Landward Caithness by-election result
29th November 2013
The by-election for a councillor to represent the Landward Caithness Ward (No 4) on The Highland Council has been won by Matthew Reiss, who will join the Independent Group on the Council
Mr Reiss was one of five candidates who contested the vacancy, created by the resignation of Alex MacLeod. He joins Councillors David Bremner (Independent), Willie Mackay (Independent) and Gillian Coghill (Independent) in representing the Landward Caithness Ward.
Voting was by the single transferable vote and Mr Reiss emerged as the winner at the fourth stage of the count. He gained 1,150 of the 2,588 valid first preference votes cast. The quota was 1,295. 28 votes were rejected
The turnout was 29.9%
The other candidates were: Ed Boyter, Scottish National Party; Kerensa Karr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist; Tina Irving, Independent; Winifred Sutherland, Independent.
Mr Reiss, a former senior police officer, said: “I found the last three weeks of campaigning fascinating and an insight into the power of democracy. It will be a huge privilege and I am incredibly proud to be representing Landward Caithness on the Council. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted for me and supported me.”
The Highland Council is made up of 80 elected members. The current representation is Independent 33, SNP 21, Liberal Democrats 14, Labour 8, Independent Nationalist 1, Non-aligned 2 with 1 vacancy for the Black Isle ward.
Results
Ed Boyter Scottish National Party (SNP), 546 - Eliminated at stage 3
Kerensa Carr, Scottish Conservative and Unionist 171 - Eliminated at Stage 2
Tina Irving Independent 128 - Eliminated at stage 1
Matthew Reiss Independent 1,150
Winifred Sutherland Independent 593 - Eliminated at stage 4
Electorate 8745
Total Number of Votes Cast 2616
Percentage Poll 29.91
Total Rejected Ballot Papers 28
Total Valid Votes 2588
Quota (number of votes required to be elected) 1295
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Today, Morrison Construction introduced some of their local apprentices who are working on the UK Governments' Levelling Up Funded refurbishment project at the Northern Meeting Park in Inverness. All these apprentices have been recruited from the Highland area.
The by-election to elect a councillor to represent Ward 19 - Inverness South on The Highland Council has been won by Duncan Cameron McDonald - Independent who was one of the eight candidates who contested the vacancy. Voters in the ward went to the poll yesterday (Thursday 11 April) and the by-election count was held this morning in The Highland Council Headquarters in Inverness.
The Technology Placement Programme offers funding to businesses in the Highland Council area to cover up to 70% of the cost of employing a student or graduate. The Technology Placement Programme offers funding to businesses in the Highland Council area to cover up to 70% of the cost of employing a student or graduate.
Following the success of its Business Digital Grant scheme launched last year, The Highland Council is delighted to announce further funding. This is to help Highland companies access digital support alongside other business growth support.
The Highland Council is delighted to confirm a highly successful second year for Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights between Wick and Aberdeen. The period from April 2023 to March 2024 has seen a substantial increase in passenger numbers, with several months seeing over 1,000 passengers using the service, and overall the service has seen year on year growth of 25%.
Members of Highland Council, who met on Thursday 14 March 2024, approved a corporate Digital Ambition, which has been designed to deliver significant organisational change across Council services, recognising the current priorities within the organisation. The Strategy, which is embedded within the wider Council Delivery Plan, has been developed to focus attention and resources on areas of change which will deliver the greatest benefit to the Council.
The Council remains committed to supporting mentoring in our schools, including the support that is currently delivered through the MCR Pathways programme. Highland Council is currently undertaking a review of Employability Support provided by a number of different council services and how these relate to the work carried out by external partners and in our schools.
Highland Council members have considered and agreed a revised draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan. The partnership plan has been reviewed and updated by the Community Planning Partnership.
Members at today's (14 March 2024) meeting of The Highland Council agreed the local authority's new draft Community Wealth Building Strategy. They were also asked to note that a period of public engagement on the draft will now begin, with a final strategy returning to full Council for consideration in September.
Plans to invest up to £60m new Capital in Highland roads and infrastructure have been approved by Members at the Council meeting on 14 March 2024. The decision will see an additional £40m Capital investment in roads and transport infrastructure.
