View source for Aberdeen City Council

{{Short description|Unitary authority council in Aberdeen, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = Aberdeen City Council
| legislature        = 
| coa_pic            = Coat_of_arms_of_Aberdeen.svg
| coa_caption        = [[Coat of arms of Aberdeen|Coat of arms]]
| coa_res            = 150
| logo_pic           = ACC Crest 72dpi Blue.jpg 
| logo_caption       = Council logo since 2018
| logo_res           = 150
| foundation         = 1996
| preceded_by        = {{unbulleted list|City of Aberdeen District Council (1975-1996)|Aberdeen Corporation (pre-1153–1975)}}
| house_type         = [[Unitary authority]]
| leader1_type       = {{nowrap|[[List of provosts of Aberdeen|Lord Provost]]}}
| leader1            = David Cameron
| party1             = <br>[[Scottish National Party|SNP]]
| election1          = 18 May 2022<ref>{{cite web |title='I love this city': Local 'champion' David Cameron named new Lord Provost of Aberdeen |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/4307036/david-cameron-aberdeen-lord-provost/ |author=Topp, Kirstie |website=[[The Press and Journal]] |date=18 May 2022 |access-date=19 March 2023}}</ref>
| leader2_type       = [[Local government in Scotland#Leader of the Council|Co-leader]]
| leader2            = [[Christian Allard]]
| party2             = <br>[[Scottish National Party|SNP]]
| election2          = 23 May 2023
| leader3_type       = [[Local government in Scotland#Leader of the Council|Co-leader]]
| leader3            = [[Ian Yuill]]
| party3             = <br>[[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]]
| election3          = 18 May 2022
| leader4_type       = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader4            = Angela Scott
| party4             = <!--non-political role-->
| election4          = July 2014<ref>{{cite news |title=Angela Scott named new Aberdeen City Council chief executive |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-27332382 |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=BBC News |date=8 May 2014}}</ref>
| seats              = 45 councillors
| structure1         = File:Aberdeen City Council composition June 2025.svg
| structure1_res     = 280
| structure1_alt     = Aberdeen City Council composition
| political_groups1  =
;Administration (23)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] (19)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Liberal Democrats}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrats]] (4)}}
;Other parties (22)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Labour}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish Labour|Labour]] (11)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative]] (6)}}
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Reform UK}}|border=darkgray}} [[Reform UK]] (1)}}
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (4)
| committees1        =
| joint_committees   =
| voting_system1     = [[Single transferable vote]]
| last_election1     = [[2022 Aberdeen City Council election|5 May 2022]]
| next_election1     = 6 May 2027
| meeting_place      = [[Aberdeen Town House|Town House]], Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10{{nbsp}}1FY
| session_room       = Town House annex, Broad Street, Aberdeen - geograph.org.uk - 3873686.jpg
| session_alt        =
| website            = {{URL|www.aberdeencity.gov.uk}}
| motto              =
}}
'''Aberdeen City Council''' is the [[Local government in Scotland|local authority]] for [[Aberdeen City]], one of the 32 [[council areas of Scotland]]. In its modern form it was created in 1996. Aberdeen was formerly governed by a [[municipal corporation|corporation]] from when it was made a [[burgh]] in the twelfth century until 1975. Between 1975 and 1996 the city was governed by City of Aberdeen District Council, a lower-tier authority within the [[Grampian]] region.

The council has been under [[no overall control]] since 2002. Since 2022 it has been led by a [[Scottish National Party]] and [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] coalition. It meets at [[Aberdeen Town House]] and has its main offices at the neighbouring [[Marischal College]].

==History==
===Aberdeen Corporation===
Aberdeen was made a [[royal burgh]] by [[David I of Scotland|David I]] (reigned 1124–1153).<ref>{{cite web |title=Aberdeen Burgh |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10357603#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref> 
The burgh of Aberdeen was governed by a corporation, also known as the town council. Elections for the council were only introduced in 1833. Prior to that the council was not an elected body; when vacancies arose the existing council appointed successors. As Aberdeen grew, the council's powers were inadequate to cater for the needs of the growing urban area. A separate [[Police burgh|police commission]] was established in 1795 with powers to levy taxes and provide infrastructure ('police' in this context being its older meaning of civic government rather than law enforcement). The first police commission was short-lived, but it was resurrected in 1818 after the town council went bankrupt in 1817. From 1818 until 1871 there was a dual system of local government, with the town council and police commission having different roles in Aberdeen's administration. The police commission was eventually abolished in 1871 and its functions absorbed by the town council.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Clive Howard |title=Aberdeen, 1800–2000 |date=2000 |publisher=Tuckwell Press |isbn=9781862321083 |pages=236–252 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6az73FqFVMMC&pg=PA236 |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Town House, Municipal Offices and Court Houses in Aberdeen.jpg|thumb|left|[[Aberdeen Town House]], built for the corporation in 1874]]
Aberdeen was historically part of [[Aberdeenshire (historic)|Aberdeenshire]], but the functions affecting the burgh which operated at county level were relatively few, largely being limited to [[sheriffdom|judicial]] functions and [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|lieutenancy]]. When elected county councils were created in 1890 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889]], Aberdeen Corporation was deemed capable of running county-level local government functions, and so the burgh was excluded from the area administered by Aberdeenshire County Council.<ref>{{cite book |title=Guide to local government in parishes, counties and burghs |date=1892 |publisher=Royal College of Physicians |location=Edinburgh |pages=xxiii–xxx |url=https://archive.org/details/b21905678/page/n29/mode/2up |access-date=31 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The County Council Magazine |date=1890 |publisher=F. Warne and Company |location=London |page=284 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nfAZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA284 |access-date=31 December 2021 |chapter=Preparing for the elections in Scotland}}</ref>

In 1891 Aberdeen's boundaries were significantly enlarged, absorbing the neighbouring burghs of [[Old Aberdeen]] and [[Woodside, Aberdeen|Woodside]], plus the [[Torry]] area on the south bank of the [[River Dee, Aberdeenshire|River Dee]]. The act of parliament which expanded the burgh also confirmed that Aberdeen was entitled to be called a city; it had commonly been described as a city prior to that, but (like most Scottish cities) without official recognition.<ref name=1891act>{{cite web |title=Aberdeen Corporation Act 1891 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/54-55/124/pdfs/ukla_18910124_en.pdf |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=10 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Beckett |first1=J. V. |title=City Status in the British Isles, 1830–2002 |date=2005 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |location=Aldershot |isbn=0-7546-5067-7 |page=16}}</ref>

The historic county boundary between Aberdeenshire and [[Kincardineshire]] in this area followed the River Dee. Following the absorption of Torry on the south bank of the river in 1891, the city straddled the two counties. Aberdeen was made a [[county of city|county of itself]] in 1899, removing the city from the two counties for lieutenancy and other purposes as well as local government functions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aberdeen Corporation Act 1899 (c. 60) |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/62-63/60/contents/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=5 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=11136|page=958|date=13 October 1899|city=e}}</ref> The city boundaries were subsequently enlarged several times, gaining further territory from both Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire, notably in 1935, 1952 and 1970.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aberdeen Scottish County of City |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10262896 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=15 August 2024}}</ref>

===City of Aberdeen District Council===
Local government across Scotland was reorganised in 1975 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]], which replaced the counties, burghs and [[List of local government areas in Scotland (1930–1975)#Sub-county authorities|landward districts]] with a two-tier system of [[Local government areas of Scotland (1975–1996)|regions and districts]]. One of the districts was called 'City of Aberdeen', which formed part of Grampian Region. City of Aberdeen District Council was therefore a lower-tier district authority, with upper-tier regional functions being provided by Grampian Regional Council.<ref name=1973act>{{cite web |title=Quarter-inch Administrative Areas Maps: Scotland Sheet 5, 1969 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/222075470 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=15 August 2024}}</ref>

The City of Aberdeen district covered a larger area than the pre-1975 city, taking in the parishes of [[Dyce]], [[Bucksburn|Newhills]], Old Machar, and [[Peterculter]] from Aberdeenshire and [[Nigg, Aberdeen|Nigg]] from Kincardineshire. All except Dyce had previously ceded territory to the city in pre-1975 boundary changes. The parish of Nigg added in 1975 just covered the residual rural parts of the old parish around [[Cove Bay]]; Nigg village itself had been absorbed into the city in 1935. The parish of Old Machar was named after [[St Machar's Cathedral]] in Old Aberdeen, which had been absorbed into the city in 1891; the parish of Old Machar that was absorbed in 1975 was just the residual part of the cathedral's old parish which lay north of the [[River Don, Aberdeenshire|River Don]], including [[Bridge of Don]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref><ref name=1973act/>

===Aberdeen City Council===
Local government was reorganised again in 1996 under the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]], which abolished the regions and districts created in 1975 and established 32 single-tier [[council area]]s across Scotland. The existing City of Aberdeen District became one of the new council areas.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=29 January 2023}}</ref> The 1994 Act named the new council area 'City of Aberdeen', but this was changed to 'Aberdeen City' by a council resolution on 9 May 1995, before the new council area came into force, allowing the new council to take the name 'Aberdeen City Council'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/443/pdfs/ssi_20110443_en.pdf#3|title=Scottish Statutory Instrument 2011 No. 443}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|city=e|issue=23789|page=1332|date=26 May 1995}}</ref>

==Political control==
The council has been under [[no overall control]] since 2002. Following the [[2022 Aberdeen City Council election|2022 election]] a [[Scottish National Party]] and [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrats]] coalition took control of the council.

The first election to the City of Aberdeen 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:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Aberdeen" in search box to see specific results.)</ref>

'''City of Aberdeen District Council'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 1975–1977
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1977–1980
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 1980–1996
|}

'''Aberdeen City Council'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 1996–2002
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2002–present
|}

===Leadership===
The role of [[List of provosts of Aberdeen|Lord Provost of Aberdeen]] is largely ceremonial. They chair full council meetings and act as the council's civic figurehead. Political leadership is provided by the [[Local government in Scotland#Leader of the Council|leader of the council]]. The leaders since 1996 have been:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To !! Notes
|-
| Margaret Smith<ref>{{cite news |title=The changing face of Scotland |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000540%2F19960327&page=5 |access-date=18 August 2025 |work=The Scotsman |date=27 March 1996 |location=Edinburgh |page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Simpson |first1=Moreen |title=Provost pledges new age for city |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000445%2F19990512&page=2 |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=Aberdeen Evening Express |date=12 May 1999 |page=2}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|1 Apr 1996 || align=right|May 1999 ||
|-
| Len Ironside<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nicolson |first1=Stuart |title=Labour 'greed' claim as shake-up denied |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000540%2F19990514&page=4 |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=The Scotsman |date=14 May 1999 |location=Edinburgh |page=4}}</ref><ref name=Lawther/> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|13 May 1999 || align=right|14 May 2003 ||
|-
| Kate Dean<ref name=Lawther>{{cite news |last1=Lawther |first1=Graham |title=We don't have all of the answers but we will listen |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000445%2F20030515&page=4 |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=Aberdeen Evening Express |date=15 May 2003 |page=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Leader of city council forced out |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/8113977.stm |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=23 June 2009}}</ref><ref name=24Jun2009/> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Liberal Democrats}} || align=right|14 May 2003 || align=right|1 Aug 2009 ||
|-
| John Stewart<ref name=24Jun2009>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 24 June 2009 |url=https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/documents/g1589/Printed%20minutes%2024th-Jun-2009%2010.30%20Council.pdf?T=1 |website=Aberdeen City Council |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Aberdeen City Council leader John Stewart to step down |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-13886913 |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=24 June 2011}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Liberal Democrats}} || align=right|1 Aug 2009 || align=right|29 Jun 2011 ||
|-
| [[Callum McCaig]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 29 June 2011 |url=https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=1971 |website=Aberdeen City Council |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=SNP-Lib Dem coalition in Aberdeen to 'stagger on' |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-lib-dem-coalition-in-aberdeen-to-stagger-on-1642871 |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=The Scotsman |date=16 February 2012}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=right|29 Jun 2011 || align=right|May 2012 ||
|-
| Barney Crockett<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 16 May 2012 |url=https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=2506 |website=Aberdeen City Council |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jenny Laing replacing Barney Crockett as Aberdeen City Council leader |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-27391465 |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=13 May 2014}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|16 May 2012 || align=right|14 May 2014 ||
|-
| Jenny Laing<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 14 May 2014 |url=https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=2868 |website=Aberdeen City Council |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref><ref name=23Aug2017/> || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|14 May 2014 || align=right|23 Aug 2017 ||
|-
| Jenny Laing{{efn|On forming a coalition with the Conservatives in May 2017, all nine members of Aberdeen's Labour group were suspended from the national Labour Party. As such they became nominally independent councillors, but chose to continue to form a political group, called "Aberdeen Labour".<ref>{{cite news |title=Aberdeen council Labour group to remain suspended until election |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-54756498 |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=30 October 2020}}</ref>}} || {{party name with colour|Aberdeen Labour}} || rowspan=2 align=right|23 Aug 2017 || rowspan=2 align=right|13 May 2021 || rowspan=2 align=left|Co-leaders<ref name=23Aug2017>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 23 August 2017 |url=https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=4326 |website=Aberdeen City Council |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Council report, 13 May 2021 |url=https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/documents/s120590/Appointments%20Report.pdf |website=Aberdeen City Council |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
| [[Douglas Lumsden]] || {{party name with colour|Scottish Conservatives}} 
|-
| Jenny Laing<ref>{{cite news |title=Aberdeen City Council leader Jenny Laing to step down at May election |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-60562329 |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=BBC News |date=1 March 2022}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Aberdeen Labour}} || align=right|13 May 2021 || align=right|5 May 2022 ||
|-
| Alex Nicoll || {{party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || rowspan=2 align=right|18 May 2022 || rowspan=2 align=right|23 May 2023 || rowspan=2 align=left|Co-leaders<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 18 May 2022 |url=https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=8187 |website=Aberdeen City Council |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Council report, 23 May 2023 |url=https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/documents/s145184/Senior%20Councillor%20Appointments.pdf |website=Aberdeen City Council |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ian Yuill]] || {{party name with colour|Scottish Liberal Democrats}} 
|-
| [[Christian Allard]] || {{party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || rowspan=2 align=right|23 May 2023 || rowspan=2 align=right|{{nbsp}} || rowspan=2 align=left|Co-leaders<ref>{{cite news |last1=Britton |first1=Ruaraidh |title=New Aberdeen City Council co-leader appointed as SNP's Christian Allard voted in |url=https://www.aberdeenlive.news/news/aberdeen-news/new-aberdeen-city-council-co-8464094 |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=Aberdeen Live |date=23 May 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ian Yuill]] || {{party name with colour|Scottish Liberal Democrats}} 
|-
|}

===Composition===
[[File:Aberdeen City Council Chamber 2015 1.JPG|thumb|Aberdeen City Council Chamber]]

Aberdeen City Council currently comprises 45 councillors, who represent the city's [[ward (politics)|wards]], and is headed by the [[List of Provosts and Lord Provosts of Aberdeen|Lord Provost]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39959841|title=Aberdeen Provost says Labour coalition row will be resolved|date=2017-05-18|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-05-21|language=en-GB}}</ref> Prior to the 2012 council election there were 43 members of Aberdeen City Council.

Between 2003 and 2007, the council was under the control of a [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] and [[Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party|Conservative]] coalition, holding 23 of the 43 seats on the council. Prior to the 2003 election, the council had been considered a [[Scottish Labour Party|Labour]] stronghold.<ref>{{cite news|first=Scott|last=David|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1443312002|title=Labour is set to lose council strongholds in elections|work=The Scotsman|date=2002-12-30|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060109233442/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1443312002|archive-date=9 January 2006|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Following the [[2007 Aberdeen City Council election|May 2007 election]], contested for the first time using a system of [[proportional representation]], the Liberal Democrats and [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) formed a coalition to run the council, holding 27 of the 43 seats (following an SNP by election gain from the Conservatives on 16 August 2007, the coalition held 28 of the 43 seats). Two Liberal Democrat councillors became [[Independent (politics)|independents]] during this period due to personal controversies, while the four strong Conservative group split in August 2010, with two councillors forming the Scottish Conservative Group and two others the Aberdeen Conservative Group.

After the [[2012 Aberdeen City Council election|May 2012 election]], the control of the council shifted back to the Labour Party, supported in a coalition by three Conservative and three Independent councillors, giving the administration 23 seats.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-18003121|title=Labour-Conservative administration to run Aberdeen City Council|work=BBC News|date=2012-05-09}}</ref>

The Labour/Conservative/Independent coalition continued after the [[2017 Aberdeen City Council election|2017 election]], but with a change in the balance of power within the coalition. Labour were reduced to nine councillors (subsequently suspended from membership by the Scottish Labour Party for forming a coalition with the Conservatives), whilst the Conservatives had eleven councillors elected.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-39940006|title=Labour councillors in Aberdeen suspended over Tory coalition|date=2017-05-17|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-05-21|language=en-GB}}</ref> These Conservative and suspended "Aberdeen Labour" councillors were joined in coalition by three Independent councillors, one of who had left the Liberal Democrats just days after the council election.

In December 2019 a councillor elected as a Conservative became an Independent following his conviction for sexual assault.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/tory-deputy-provosts-sex-shame-21093341|title=Aberdeen Tory councillor's sex shame after male waiter left 'trembling'|first=Charlie|last=Gall|date=14 December 2019|website=Daily Record}}</ref> This led to the ruling coalition becoming a minority administration comprising only 22 of the 45 councillors.

Between 2017 and 2021 the council had Co-Leaders Douglas Lumsden (Conservative) and Jenny Laing (“Aberdeen Labour”) as a result of the coalition agreement. Following Douglas Lumsden's election to the Scottish Parliament in May 2021 Jenny Laing became sole Leader of the council.<ref name=":0" />

After the [[2022 Aberdeen City Council election|2022 election]] the SNP and Liberal Democrats agreed to form a partnership to lead the Council for the next five years. At the Council's statutory meeting on 18 May 2022, SNP councillor David Cameron was elected Lord Provost and Liberal Democrat Councillor Steve Delaney was elected Depute Provost. SNP Group Leader Alex Nicoll and Liberal Democrat Group Leader Ian Yuill became Co-Leaders of the Council.

Following the 2022 election and a subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to June 2025, the composition of the council was:<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hebditch |first1=Jon |title=Labour win Aberdeen by-election as SNP vote share drops in traditional heartland |url=https://www.aberdeenlive.news/news/aberdeen-news/labour-win-aberdeen-election-snp-8185483 |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=Aberdeen Live |date=24 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Saunderson |first1=Jamie |title=Ex-Aberdeen Lord Provost Barney Crockett quits Labour party over 'brutal' oil and gas plans |url=https://www.aberdeenlive.news/news/aberdeen-news/ex-aberdeen-lord-provost-barney-8539056 |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=Aberdeen Live |date=21 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pollock |first1=Laura |title=Kairin van Sweeden resigns membership amid 'New Scot' comment row |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23852422.kairin-van-sweeden-resigns-membership-amid-new-scot-comment-row/ |access-date=29 July 2024 |work=The National |date=12 October 2023}}</ref><ref name=Thorncliffe>{{cite web |title=Aberdeen |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=aberdeen |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=center|19
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=center|11
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Conservatives}} || align=center|6
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Liberal Democrats}} || align=center|4
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} || align=center|1
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=center|4
|-
! colspan=2|Total
! align=center|45
|}

The next election is due in 2027.<ref name=Thorncliffe/>

==Premises==
[[File:Marischal College - April 2023.jpg|thumb|Marischal College: Council's main offices.]]
Council meetings are held at [[Aberdeen Town House]] on [[Broad Street, Aberdeen|Broad Street]], which was built in 1874 and substantially extended in 1975, including a new council chamber.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB19990|desc=Aberdeen Town House including Municipal Offices, Council Chambers, Court Houses and Tolbooth, Castle Street and 2 Broad Street, Aberdeen|cat=A|access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref> The council's main offices are now in the neighbouring [[Marischal College]]. The council moved into the renovated former college building in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aberdeen City Council's Marischal HQ opens to public |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-13855831 |access-date=15 July 2023 |work=BBC News |date=21 June 2011}}</ref>

==Council structure==
Before May 2007, councillors represented 43 single-member wards election on a [[first-past-the-post]] basis.

On 3 May 2007, the [[single transferable vote]] system was used for the first time and multi-member [[ward (politics)|wards]] were introduced, each ward electing three or four councillors. The [[Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland]] completed its final recommendations for new wards for all the [[council areas of Scotland]].

Aberdeen is divided into 13 multi-member wards, electing a total of 45 councillors. This system was introduced as a result of the [[Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004]], and is designed to produce a form of [[proportional representation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.electoralcommission.gov.uk/your-area/scotelections2007.cfm |title=Scottish elections 2007 |publisher=The Electoral Commission |access-date=2007-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127122545/http://www.electoralcommission.gov.uk/your-area/scotelections2007.cfm |archive-date=27 January 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>

===Current multi-member ward system===

As of 4 May 2017, the current wards and representative numbers are:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/scotland/wards/|title=United Kingdom: Scotland {{!}} Council Areas and Electoral Wards|website=City Population|date=30 June 2019|access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Aberdeen UK ward map 2017 numbered.png|thumb|right|440px|Current Aberdeen wards by number]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#c8c8ff;"|Ward
! style="background:#c8c8ff;"|Number of councillors
|-
| 1. [[Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone (ward)|Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone]]
| 4 members
|-
| 2. [[Bridge of Don (ward)|Bridge of Don]]
| 4 members
|-
| 3. [[Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill (ward)|Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill]]
| 3 members
|-
| 4. [[Northfield/Mastrick North (ward)|Northfield/Mastrick North]]
| 3 members
|-
| 5. [[Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill (ward)|Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill]]
| 3 members
|-
| 6. [[Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen (ward)|Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen]]
| 3 members
|-
| 7. [[Midstocket/Rosemount (ward)|Midstocket/Rosemount]]
| 3 members 
|-
| 8. [[George Street/Harbour (ward)|George Street/Harbour]]
| 4 members
|-
| 9. [[Lower Deeside (ward)|Lower Deeside]]
| 3 members
|-
| 10. [[Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross (ward)|Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross]]
| 4 members
|-
| 11. [[Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee (ward)|Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee]]
| 3 members
|-
| 12. [[Torry/Ferryhill (ward)|Torry/Ferryhill]]
| 4 members
|-
| 13. [[Kincorth/Nigg/Cove (ward)|Kincorth/Nigg/Cove]]
| 4 members
|}

==Election results==
{{main|Aberdeen City Council elections}}
===2022===
{{Election summary begin|title=[[2022 Aberdeen City Council election]] result}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Scottish National Party
  |seats      = 20
  |gain       = 1
  |loss       = 0
  |net        = {{increase}} 1
  |seats %    =44.4
  |votes %    = 35.0
  |votes      = 23,472
  |plus/minus = {{increase}} 2.8
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Scottish Labour
  |seats      = 11
  |gain       = 2
  |loss       = 0
  |net        = {{increase}} 2
  |seats %    = 24.4
  |votes %    = 17.5
  |votes      = 11,731
  |plus/minus = {{decrease}} 0.2
}}
{{Election summary party
  |party      = Scottish Conservatives
  |seats      = 8
  |gain       = 0
  |loss       = 3
  |net        = {{decrease}} 3
  |seats %    = 17.8
  |votes %    = 21.6
  |votes      = 14,493
  |plus/minus = {{decrease}} 3.1
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Scottish Liberal Democrats
  |seats      = 4
  |gain       = 1
  |loss       = 1
  |net        = {{nochange}}
  |seats %    = 8.9
  |votes %    = 14.0
  |votes      = 9,404
  |plus/minus = {{decrease}} 1.2
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |seats      = 2
  |gain       = 1
  |loss       = 1
  |net        = {{nochange}}
  |seats %    = 4.4
  |votes %    = 5.3
  |votes      = 3,569
  |plus/minus = {{decrease}} 2.0
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Scottish Greens
  |seats      = 0
  |gain       = 0
  |loss       = 0
  |net        = {{nochange}}
  |seats %    = 0
  |votes %    = 5.1
  |votes      = 3,414
  |plus/minus = {{increase}} 2.9
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Alba Party
  |seats      = 0
  |gain       = 0
  |loss       = 0
  |net        = {{nochange}}
  |seats %    = 0
  |votes %    = 0.7
  |votes      = 464
  |plus/minus = ''New''
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Scottish Family Party
  |seats      = 0
  |gain       = 0
  |loss       = 0
  |net        = {{nochange}}
  |seats %    = 0
  |votes %    = 0.5
  |votes      = 350
  |plus/minus = ''New''
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Scottish Libertarian Party
  |seats      = 0
  |gain       = 0
  |loss       = 0
  |net        = {{nochange}}
  |seats %    = 0
  |votes %    = 0.1
  |votes      = 56
  |plus/minus = {{increase}} 0.1
}}
{{Election summary total|seats=45|votes=66,953}}

===2017===

{{Election summary begin|title=[[2017 Aberdeen City Council election]] result}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Scottish National Party
  |seats      = 19
  |gain       = -
  |loss       = -
  |net        = +4
  |seats %    = 42.2%
  |votes %    = 32.6%
  |votes      =  22,690 
  |plus/minus = +1.3%
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Scottish Conservatives
  |seats      = 11
  |gain       = -
  |loss       = -
  |net        = +8
  |seats %    = 24.4%
  |votes %    = 25.0%
  |votes      = 17,427 
  |plus/minus = +15.4%
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Scottish Labour
  |seats      = 9
  |gain       = -
  |loss       = -
  |net        = −8
  |seats %    = 17.8%
  |votes %    = 16.9%
  |votes      = 11,784
  |plus/minus = −12.8%
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Scottish Liberal Democrats
  |seats      = 4
  |gain       = -
  |loss       = -
  |net        = −1
  |seats %    = 8.9%
  |votes %    = 15.4%
  |votes      = 10,753
  |plus/minus = +0.3%
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |seats      = 2
  |gain       = -
  |loss       = -
  |net        = −1
  |seats %    = 4.4%
  |votes %    = 7.5%
  |votes      = 5,195
  |plus/minus = −3.7%
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Scottish Greens
  |seats      = 0
  |gain       = -
  |loss       = -
  |net        = -
  |seats %    = 0
  |votes %    = 2.3%
  |votes      = 1,538
  |plus/minus = −0.2%
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = UK Independence Party
  |seats      = 0
  |gain       = -
  |loss       = -
  |net        = -
  |seats %    = 0
  |votes %    = 0.3%
  |votes      = 202
  |plus/minus = +0.2%
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = National Front (UK)
  |seats      = 0
  |gain       = -
  |loss       = -
  |net        = -
  |seats %    = 0
  |votes %    = 
  |votes      = 39
  |plus/minus = 
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Scottish Libertarian Party
  |seats      = 0
  |gain       = -
  |loss       = -
  |net        = -
  |seats %    = 0
  |votes %    = 
  |votes      = 31
  |plus/minus = 
}}
{{Election summary party|
  |party      = Solidarity (Scotland)
  |seats      = 0
  |gain       = -
  |loss       = -
  |net        = -
  |seats %    = 0
  |votes %    = 
  |votes      = 28
  |plus/minus = 
}}
{{Election summary total|seats=45|votes=69,687}}

===2012===

{{Election summary begin|title=[[2012 Aberdeen City Council election]] result}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Scottish Labour
| seats      = 17
| gain       = 7
| loss       = 0
| net        = 7
|seats %    = 39.5
|votes %    = 29.7%
| votes      = 16,264
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Scottish National Party
| seats      = 15
| gain       = 4
| loss       = 1
| net        = 3
|seats %    = 34.9
|votes %    = 31.3%
| votes      = 17,131
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Scottish Liberal Democrats
| seats      = 5
| gain       = 0
| loss       = 10
| net        = −10
|seats %    = 11.6
|votes %    = 15.1%
| votes      = 8,293
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Scottish Conservatives
| seats      = 3
| gain       = 0
| loss       = 2
| net        = −2
|seats %    = 7.0
|votes %    = 9.7%
| votes      = 5,285
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Independent (politician)
| seats      = 3
| gain       =
| loss       =
| net        =
|seats %    =
|votes %    =
| votes      =
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{small|'''Note:''' The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.}}

===2007===
{{Election summary begin|title=[[2007 Aberdeen City Council election]] result<ref name="local">{{cite web|url=http://www.andrewteale.me.uk/pdf/2007-scotland.pdf|title=Local Election Results 3rd May 2007|publisher=Local Election Archive Project|access-date=5 April 2011}}</ref>}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Scottish Liberal Democrats
| seats      = 15
| gain       = N/A
| loss       = N/A
| net        = −5
| seats %    = 34.9
| votes %    = 26.9
| votes      = 20,845
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Scottish National Party
| seats      = 12
| gain       = N/A
| loss       = N/A
| net        = +6
|seats %    = 27.9
|votes %    = 29.5
| votes      = 22,791
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Scottish Labour
| seats      = 10
| gain       = N/A
| loss       = N/A
| net        = −3
|seats %    = 23.3
|votes %    = 24.6
| votes      = 19,003
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Scottish Conservatives
| seats      = 5
| gain       = N/A
| loss       = N/A
| net        = +2
|seats %    = 11.6
|votes %    = 14.1
| votes      = 10,889
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Independent (politician)
| seats      = 1
| gain       = N/A
| loss       = N/A
| net        = 0
|seats %    = 2.3
|votes %    = 2.7
| votes      = 2,090
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Scottish Greens
| seats      = 0
| gain       = N/A
| loss       = N/A
| net        = 0
|seats %    = 0.0
|votes %    = 1.6
| votes      = 1,204
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Solidarity (Scotland)
| seats      = 0
| gain       = N/A
| loss       = N/A
| net        = 0
|seats %    = 0.0
|votes %    = 0.3
| votes      = 248
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = Scottish Socialist Party
| seats      = 0
| gain       = N/A
| loss       = N/A
| net        = 0
|seats %    = 0.0
|votes %    = 0.3
| votes      = 218
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party
| party      = British National Party
| seats      = 0
| gain       = N/A
| loss       = N/A
| net        = 0
|seats %    = 0.0
|votes %    = 0.1
| votes      = 81
| plus/minus =
}}
{{Election box end}}

==References==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/}}

{{Aberdeen}}
{{Aberdeen elections}}
{{Wards of Aberdeen}}
{{Scotland subdivisions}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Politics of Aberdeen]]
[[Category:Local authorities of Scotland]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Aberdeen]]