2017 Highland Council election


The 2017 Highland Council election was held on 4 May 2017 to elect members of the Highland Council. The election used the 21 wards created under the Local Governance Act 2004; each ward elected three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system. A total of 74 councillors were elected, six less than in 2012.
The election was fought in new wards, as the recommendations by the Boundary Commission had been accepted by Scottish Ministers. There were big changes, particularly in Caithness where an entire ward was removed. This election was most notable for returning 10 Conservative councillors: the party's first representation on the council since 1999.
After the 2012 election an administration had been formed by the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Labour Party. This was the first time that the Independents had not had any role in the administration of the Council. However, later in the 2012–17 term, this administration fell and the Independent group instead governed as a minority.
After the 2017 election, the Independent, Liberal Democrat and Labour groups formed a coalition administration.

Election result

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 3 May 2012. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils. These are also direct comparisons of seat change, not comparisons to 'notional' results as used in the national results, as such there is a net loss of six seats in the Net gain/loss column.

Ward results

North, West and Central Sutherland

* = Sitting Councillors for Landward Caithness Ward.
+ = Sitting Councillors for Thurso Ward.

Wick and East Caithness

* = Sitting Councillors for Wick Ward.
+ = Sitting Councillor for Landward Caithness Ward.

East Sutherland and Edderton

* = Sitting Councillor for Culloden and Ardersier Ward.

Cromarty Firth

Tain and Easter Ross

Caol and Mallaig

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh

Inverness Central

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