Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929
The Local Government Act 1929 reorganised local government in Scotland from 1930, introducing joint county councils, large and small burghs and district councils. The Act also abolished the Scottish poor law system with institutions passing to the local authorities.
The Act was drafted by Walter Elliot, the Unionist politician who became later Secretary of State for Scotland.
Parish councils and poor law
The parish councils that had been introduced by the Local Government Act 1894 were dissolved. Their responsibilities regarding poor law passed to the county council, other powers passing to the new district councils.Another major effect of the Act was the ending of the Poor Law system, which had largely been administered by the parish councils. Their responsibilities in this area – now known as "Public Assistance" – passed to the county councils, large burghs and counties of cities.
Abolition of Commissioners of Supply
had been established for each county in 1662, but had lost most of their powers to the county councils formed in 1890. Their remaining powers were to form part of a standing joint committee which acted as the police authority for the county. The 1929 Act dissolved the standing committees and the commissioners ceased to exist.The county and city education authorities that had been formed in 1919 were also abolished, with their functions and powers passing to the counties and counties of cities.
Changes to burghs
Large burghs and small burghs
A number of burghs became "large burghs". Most of the powers previously exercised by the county council in their area were transferred to the town council of the burgh.The remaining burghs were to be known as "small burghs". In their case many of their powers now passed to the county council.
The Act did not contain a list of large and small burghs. They were eventually listed in the schedule to the Local Government Act 1947.
United burghs
The Act united a number of adjacent burghs under a single town council :- Kilrenny, Anstruther Easter and Anstruther Wester
- Elie, Liberty & Williamsburgh and Earlsferry
- Bonnyrigg and Lasswade
- Blairgowrie and Rattray
- Kirkcaldy and Dysart
Changes to county councils
For most local government purposes the counties of Kinross and Perth, and of Nairn and Moray were to be combined. The counties were to continue to exist, with individual county councils being elected, but they were to form a joint county council. The joint council was, however, permitted to delegate functions to either of the individual county councils.With the redistribution of powers between counties, large burghs and small burghs, the method of electing the county council was changed. The council was to be partly directly elected and partly chosen by the town councils of large burghs. Each large burgh was to nominate one members of the town council to the county council. The rest of the county was divided into electoral divisions and small burghs, each returning single members. The first elections to the reconstituted county councils took place in November and December 1929.
District councils
The reconstituted county councils were obliged to submit a district council scheme to the Secretary of State for Scotland by 1 February 1930, dividing the landward part of the county into districts. The original bill had not included district councils, with the county council assuming all powers outside burghs. The intermediate level of administration was introduced following backbench pressure.Each district was to consist of one or more electoral divisions used for electing county councillors. The scheme specified the number of elected councillors. The county councillors elected for the division were to be ex officio members of the district council. The first elections of district councillors took place on 8 April 1930.
It was not required for districts to be formed in Kinross-shire and Nairnshire unless the joint county council so directed. In the event, a district council was formed for the landward part of Nairnshire, but Kinross-shire county council performed the functions of a district council.
Services provided by the councils
Following the reorganisations of 1929 and 1930 the different tiers of Scottish local government were responsible for the following major services:| Type of Local Authority | Services |
| County of City | Police, Education, Public Health, Public Assistance, Housing, Lighting, Drainage |
| County Council | Police, Education, Public Health ‡, Public Assistance ‡ |
| Large Burgh | Police †, Public Health, Public Assistance, Housing, Lighting, Drainage |
| Small Burgh | Housing, Lighting, Drainage |
| District Council | Housing, Lighting, Drainage |
‡ Outside large burghs
† Where the burgh had a population of 50,000 or more, or had a separate police force in existence.