Council ‘shaped by unique needs of community’ marks half century

Orkney Islands Council has today – 16 May 2025 – marked 50 years since its formation with a message from Council Convener Graham Bevan to the community. 

Elections to the new Council took place in May 1974 – and following a shadow year – elected members officially took office on 16 May 1975 - with the first statutory meeting taking place four days later on 20 May.  

A reflective piece, and short video message from the Council Convener, marking the occasion has been shared online – and further events will follow in the Autumn looking at the past, present and future of the local authority.  

Councillor Bevan said: “Fifty years ago, in 1975, Orkney Islands Council was officially formed — part of a new era of local government across Scotland.

“The new Orkney Islands Council replaced the Orkney County Council and Kirkwall and Stromness Town Councils which had delivered services for decades before. Eventually the single purpose local authority model for the three island groups was put in place for all 32 councils in 1996.

“In 1975 it was a time of change, of ambition, and of challenge.  Elections had taken place in 1974, 23 Councillors were elected, and a shadow year saw the structures of the new Orkney Islands Council developed, until councillors officially took office 50 years ago today, on May 16, 1975. 

“The first statutory meeting took place four days later at 11am on May 20^{th -} Council Convener George Marwick welcoming members to the meeting and reminding them that ‘the Council was small enough for members to know one another and to understand the needs, problems and views of the people’.  He said ‘it was inevitably difficult for elected members to please everyone, but it was their duty to take an Orkney-wide view in their deliberations’.

“Those statements could ring as true today, as they did fifty years ago.

“From the beginning, our Council was shaped by the unique needs of our island communities and by the resilience of Orcadians, who for centuries have made the best use of the resources available to them.

“In addition to the core services, Orkney Islands Council was unique in serving the Orkney community, by running a harbour authority, a shipping company and six airfields to support our islands.

“One of the most significant of those resources was, and remains, Scapa Flow—Europe’s largest natural harbour and the base for the home fleet in the war years.  It was here that the Flotta Oil Terminal was established, bringing with it a vital source of revenue that would go on to support generations of Orcadians.” 

“Today, Orkney Islands Council continues to serve our communities with dedication and care. 

“The revenue from Flotta has enabled us to invest in projects that have shaped modern Orkney—from the Pickaquoy Centre to the Community Development Fund, which supports grassroots initiatives across our islands. So many of the extras that make Orkney this incredible place to live in, have been funded through our oil reserves. The oil reserves have also been on hand to the support and stimulate our cultural richness and promote economic wellbeing in traditional and emerging businesses.

“But it’s not just about buildings or budgets. Our staff have been the backbone of this organisation for five decades. Through storms, economic uncertainty, and global challenges, they have delivered the services that matter most—education, care, infrastructure, and support for our most vulnerable. Against the backdrop of national events such as COVID our staff have always responded to the challenge.

“We haven’t always got everything right. There have been difficult decisions and testing times. But we’ve always strived to do what’s best for Orkney - and to show Orkney in its best light.

"As we look to the future, we do so with the same spirit that has guided us for generations. Established as a centre of renewable excellence, the emergence of the offshore energy industry now presents a new chapter for Orkney—one that builds on our legacy of innovation and resourcefulness. Our Community Wind Farm Project is just one example of how we are preparing for a more sustainable and self-reliant future

“We know the road ahead will not be without its challenges.  Funding services in a remote area brings its own hurdles which require considered use of the limited resources available.

“But just as we have done for the past fifty years—and indeed, for centuries before that—we will continue to make the best use of what we have, for the benefit of all who call these islands home.”