The Committee considered draft laws on changes to how communities are represented in six council areas. These local authorities all contain inhabited islands and are:
The Committee asked residents of Orkney, Shetland, Highland, Western Isles, Argyll and Bute and North Ayrshire for their views on the recent Boundaries Scotland reviews and recommendations on electoral arrangements in their areas.
The survey closed on 17 September 2021.
Read a summary of responses to the questionnaire
The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 says Boundaries Scotland must look at the boundaries for the six councils. Boundaries Scotland made suggestions to the Scottish Government in 2021. We have provided links to each of the final reports for each council area.
Read the report on the Na h-Eileanan an Iar Council Area
Read the report on the Orkney Islands Council Area
Read the report on the Shetland Islands Council Area
Report the report on Highland Council Area
Report the report on the Argyll and Bute Council Area
Read the report on the North Ayrshire Council Area
Boundaries Scotland asked people what they thought of the proposals.
Find out about how legislation could be impacted by this inquiry
The Scottish Government cannot amend or reject the suggestions from Boundaries Scotland. The Scottish Government has created draft laws which the Committee will consider before suggesting to Parliament what action it should take.
Read the Draft SSI 2021/Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Electoral Arrangements) Regulations 2021
Read the Draft SSI 2021/ Orkney Islands (Electoral Arrangements) Regulations 2021
Read the Draft SSI 2021/ Highland (Electoral Arrangements) Regulations 2021
Read the Draft SSI 2021/ Argyll and Bute (Electoral Arrangements) Regulations 2021
Read the Draft SSI 2021/ North Ayrshire (Electoral Arrangements) Regulations 2021
Read the Draft SSI 2021/ Shetland Islands (Electoral Arrangements) Regulations 2021
Councils
Boundaries Scotland
Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP
A report by the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee on electoral arrangement regulations considered on 28 September 2021.
Report on the Electoral Arrangements Regulations (194KB)