North Lanarkshire Council


North Lanarkshire Council is one of the 32 local authorities of Scotland, covering the North Lanarkshire council area. The council is the second largest Scottish council by number of councillors, having 77 members. The council has been under no overall control since 2017 and has been led by a Labour minority administration since 2022. It is based at Motherwell Civic Centre.
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Political control

The council has been under no overall control since 2017. Since August 2022 the council has been led by a Labour minority administration.
The first election to North Lanarkshire Council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows:

Leadership

The role of provost is largely ceremonial in North Lanarkshire. They preside at full council meetings and act as the council's civic figurehead. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1996 have been:

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent changes of allegiance and by-elections up to July 2025, the composition of the council was:
Progressive Change North Lanarkshire was registered as a political party in July 2024. It had previously been a group of independents, all of whom had been elected as SNP councillors. The next election is due in 2027.

Premises

The council is based at Motherwell Civic Centre on Windmillhill Street in Motherwell. The building was built between 1965 and 1970 for the former Motherwell and Wishaw Town Council, and was subsequently used as the headquarters of Motherwell District Council between 1975 and 1996.

Elections

Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the single transferable vote system, introduced by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Election results since 1995 have been as follows:
YearSeatsSNPLabourConservativeBUPGreenLiberal DemocratsIndependent / OtherNotes
YearSeatsNotes
19956975900003Labour majority
199970125600002New ward boundaries. Labour majority
200370135400003Labour majority
200770234010015New ward boundaries.
201270264100003Labour majority
2017773332100002New ward boundaries. Labour minority
202277363251102SNP minority until August 2022, then Labour minority.

Wards

The council is made up of 21 wards, as follows:
Ward
Number		Ward NameLocationPopulation
1Kilsyth11,832
2Cumbernauld North19,670
3Cumbernauld South16,206
4Cumbernauld East16,608
5Stepps, Chryston and Muirhead11,623
6Gartcosh, Glenboig and Moodiesburn13,438
7Coatbridge North15,320
8Airdrie North20,062
9Airdrie Central16,570
10Coatbridge West14,213
11Coatbridge South17,286
12Airdrie South19,803
13Fortissat15,706
14Thorniewood13,916
15Bellshill15,252
16Mossend and Holytown12,799
17Motherwell West14,129
18Motherwell North18,667
19Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig20,146
20Murdostoun18,489
21Wishaw18,225
Total339,960