Aberdeenshire
For other uses, see Aberdeenshire (disambiguation).Aberdeenshire (
Siorrachd Obar Dheathain in
Gaelic) is one of the 32
unitary council areas in
Scotland.
Present day Aberdeenshire does not include
Aberdeen City which is a unitary authority in its own right. However, Aberdeenshire Council has its headquarters at Woodhill House, in
Aberdeen; the only Scottish council whose headquarters are based outside of the council area. Aberdeenshire borders
Angus and
Perth and Kinross to the south, and
Highland and
Moray to the west.
The present council area is named after the historic
county of Aberdeenshire which had different boundaries and was abolished in
1975. Between 1975 and 1996 the area was incorporated within the
region of
Grampian, with local government being carried out by three district councils;
Banff and Buchan,
Gordon and
Kincardine and Deeside.
|
Logo of Aberdeenshire Council |
Aberdeenshire Council was established in April
1996, following the abolition of the Scottish Regions. The council has 68
councillors. In 2004 the poloitical composition was as follows:
*
Liberal Democrat - 28
*
Scottish National Party - 15
*Independent - 14
*
Conservative - 11
The Council's net expenditure is £399.1m a year (2003/04). Education takes the largest share of expenditure (55%), followed by Social Work and Housing (19%), Transportation and Infrastructure (11%), and Joint Services such as Fire and Police (10%). 22% of revenue is raised locally through the Council Tax. Average Band D
Council Tax is the eighth lowest in mainland Scotland at £966 (2003/04).
The council area has a population of 226,871, representing 4.5% of Scotland's total, and a 20% increase since 1981, 50% since 1971. Major towns are Peterhead (17,947), Fraserburgh (12,454), Inverurie (10,882), Stonehaven (9,577), Westhill (9,498), Ellon (8,754) and Portlethen (6,848). The population has a higher proportion of younger age groups than the rest of Scotland, reflecting employment-driven in-migration in recent decades.
The council has devolved power to six
area committees:
*
Banff & Buchan,
*
Buchan,
*
Formartine,
*
Garioch,
*
Marr,
*
Kincardine & Mearns*
Aberdeenshire Council*
Aberdeenshire Arts*
Aberdeenshire Sports Council
