1973 Zetland County Council election

Part of 1973 Scottish local elections April 2022 1973 Zetland County Council election Scotland Flag of Shetland.svg parliamentary no 1970 Zetland County Council election 1970 1973 05 08 1974 Shetland Islands Area Council election 1974 24 of 30 seats on the Zetland County Council 16 Edward Thomason Independent (politician) Unst North (defeated) 13 11 2,078 78.6% 21.4 Clem Robb Shetland Democratic Group Delting South 11 11 566 21.4% 21.4 Council Convener Council Convener after election Edward Thomason Independent (politician) George Blance Independent (politician) Elections to the Zetland County Council were held on 8 May 1973 as part of Scottish local elections. This was the last election for the County Council before its incorporation along with the Lerwick Town Council into the Shetland Islands Council in 1975. Elections were held in every part of Shetland except Lerwick to elect 24 landward members to the County Council, who would be joined by six nominated members from the Lerwick Town Council. The election saw an unusually partisan competition between supporters and opponents of the County Council's policy on North Sea oil. The Shetland Democratic Group was formed to oppose the council's attempts to gain private legislation to exert direct control over oil developments in Shetland, objecting to proposals that would allow the council to take equity in industrial development and gain compulsory purchase powers.Pro-Bill Members Retain Control The Shetland Times 24 May 1973 The Shetland Democratic Group gained 11 seats and defeated incumbent Convener Edward Thomason but failed to win enough support to gain control of the Zetland County Council. Supporters of the council's policy elected George Blance, a nominated member from the Lerwick Town Council, as the council's final Convener, defeating Shetland Democratic Group member John Jamieson by 18 votes to 12. The council's continued support for private legislation led to the passage of the Zetland County Council Act 1974, providing the council with powers to become a harbour authority, control harbour developments, invest in securities of bodies corporate, implement compulsory purchases in specified areas relating to oil developments and to establish a reserve fund from oil revenues.Nevis Institute The Shetland Report: A constitutional study prepared for the Shetland Islands Council by The Nevis Institute under the Chairmanship of Lord Kilbrandon 1978 Edinburgh 63 These powers would be inherited by the Shetland Islands Council in 1975. 13 seats were uncontested, including seven of the Shetland Democratic Group's 11 gains.Landslide for "Democrats" The Shetland Times 11 May 1973 Election results Zetland County Council Election Result 1973Stewart James County Council Election May 1973 http://shetlandhistory.com/County_Council_Election_May_1973 Shetland History Online 25 January 2022 Independent (politician) 13 0 11 11 54.2% 78.6% 2,078 21.4 Shetland Democratic Group 11 11 0 11 45.8% 21.4% 566 21.4 Ward results Aithsting Shetland Democratic Group Iain Caldwell 151 54.9% Independent (politician) Robert Garrick (Incumbent) 124 45.1% 27 9.8% Shetland Democratic Group Independent (politician) Bressay Independent (politician) James Irvine (Incumbent) 122 78.2% Independent (politician) Brenda Scott 34 20.8% 88 57.4% Independent (politician) Burra Independent (politician) William Cumming (Incumbent) unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Independent (politician) Cunningsburgh Shetland Democratic Group Joan McLeod (Incumbent) unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group Independent (politician) Delting North Shetland Democratic Group Fraser Peterson (Incumbent) unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group Independent (politician) Delting South Shetland Democratic Group Clem Robb (Incumbent) unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group Independent (politician) Dunrossness North Shetland Democratic Group James Leask (Incumbent) unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group Independent (politician) Dunrossness South Independent (politician) Raymond Bentley (Incumbent) 150 63.3% Independent (politician) Arthur M. Irvine 87 36.7% 63 26.6% Independent (politician) Fetlar Independent (politician) John Laurenson (Incumbent) unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Independent (politician) Gulberwick and Quarff Independent (politician) Arthur Irvine (Incumbent) 45 51.4% Shetland Democratic Group Alistair Leask 43 48.6% 2 2.8% Independent (politician) Nesting and Lunnasting Independent (politician) Andrew Riddell 149 68.3% Independent (politician) William Hamilton (Incumbent) 69 31.7% 80 36.6% Independent (politician) Northmavine North Shetland Democratic Group Robert Balfour 46 55.4% Independent (politician) Andrew Cromarty (Incumbent) 37 44.6% 9 10.8% Shetland Democratic Group Independent (politician) Northmavine South Shetland Democratic Group John Jamieson (Incumbent) unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group Independent (politician) Sandness Independent (politician) Peter Garriock unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Independent (politician) Sandsting Independent (politician) A.I. Tulloch (Incumbent) unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Independent (politician) Sandwick Shetland Democratic Group Thomas Stove (Incumbent) unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group Independent (politician) Tingwall Independent (politician) Andrew Irvine (Incumbent) 327 55.7% Independent (politician) Martin Williamson 260 44.3% 67 11.4% Independent (politician) Unst North Shetland Democratic Group William Thomson 249 70.5% Independent (politician) Edward Thomason (Incumbent) 104 29.5% 145 41.0% Shetland Democratic Group Independent (politician) Unst South Shetland Democratic Group Alan Fraser (Incumbent) unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Shetland Democratic Group Independent (politician) Walls Independent (politician) Williamina Tait (Incumbent) 195 79.9% Independent (politician) Peter Hick 49 20.1% 146 59.8% Independent (politician) Whalsay and Skerries Independent (politician) Frederick Dainty unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Independent (politician) Whiteness and Weisdale Shetland Democratic Group John Johnson 77 37.0% Independent (politician) John Rae (Incumbent) 67 32.2% Independent (politician) George Morrison 64 30.8% 10 4.8% Shetland Democratic Group Independent (politician) Yell North Independent (politician) Sandy Cluness 156 80.0% Independent (politician) Robert Manson 39 20.0% 117 60.0% Independent (politician) Yell South Independent (politician) Robert Gray unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Independent (politician) By-elections since 1973 1974 Yell North by-election Independent (politician) David Johnson unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Independent (politician) References Zetland Category:Shetland Islands Council elections