The Commission

Functions and appointments | Current members | Past members

Functions

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland is responsible for:

carrying out reviews of the boundaries of local authority areas;
carrying out reviews of electoral wards for local authorities;
responding to requests for reviews of electoral wards or local authority areas;
advising on wards for Health Board elections.

The Commission is an Advisory Non-departmental Public Body sponsored and wholly funded by the Scottish Government. It is an independent, non-political body created by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. Full details of the legislation surrounding the Commission's work are available on the Legislation page.

The Commission is supported in its work by a small Secretariat.

Appointments

The Commission comprises a Chairman, Deputy Chairman and up to four further Commissioners who are appointed by Scottish Ministers, following Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland (OCPAS) guidance. Appointments are normally made for 3 or 4 years, with the possibility of renewal. Commissioners receive a per diem remuneration, plus expenses. It is usual for vacant posts to be advertised in the national press and be subject to a process of selection and interview by a panel. The final appointment is made by Scottish Ministers.