Banff and Buchanis acommittee areaof theAberdeenshire Council,Scotland,covering an area along the northern coast of the council area. The main towns areBanffandFraserburgh.Fishing and agriculture are important industries, together with associated processing and service activity.
Banff and Buchan was also the name of adistrictofGrampian Regionbetween 1975 and 1996. The district covered a much larger area than the modern committee area. Its council was based in Banff.
History
editThe area has a long history of human occupation. Prehistoric features include a largelong barrowatLongman Hillsouth-east ofMacduff,as well asCairn Leeto the west of Longman Hill.[1]
Local government district
edit| Banff and Buchan | |
|---|---|
 Banff Sheriff Court,Low Street, Banff: Council's meeting place | |
 Banff and Buchan district within Scotland | |
| History | |
| • Created | 16 May 1975 |
| • Abolished | 31 Mar 1996 |
| • Succeeded by | Aberdeenshire |
| Status | District |
| •HQ | Banff |
The Banff and Buchanlocal governmentdistrict was created on 16 May 1975 under theLocal Government (Scotland) Act 1973,which established a two-tier structure of local government across Scotland comprising upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. Banff and Buchan was one of five districts created within the Grampian region. The new district covered parts of thehistoric countiesofAberdeenshireandBanffshire.It covered the whole area of twelve formerdistrictsand parts of another two, which were all abolished at the same time:[2]
From Aberdeenshire
- Deer district
- Ellondistrict (parish ofCrudenonly)
- Fraserburghburgh
- Peterheadburgh
- Roseheartyburgh
- Turriffburgh
- Turriff district
From Banffshire
- Aberchirderburgh
- Aberchirder district
- Banffburgh
- Banff district
- Cullendistrict (Fordyceelectoral division only)[a]
- Macduffburgh
- Portsoyburgh
The rest of Banffshire became part of theMoraydistrict of the Grampian region. The new district was named Banff and Buchan, combining the names of the former county and town of Banff and the ancientprovinceofBuchan,which had covered the parts of the district from Aberdeenshire.[4]
The regions and districts created in 1975 were abolished in 1996, being replaced bycouncil areas.The area of Banff and Buchan was merged with theGordonandKincardine and Deesidedistricts to become the newAberdeenshirecouncil area.[5]
Political control
editThe first election to the district council was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 16 May 1975. Throughout the council's existence, a majority of the seats were held byindependentcouncillors:[6]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Independent | 1975–1996 | |
Premises
edit
The district council met atBanff Sheriff Court,the courthouse (built 1871) which had also served as the meeting place of the old Banffshire County Council.[7][8][9]The district council had its main offices at St Leonard's House on Sandyhill Road in Banff, which had also been the main offices of the former Banffshire County Council since 1934.[10][11][12]It also used other offices inherited from its predecessors, notably includingBanff Town Houseat 34 Low Street, formerly offices of Banff Town Council, andArbuthnot Houseon Broad Street in Peterhead, formerly offices of Peterhead Town Council.[13]
The offices passed to Aberdeenshire Council on local government reorganisation in 1996. St Leonard's House and Banff Town House continue to be used as area offices.[14][15]
Committee area
editThe successor Aberdeenshire Council established a number of area committees to discuss local matters. One is called Banff and Buchan, but covers a smaller area than the pre-1996 district. The committee area just covers the wards ofBanff and District,Fraserburgh and DistrictandTroup.[16]Other parts of the pre-1996 district are included in the committee areas of Buchan (the area around Peterhead) andFormartine(the area around Turriff).[17]
Parliamentary constituencies
editThe name is also used for the Banff and Buchanconstituencyof theHouse of Commonsof theParliament of the United Kingdom(atWestminster). This seat has been held since 2017 byDavid Duiguidof theConservative Partywho gained it from DrEilidh Whitefordof theScottish National Party.From 1999 to 2011Banff and Buchanwas also used as a constituency of theScottish Parliament(atHolyrood). Despite sharing the same name, the boundaries of the two constituencies differed after 2005.
See also
editReferences
edit- Specific
- ^Hogan, C. Michael (13 August 2008)."Longman Hill Long Barrow".The Modern Antiquarian.
- ^"Quarter-inch Administrative Areas Maps of Scotland, Sheet 5: Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire, Morayshire and Nairnshire, 1969".National Library of Scotland.Ordnance Survey.Retrieved11 August2024.
- ^"No. 14570".The Edinburgh Gazette.2 August 1929. p. 829.
- ^"Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973",legislation.gov.uk,The National Archives,1973 c. 65,retrieved22 November2022
- ^"Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994",legislation.gov.uk,The National Archives,1994 c. 39,retrieved16 December2022
- ^"Compositions calculator".The Elections Centre.Retrieved13 August2024.
- ^"Banff and Buchan District Council".Aberdeen Press and Journal.29 January 1996. p. 14.Retrieved13 August2024.
- ^"Set-back for Banff and Buchan - but the fight will go on".Fraserburgh Herald.20 May 1994. p. 3.Retrieved13 August2024.
- ^Historic Environment Scotland."Banff Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court, including boundary walls and railings, Low Street, Banff (LB22039)".Retrieved4 December2022.
- ^Municipal Year Book.London: Municipal Journal. 1976. p. 1037.
- ^"County Offices for Banffshire".Aberdeen Press and Journal.13 November 1934. p. 5.Retrieved12 August2024.
- ^Historic Environment Scotland."Banff, Sandyhill Road, St Leonard's House (172722)".Canmore.Retrieved12 August2024.
- ^"No. 22157".The Edinburgh Gazette.5 June 1987. p. 848.
- ^"Contact Roads team".Aberdeenshire Council.Retrieved13 August2024.
- ^"Area manager teams".Aberdeenshire Council.Retrieved13 August2024.
- ^"Banff and Buchan Area Committee".Aberdeenshire Council.Retrieved13 August2024.
- ^"Minutes of Buchan Area Committee".Aberdeenshire Council. 23 April 1996.Retrieved6 June2015.
- General
- McKean, Charles (1990).Banff & Buchan: An Illustrated Architectural Guide.Edinburgh: Mainstream Publications Ltd.ISBN185158-231-2.