The 2012 election saw the SNP gain an additional 6 seats and become the largest party on the Council, supplanting the Lib Dems. The Tories retained their 14 seats on the Council and as a result became the second largest party. The Lib Dems lost half their Councillors falling from 24 to 12 seats.Independents also increased their overall numbers to 11 seats whileLabour and theScottish Green Party won seats in Aberdeenshire for the first time.
Following the election a Conservative-Lib Dem-Independent administration was formed. However, on 8 June 2015, a new administration was formed by the SNP and a 'Progressive Alliance' between Scottish Labour and 2 Progressive Independent councillors, who had been members of the previous administration.
At the previous election in 2007 theLiberal Democrats won 24 seats, falling 11 seats short of an overall majority. TheSNP won 22 seats, falling 13 seats short of an overall majority. Both theConservative andIndependent groups fell well short of an overall majority.
There were 2 by-elections in the 2007-12 term. One was in the Troup ward, which was held by the SNP. The other by-election was in the Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside ward, which resulted in a Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. 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.
As no single party group on the council had the required 35 seats for an overall majority, a Conservative-Lib Dem-Independent administration was formed. In 2013, the 2 Labour councillors joined the administration. However, on 8 June 2015, a new administration was formed by the SNP, Scottish Labour and 2 Progressive Independent councillors, who had been members of the previous administration.
East Garioch Cllr Fergus Hood defected from the SNP and joined the Liberal Democrats on 3 May 2013.[3]
West Garioch Cllr Sheena Lonchay and Inverurie and District Cllr Martin Kitts-Hayes both defected from the Liberal Democrats and became Independents on 25 April 2014.[4]
Troup Independent Cllr Mark Findlater ceased to be an Independent and joined the Conservatives on 23 February 2016.[5]
Troup SNP Cllr Hamish Partridge resigned from the party on 17 June 2016 and became an Independent citing curtailments to his freedom of speech.[6]
Banff and District SNP Cllr John Cox resigned from the party and became an Independent on 20 February 2017.[7]
On 27 November 2014 a by-election was held after the death of Conservative councillor John Duncan on 4 September 2014.[8] The SNP candidate Ross Cassie gained the seat from the Conservatives.
On 5 November 2015 a by-election was held after the death of SNP councillor Joanne Strathdee on 23 August 2015,[10] and the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Alastair Ross on 1 September 2015.[11] It was won by both Conservative candidate Margo Stewart, gaining a seat for her party, and SNP candidate Gwyneth Petrie, who held the seat for her party.
Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford By-election (5 November 2015)[12] - 2 Seats
On 3 November 2016 a by-election was held after the death of SNP councillor Ian Gray on 27 August 2016.[13] It was won by the Conservative candidate Iain Taylor, gaining the seat for his party.
Banff and District By-election (3 November 2016)[14] - 1 Seat
On 3 November 2016 a by-election was held after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Kitts-Hayes.[15] It was won by Conservative candidateColin Clark, gaining the seat for his party.
Inverurie and District By-election (3 November 2016)[14] - 1 Seat
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