The Council of the Isles of Scilly is a sui generis authority in the ceremonial county of Cornwall, England, UK. It is elected every four years.[1]

The Local Government Act 1888 allowed the Local Government Board to establish in the Isles of Scilly "councils and other local authorities separate from those of the county of Cornwall "... for the application to the islands of any act touching local government." Accordingly, in 1890 the Isles of Scilly Rural District Council (the RDC) was formed as a sui generis unitary authority, outside the administrative county of Cornwall. Cornwall County Council provided some services to the Isles, for which the RDC made financial contributions. The Isles of Scilly Order 1930[2] granted the Council the "powers, duties and liabilities" of a county council. Section 265 of the Local Government Act 1972 allowed for the continued existence of the RDC, but renamed as the Council of the Isles of Scilly.[3][4]

Political control

The main national political parties do not routinely field candidates for elections to the Council of the Isles of Scilly. Since the 2009 elections, all but two of the candidates have been independents. Two Green Party candidates stood in 2013, but neither was elected. The elected council has therefore entirely comprised independent councillors since at least 2009.[5]

Party in control Years
Independent pre-2009–present

Leadership

Political leadership is provided by the chairman of the council, unlike in other English local authorities where the chairman is a largely ceremonial role. The chairmen since 2009 have been:[6][7]

Councillor Party From To
Christine Savill Independent 23 Jun 2009
Julia Day Independent 23 Jun 2009 23 Sep 2010
Mike Hicks[8] Independent 23 Sep 2010 28 Mar 2013
Amanda Martin Independent 21 May 2013 7 May 2017
Ted Moulson Independent 25 May 2017 8 May 2018
Robert Francis Independent 8 May 2019

Council elections

By-elections

St Mary's by-election 23 May 2019[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Tim Dean 281 42.3
Independent Jeanette Ware 206 31.0
Independent Steve Whomersley 91 13.7
Independent Andrew Coombes 86 13.0
Majority 75 11.3
Turnout 664
Independent hold Swing
Bryher by-election 24 June 2021[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Andrew Frazer N/A N/A
Majority N/A N/A
Turnout N/A
Independent hold Swing

References

  1. ^ "Elections". Council of the Isles of Scilly. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Isles of Scilly Order 1930" (PDF). The National Archives.
  3. ^ "Isles of Scilly Cornwall through time". visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2007.
  4. ^ "Isles of Scilly RD Cornwall through time". visionofbritain.org.uk. Archived from the original on 6 May 2007. Retrieved 19 January 2007.
  5. ^ "Local Election Results: Isles of Scilly". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Council minutes". Council of the Isles of Scilly. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Lead member role profiles". Council of the Isles of Scilly. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Isles of Scilly council chairman Mike Hicks' funeral held". BBC News. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  9. ^ "The Isles of Scilly Order 1978". Article 5(1), Statutory Instrument No. 1978/1844 of 14 December 1978. UK Parliament.
  10. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — St Mary's Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Bryher Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2022.

External links


Council elections in Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly
Categories