Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar

It is based in Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Full council election every 5 years
Coat of arms
Council logo
Type
Type	Unitary authority
History
Founded	16 May 1975
Leadership
Convener	Kenneth MacLeod, Scottish National Party since 17 May 2022
Leader	Paul Steele, Independent since 17 May 2022
Chief Executive	Malcolm Burr since November 2005
Structure
Seats	29 councillors
Political groups	Independent (22)   SNP (6)   Conservative (1)
Elections
Voting system	Single transferable vote
Last election	5 May 2022
Next election	6 May 2027
Motto
Ardaichidh Fireantachd Cinneach (Scottish Gaelic: "Righteousness exalteth a nation")
Meeting place
Council Offices, Sandwick Road, Stornoway, HS1 2BW
Website
www.cne-siar.gov.uk

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is the only local council in Scotland to have a Gaelic-only name. The original name, Western Isles Islands Council, was changed to Western Isles Council in 1995 and then given its Gaelic title in 1997 under the Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland) Act 1997. The former "Western Isles" council area is now officially named "Na h-Eileanan Siar", even in English language contexts.

In 1975, the council was created as Western Isles Council, 57 years after the creation of Na h-Eileanan an Iar for elections to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the constituency being named, when created, Western Isles). Since 1999, the area has also been represented by the Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency of the Scottish Parliament, with the same boundaries.

When the Bank of Credit and Commerce International collapsed in 1991, the then Western Isles Council lost £35m invested there, compelling a large increase in its council tax rate and leading to the resignation of Council Convener Donald Macauley. Despite its initial losses, by 2012 the Council had gained a net profit of £1.5 million from dividend repayments due to favourable exchange rates.

Representing Scotland's only majority Gaelic-speaking local authority area, the council pioneered the use of Gaelic-medium education in the 1980s. In 2020, Gaelic became the default language of instruction for all primary school pupils.

In 1997, the Western Isles Council was renamed as Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

General elections to the council are held on a five-year cycle, the last were held in 2022.

From 1975 until 2007, council elections used the first past the post system of election; the last elections of this type elected 31 councillors, elected by 31 single-member wards.

In 2007, under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, the single transferable vote system, together with multi-member wards, was used for the first time, each ward electing three or four councillors. This system is designed to produce a degree of proportional representation.

Political representation

The 2022 election and subsequent by-elections resulted in the following composition:

Political Leaders

Convenors

• Barraigh agus Bhatarsaigh
• Uibhist a Deas, Èirisgeigh agus Beinn na Faoghla
• Uibhist a Tuath
• Na Hearadh
• Sgìre nan Loch
• Sgìr' Ùige agus Carlabhagh
• An Taobh Siar agus Nis
• Loch a Tuath
• Steòrnabhagh a Tuath
• Steòrnabhagh a Deas
• Sgire an Rubha

• Constitutional status of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
• Lerwick Declaration