The Newport, Wormit & Forgan Archive

Burgh of Newport Councillors

In 1887 Newport became a police burgh under the General Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act 1862 (25 & 26 Vict., c.101). Burgh administration was carried out by the Newport Police Commission, consisting of 9 elected Commissioners who were responsible for the cleansing, lighting, policing and public health of the burgh. The Commissioners elected a Chief Magistrate and First & Second Bailies.

Under the Town Councils (Scotland) Act 1900 (63 & 64 Vict., c.49) the Police Commission was replaced by Newport Town Council in January 1901. The Commissioners became Councillors. The leading councillor was now the Provost (although Newport was calling its Chief Magistrate the Provost before that date) and the bailies were now Senior and Junior. When Wormit was added to the burgh in 1902, the burgh was divided into 3 wards (see map) and three Councillors were now elected for each of the three wards. The name was officially changed to Newport-on-Tay in 1955.

Newport-on-Tay Town Council was abolished in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c.65). Its powers were assumed by Fife Regional Council and North East Fife District Council. These in turn were replaced by Fife Council in 1996 under the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 (c.39).

Each year, one third of the Councillors retired, in order of date of election, so each person served for 3 years but was then able to stand for re-election. Newport's Councillors were never elected on party lines but were always independents.

(P) denotes Provost (or Chief Magistrate in the early years), (SB) is the Senior Bailie, (JB) is the Junior Bailie.

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