The Stirling council area (; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and has an estimated population of (). It was created in 1975 as a lower-tier district within the Central region. The district covered parts of the historic counties of Stirlingshire and Perthshire, which were abolished for local government purposes. In 1996 the Central region was abolished and Stirling Council took over all local government functions within the area.
The administrative centre of the area is the city of Stirling, with the headquarters at Old Viewforth.
The area borders the council areas of Clackmannanshire (to the east), North Lanarkshire (to the south), Falkirk (to the south east), Perth and Kinross (to the north and north east), Argyll and Bute (to the north and north west), and both East and West Dunbartonshire to Stirling's southwest.
The majority of the population of the area is located in its southeast corner, in the city of Stirling and in the surrounding lowland communities: Bridge of Allan and Dunblane to the north, Bannockburn to the immediate south, and the three former coal mining communities of Cowie, Fallin, and Plean, known collectively as the "Eastern Villages".
The rest of the council area's population is sparsely distributed across the rural, mainly highland, expanse in the north and west of the area. The southern half of this rural area comprises the flat western floodplain of the River Forth, bounded on the south by the Touch Hills and the Campsie Fells. North of the glen lie the Trossachs mountains, and the northern half of the council area is generally mountainous in character.
History Stirling district was created in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which abolished Scotland's counties, burghs and landward districts and replaced them with upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. Stirling was one of three districts within the Central region. As created in 1975 the Stirling district covered five districts from Stirlingshire and four districts from Perthshire, which were all abolished at the same time:
From Perthshire: Callander Burgh Doune Burgh Dunblane Burgh Western District, except Ardoch (which went to Perth and Kinross)
From Stirlingshire: Bridge of Allan Burgh Central No. 1 District Stirling Burgh Western No. 1 District Western No. 2 District
The new district and its neighbour Falkirk were together made a new Stirling and Falkirk lieutenancy area. The last Lord Lieutenant of Stirlingshire became the first Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk.
Local government was reformed again in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which abolished the regions and districts which had been created in 1975, replacing them with unitary council areas. Central Region was abolished and each of the area's three districts, including Stirling, became council areas. Stirling District Council was therefore replaced by the current Stirling Council.
Demography Languages The 2022 Scottish Census reported that out of 90,451 residents aged three and over, 27,348 (30.2%) considered themselves able to speak or read the Scots language , 148 people (0.29%) reported Scots was their "main language".
The 2022 Scottish Census reported that out of 90,449 residents aged three and over, 1,202 (1.3%) considered themselves able to speak or read Gaelic, five people (0.01%) reported Gaelic was their "main language".
Governance
Political control The council has been under no overall control since 2007. Following the 2022 election a Labour minority administration formed to run the council. Efforts by the Scottish National Party as the largest party on the council to take over the leadership in February 2025 were unsuccessful, with the council narrowly voting for the Labour minority administration to continue. In October 2025 the SNP gained a seat following a by-election in Stirling East, and in November 2025 a deal was agreed between the SNP and Green and independent councillors to take control of the council.
The first election to Stirling District Council was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 16 May 1975. A shadow authority was again elected in 1995 ahead of the change to council areas which came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control since 1975 has been as follows: (Put "Stirling" in search box to see specific results.)
Stirling District Council Party in controlYears 1975–1984 1984–1988 1988–1996
Stirling Council Party in controlYears 1996–1999 1999–2003 2003–2007 2007–present
Leadership The role of provost is largely ceremonial in Stirling. They chair full council meetings and act as the council's civic figurehead. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The first leader of the council, Corrie McChord, had been the last leader of the Central Regional Council. The leaders since 1996 have been:
Councillor Party From To Corrie McChord 1 Apr 199612 Mar 2008 Graham Houston 12 Mar 2008 May 2012 Corrie McChord 17 May 2012 28 Feb 2013 Johanna Boyd 28 Feb 2013 May 2017 Scott Farmer 24 May 2017 May 2022 Chris Kane 19 May 2022 12 Sep 2024 Margaret Brisley 12 Sep 2024 27 Oct 2024 Gerry McGarvey 6 Feb 2025 10 Nov 2025 Susan McGill 10 Nov 2025
Composition Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance, the composition of the council was:
DateSNPConLabGreenIndVacant Reason Leader5 May 2022876112022 Stirling Council electionChris Kane (Lab)19 October 202287512Ewan Dillon (Lab) becomes Independent18 December 2022775121Death of Graham Houston (SNP)16 March 202378512Robin Kleinman (Con) elected in by-election10 November 2023775121Resignation of Douglas Dodds (Con)25 January 202478512Thomas Heald (Con) elected in by-election20 May 2024785111Resignation of Ewan Dillon (Ind)15 August 202478611David Wilson (Lab) elected in by-election12 September 2024785111Resignation of Chris Kane (Lab)Margaret Brisley (Lab)27 October 2024784112Death of Margaret Brisley (Lab)Vacant5 December 2024884111Willie Ferguson (SNP) elected in by-election23 January 202598411Bob Buchanan (SNP) elected in by-election4 August 2025974111Resignation of Bryan Flannagan (Con)30 October 2025107411Josh Fyvie (SNP) elected in by-electionSusan McGill (SNP)
A by-election was held on 15 August 2024 to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Ewan Dillon. Following Chris Kane being elected as MP for Stirling and Strathallan, Labour Councillor Margaret Brisley became leader of the Council, but died on 27 October 2024, and a by-election was held to fill the vacancy caused by her death. The next full council election is due in 2027.
Premises
The council is based at Old Viewforth on Pitt Terrace in Stirling. The oldest part of the building is a converted house called Viewforth, which had been built in 1855. The house was bought by Stirlingshire County Council in 1931 for £5,250 and converted to become its headquarters. A large art deco extension was added to the rear of the house, opening in 1937. A new building called New Viewforth was built alongside the older premises in 1972, shortly before Stirlingshire County Council was abolished.
Between 1975 and 1996 the premises at Viewforth served as the headquarters of Central Regional Council, whilst Stirling District Council was based at the Municipal Buildings at 8–10 Corn Exchange Road in Stirling, which had been completed in 1918 for the old Stirling Town Council. On local government reorganisation in 1996 Stirling Council took over Viewforth. The 1972 building known as New Viewforth was demolished in 2014.
Elections
Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the single transferable vote system, introduced by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. Election results since 1995 have been as follows:
YearSeatsSNPConservativeLabourGreenLiberal DemocratsIndependent / OtherNotes 1995 22 2 7 13 0 0 0 1999 22 2 9 11 0 0 0 New ward boundaries. 2003 22 0 10 12 0 0 0 2007 22 7 4 8 0 3 0 New ward boundaries. 2012 22 9 4 8 1 0 0 2017 23 9 9 4 1 0 0 New ward boundaries. 2022 23 8 7 6 1 0 1 Labour minority administration with Conservative support.
Wards
The wards are:
WardNumber Ward Name Location Seats1Trossachs and Teith32Forth and Endrick33Dunblane and Bridge of Allan44Stirling North45Stirling West36Stirling East37Bannockburn3
Communities The area is divided into 42 community council areas, all of which have community councils as at 2023.
Arnprior Balfron Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre Bannockburn Braehead and Broomridge Bridge of Allan Buchanan Buchlyvie Callander Cambusbarron Cambuskenneth Carron Valley and District Causewayhead Cornton Cowie Croftamie Drymen Dunblane Fintry Gargunnock Gartmore Hillpark and Milton Killearn Killin Kilmadock King's Park Kippen Logie Mercat Cross Plean Polmaise Port of Menteith Raploch Riverside St Ninians Strathard Strathblane Strathfillan Thornhill and Blairdrummond Throsk Torbrex Trossachs
Settlements
As well as the city of Stirling itself, there are many towns, villages and hamlets spread across the council area, as well as dispersed settlements.
Largest settlements by population:
+SettlementPopulation ()StirlingDunblaneBannockburnBridge of AllanCallanderFallinCowieDouneBalfronStrathblane
Towns Bannockburn Bridge of Allan Callander Doune Dunblane
Villages Aberfoyle Ashfield Balfron Balmaha Balquhidder Blairlogie Blanefield Buchlyvie Cambusbarron Cambuskenneth Cowie Crianlarich Croftamie Deanston Drymen Fallin Fintry Gargunnock Gartmore Killearn Killin Kinlochard Kippen Milton of Buchanan Lochearnhead Plean Port of Menteith Strathblane Strathyre Thornhill Throsk Tyndrum
Hamlets Ardchullarie More Ardeonaig Arnprior Auchlyne Balfron Station Boquhan Buchanan Smithy Carbeth Dumgoyne Gartness Inverarnan Kilmahog Kinbuck Milton Mugdock Stronachlachar
Dispersed settlements Ardchyle Auchtubh Blair Drummond Brig o' Turk Dalmary Dalrigh Inversnaid Rowardennan Ruskie
Accidents and disasters In 1996, the Dunblane massacre occurred at Dunblane Primary School in Dunblane. 16 five-six-year-old pupils and one teacher were killed in a mass shooting, in which the perpetrator also killed himself. It remains the deadliest mass shooting in British history. Dunblane Cemetery contains a memorial garden, where a number of the victims are buried and a fountain with a plaque of the names of those killed.
Places of interest Carse of Lecropt Culcreuch Castle Inchmahome Priory (a ruined Augustinian priory on an island in the Lake of Menteith, used as a refuge in 1547 by Mary, Queen of Scots) Breadalbane Folklore Centre Cambuskenneth Abbey (formerly the seat of the Scottish Parliament) Doune Castle Dunblane Cathedral Falls of Dochart Falls of Lochay Glen Dochart Glenfinlas Lake of Menteith Lecropt Kirk Loch Achray Loch Ard Loch Earn Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Loch Katrine (The source of most of the drinking water for the city of Glasgow) Loch Rusky Loch Venachar Moirlannich Longhouse Queen Elizabeth Forest Park (run by Forestry and Land Scotland) Scottish Institute of Sport (on the grounds of Stirling University) Stirling Castle The University of Stirling The Trossachs Wallace Monument West Highland Way
References
External links
Stirling Council official website