change
Stirling West
- 2012: 1xLab; 1xSNP; 1xCon
- 2017: 1xCon; 1xSNP; 1xLab
- 2012-2017 Change: No change
Stirling East
- 2017: 1xCon; 1xLab; 1xSNP
- 2022: 1xCon; 1xLab; 1xSNP
- 2017-2022: No change
Bannockburn
- 2017: 2xSNP; 1xLab
- 2022: 1xSNP; 1xLab; 1xInd
- 2017-2022 Change: 1 Ind gain from SNP
Aftermath
Despite the SNP winning the most seats, Labour formed a minority administration after the Conservatives voted in favour of it.In October 2022, Labour councillor Ewan Dillon quit the party to become an independent. This reduced the ruling Labour administration to five councillors.
2023 Dunblane and Bridge of Allan by-election
In December 2022, SNP councillor Graham Houston died. A by-election was held on 16 March 2023 and was won by Conservative candidate Robin Kleinman.Source:
January 2024 Dunblane and Bridge of Allan by-election
On 8 November 2023, Conservative councillor Douglas Dodds resigned his seat, citing "personal and health reasons." A by-election was on 25 January 2024 and was won by Conservative candidate Thomas Heald.Source:
August 2024 Dunblane and Bridge of Allan by-election
In May 2024, independent councillor Ewan Dillon resigned after pleading guilty to the possession of indecent images. A by-election was held on 15 August 2024 to elect his replacement, and was won by Labour candidate David Wilson.Source:
Bannockburn by-election
In October 2024, Labour councillor Marget Brisley died. A by-election was held on 23 January 2025 to elect her replacement, and was won by SNP candidate Bob Buchanan.Source:
Stirling East by-election
In August 2025, Conservative councillor Bryan Flannagan resigned. A by-election was held on 30 October 2025 and was won by SNP candidate Josh Fyvie.Source: