Town Council

Modern local government in Scotland began in 1890 when the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 came into force. This Act established a uniform system of county councils in Scotland. These assumed many of the powers of existing organisations such as the Commissioners of Supply and County Road Trustees and many of the administrative powers and duties of the Justices of the Peace and parochial boards.

At this time some larger rural communities opted to become police burghs, which had first been created under the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act, 1833.