2017 East Ayrshire Council election

2017 East Ayrshire Council election
All 32 seats to East Ayrshire Council; 17 seats needed for a majority
Registered	94,375
Turnout	44.9%
	The 9 multi-member wards
Council Leader before election; Douglas Reid; (SNP); No overall control	Council Leader after election ; Douglas Reid; (SNP); No overall control

Elections to East Ayrshire Council took place on 4 May 2017 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

For the second consecutive election, the Scottish National Party (SNP) were returned as the largest party with 14 seats but remained shy of an overall majority. Labour lost further ground but were again returned as the second-largest party with nine seats. The Conservatives made several gains to return six councillors while The Rubbish Party – standing in their first election – won their first seat. Two independent candidates were also elected.

The SNP took over control of the council as a minority administration having previously run the council in coalition with the Conservatives following the previous election in 2012.

Election result

2017 East Ayrshire local election result
Party		Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	SNP	14	1	2	1	43.8	38.5	16,023	1.0
	Labour	9	0	5	5	28.1	25.2	10,456	16.2
	Conservative	6	5	1	4	18.8	24.21	10,066	13.0
	Independent	2	1	0	1	6.3	9.0	3,347	1.3
	Rubbish	1	1	0	1	3.1	1.9	784	New
	Scottish Green	0	0	0		0.0	1.6	674	New
	Scottish Libertarian	0	0	0		0.0	0.5	217	New
Total		32						41,567

Source: ^[1]

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.^[2]^[3]

Seats changing hands

Seat	2012			2017
Seat	Party		Member	Party		Member
Annick		SNP	Eoghann MacColl		SNP	Gordon Jenkins
Annick			Ward increased from 3 to 4		Conservative	John McFadzean
Kilmarnock North		SNP	Elaine Cowan		Conservative	Ian Grant
Kilmarnock East and Hurlford		Labour	Gordon Cree		Labour	Barry Douglas
Kilmarnock East and Hurlford		Labour	Drew McIntyre		Conservative	Jon Herd
Kilmarnock South		SNP	Hugh Ross		SNP	Claire Maitland
Irvine Valey		Conservative	John McFadzean		The Rubbish Party	Sally Cogley
Irvine Valey		SNP	Bobby McDill			Ward decreased from 4 to 3
Ballochmyle		SNP	Stephanie Primrose		SNP	Claire Leitch
Ballochmyle		Labour	David Shaw		Conservative	Alyson Simmons
Cumnock and New Cumnock		Labour	William Menzies		SNP	Jim McMahon
		Labour	Eric Ross		Conservative	Walter Young
		SNP	Kathy Morrice		SNP	Jacqui Todd
Doon Valley		Labour	Moira Pirie		Independent	Drew Filson

Ward summary

Results of the 2017 East Ayrshire Council election by ward
Ward	%	Cllrs	%	Cllrs	%	Cllrs	%	Cllrs	%	Cllrs	%	Cllrs	%	Cllrs	Total Cllrs
Ward	SNP		Labour		Conservative		Rubbish		Green		Libertarian		Independents		Total Cllrs
Annick	32.32	1	13.51	1	36.77	1			4.42	0	0.11	0	12.83	1	4
Kilmarnock North	49.79	1	23.13	1	25.96	1					1.09	0			3
Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse	40.59	2	23.49	1	31.27	1			3.84	0	1.09	0			4
Kilmarnock East and Hurlford	45.14	2	26.35	1	21.6	1					0.78	0	6.1	0	4
Kilmarnock South	54.65	2	32.89	1	11.71	0					0.73	0			3
Irvine Valley	36.29	1	16.75	1	19.88	0	16.94	1			0.3	0	9.8	0	3
Ballochmyle	30.96	2	28.87	1	20.1	1					0.32	0	13.22	0	4
Cumnock and New Cumnock	30.74	2	35.27	1	22.21	1			2.84	0	0.6	0	8.31	0	4
Doon Valley	25.16	1	34.06	1	18.33	0			1.39	0	0.1	0	20.92	1	3
Total	38.54	14	25.15	9	18.75	6	1.88	1	1.62	0	0.52	0	8.95	2	32

Ward results

Annick

Following the Fifth Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements, Annick was increased from a three-member ward to a four-member ward.^[4] The SNP, Labour and independent candidate Ellen Freel retained the seats they had won at the previous election while the Conservatives won the extra seat.

Annick - 4 members
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5	6
	Conservative	John McFadzean^{[note 1]}	36.8	2,277
	SNP	Gordon Jenkins	17.4	1,076	1,097	1,098	1,098	1,161	1,993
	SNP	Eòghann MacColl (incumbent)	14.9	925	947	948	949	1,005
	Labour	John McGhee (incumbent)	13.5	837	1,078	1,088	1,100	1,154	1,207
	Independent	Ellen Freel (incumbent)	12.5	775	1,013	1,021	1,056	1,162	1,224
	Scottish Green	Jen Broadhurst	4.4	274	326	328	334
	Independent	Gordon Walker	0.3	20	61	66
	Scottish Libertarian	Amrik Singh	0.1	7	22
Electorate: 11,761 Valid: 6,191 Spoilt: 63 Quota: 1,239 Turnout: 53.2%

Source: ^[5]

Kilmarnock North

Labour retained their only seat while the SNP retained one of their two seats and the Conservatives gained one seat from the SNP.

Kilmarnock North - 3 members
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5
	SNP	Helen Coffey (incumbent)	36.9	1,381
	Conservative	Ian Grant	26.0	971
	Labour	Maureen McKay (incumbent)	23.1	865	885	900	924	1,300
	SNP	Elaine Cowan (incumbent)	12.9	481	884	886	893
	Scottish Libertarian	Lisa Murray	1.1	41	44	47
Electorate: 9,109 Valid: 3,739 Spoilt: 40 Quota: 935 Turnout: 41.5%

Source: ^[6]

Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse

The SNP (2), Labour and the Conservatives retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse - 4 members
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1
	Conservative	Tom Cook (incumbent)	31.3	1,789
	Labour	Lillian Jones (incumbent)	23.5	1,344
	SNP	Iain Linton (incumbent)	20.5	1,171
	SNP	Douglas Reid (incumbent)	20.1	1,152
	Scottish Green	Elizabeth Brown	3.8	220
	Scottish Libertarian	Stef Johnstone	0.8	45
Electorate: 12,631 Valid: 5,721 Spoilt: 88 Quota: 1,145 Turnout: 46%

Source: ^[7]

Kilmarnock East and Hurlford

The SNP retained both the seats they had won at the previous election while Labour retained one of their two seats and the Conservatives gained one seat from Labour.

Kilmarnock East and Hurlford - 4 members
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	SNP	Fiona Campbell (incumbent)	28.8	1,459
	Conservative	Jon Herd	21.6	1,094
	Labour	Barry Douglas	16.9	856	867	906	923	933	1,007	1,513
	SNP	John Campbell (incumbent)	16.3	827	1,232
	Labour	Dave Meechan	9.5	479	485	500	510	517	609
	Independent	Raymond Pattison	6.1	309	313	347	363	383
	Scottish Libertarian	Stephen McNamara	0.8	40	41	54	60
Electorate: 12,244 Valid: 5,064 Spoilt: 129 Quota: 1,013 Turnout: 42.4%

Source: ^[8]

Kilmarnock South

The SNP (2) and Labour retained the seats they had won at the previous election.

Kilmarnock South - 3 members
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2
	SNP	Jim Todd (incumbent)	36.5	1,190
	Labour	John Knapp (incumbent)	32.9	1,073
	SNP	Clare Maitland	18.2	593	914
	Conservative	Billy McClure	11.7	382	387
	Scottish Libertarian	Caitlin O'Brien	0.7	24	29
Electorate: 8,028 Valid: 3,262 Spoilt: 62 Quota: 816 Turnout: 41.4%

Source: ^[9]

Irvine Valley

Following the Fifth Statutory Reviews of Electoral Arrangements, Irvine Valley was reduced in size from a four-member ward to a three-member ward.^[4] The SNP retained one of the two seats they had won at the previous election while Labour retained their only seat. The Conservatives lost their only seat and the Rubbish Party won a council seat for the first time.

Irvine Valley - 3 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	SNP	Elena Whitham (incumbent)	24.4	1,128	1,131	1,132	1,179
	Conservative	Susan McFadzean	19.9	920	921	922	964	964	989
	Rubbish	Sally Cogley	16.9	784	788	792	888	889	1,036	1,403
	Labour	George Mair (incumbent)	16.8	775	778	780	879	880	991	1,233
	SNP	Margaret Young	11.9	551	551	551	587	605
	Independent	Ian King	9.5	438	438	444
	Independent	David Gartland	0.3	16	16
	Scottish Libertarian	Stevie Brannagan	0.3	14
Electorate: 9,677 Valid: 4,626 Spoilt: 71 Quota: 1,157 Turnout: 48.5%

Source: ^[10]

Ballochmyle

The SNP retained both the seats they had won at the previous election while Labour retained one of their two seats and the Conservatives gained one seat from Labour.

Ballochmyle - 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	SNP	Claire Leitch	20.7	971
	Conservative	Alyson Simmons	20.1	944
	Labour	Neil McGhee (incumbent)	18.6	873	875	875	880	1,233
	SNP	Jim Roberts (incumbent)	16.8	788	813	813	816	854	895	1,107
	Independent	David Shaw (incumbent)	13.2	621	621	622	627	671	734
	Labour	Neil Murray	10.3	483	483	484	485
	Scottish Libertarian	Sheraz Shafiq	0.3	15	15	15
Electorate: 11,270 Valid: 4,695 Spoilt: 138 Quota: 940 Turnout: 42.9%

Source: ^[11]

Cumnock and New Cumnock

Labour retained one of the three seats they won at the previous election while the SNP retained their only seat and both the SNP and the Conservatives gained one seat from Labour.

Cumnock and New Cumnock - 4 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	Labour	Billy Crawford (incumbent)	28.7	1,279
	Conservative	Walter Young	22.2	991
	SNP	Jacqui Todd	16.4	731	740	743	745	773	831	898
	SNP	Jim McMahon	14.4	641	656	659	660	684	743	812
	Independent	Jessie Owens	8.3	371	390	411	418	461
	Labour	Carol Ann Mochan	6.6	295	577	599	605	626	736
	Scottish Green	Peter Black	2.8	127	136	143	149
	Scottish Libertarian	Gordon Bircham	0.6	27	28	32
Electorate: 10,735 Valid: 4,462 Spoilt: 137 Quota: 893 Turnout: 42.8%

Source: ^[12]

Doon Valley

The SNP retained their only seat while Labour retained one of their two seats and independent candidate Drew Filson gained a seat from Labour.

Doon Valley - 3 seats
Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
Party		Candidate	FPv%	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
	Labour	Elaine Dinwoodie (incumbent)	21.0	801	801	807	828	848	1,182
	Conservative	Alison Harper	18.3	698	699	701	718	721	737	756	757
	Independent	Drew Filson	15.5	590	590	596	685	693	777	838	844	1,066
	SNP	John Bell (incumbent)	15.3	583	583	592	602	935	950	972
	Labour	Elaine Stewart	13.0	496	496	502	522	526
	SNP	Anne Fairlie	9.9	375	375	390	399
	Independent	John Young	5.4	207	208	213
	Scottish Green	Craig Murray	1.4	53	54
	Scottish Libertarian	Mark Mitchell	0.1	4
Electorate: 8,920 Valid: 3,807 Spoilt: 76 Quota: 952 Turnout: 43.5%

Source: ^[13]

Notes

^ Sitting councillor for Irvine Valley.

References

^ Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - East Ayrshire". Retrieved 21 October 2022.
^ Faulds, Allan. "The Local STV Voting System Explained". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
^ "Single Transferable Vote". Electoral Reform Society. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Fifth Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements; East Ayrshire Council Area" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. May 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
^ "Detailed Results Report Ward 1 - Annick" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
^ "Detailed Results Report Ward 2 - Kilmarnock North" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
^ "Detailed Results Report Ward 3 - Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
^ "Detailed Results Report Ward 4 - Kilmarnock East and Hurlford" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
^ "Detailed Results Report Ward 5 - Kilmarnock South" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
^ "Detailed Results Report Ward 6 - Irvine Valley" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
^ "Detailed Results Report Ward 7 - Ballochmyle" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
^ "Detailed Results Report Ward 8 - Cumnock and New Cumnock" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
^ "Detailed Results Report Ward 8 - Doon Valley" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2022.

[5] Sitting councillor for Irvine Valley.

[LEAP-1] Teale, Andrew. "Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - East Ayrshire". Retrieved 21 October 2022.

[2] Faulds, Allan. "The Local STV Voting System Explained". Ballot Box Scotland. Retrieved 24 October 2022.

[3] "Single Transferable Vote". Electoral Reform Society. Retrieved 24 October 2022.

[boundary_changes-4] "Fifth Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements; East Ayrshire Council Area" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. May 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2022.

[6] "Detailed Results Report Ward 1 - Annick" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2022.

[7] "Detailed Results Report Ward 2 - Kilmarnock North" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2022.

[8] "Detailed Results Report Ward 3 - Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2022.

[9] "Detailed Results Report Ward 4 - Kilmarnock East and Hurlford" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2022.

[10] "Detailed Results Report Ward 5 - Kilmarnock South" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2022.

[11] "Detailed Results Report Ward 6 - Irvine Valley" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2022.

[12] "Detailed Results Report Ward 7 - Ballochmyle" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2022.

[13] "Detailed Results Report Ward 8 - Cumnock and New Cumnock" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2022.

[14] "Detailed Results Report Ward 8 - Doon Valley" (PDF). East Ayrshire Council. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[note 1]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

v t e Council elections in East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire Council	1995 1999 2003 2007 2012 2017 2022
Strathclyde Regional Council	1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 Abolished
Cumnock and Doon Valley District Council	1974 1977 1980 1984 1988 1992 Abolished
Kilmarnock and Loudoun District Council	1974 1977 1980 1984 1988 1992 Abolished

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