Editing South Ayrshire (section)

==History==
===Creation===
South Ayrshire was created in 1996 under the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]], which replaced Scotland's previous local government structure of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts with unitary council areas providing all local government services. South Ayrshire covered the same area as the abolished [[Kyle and Carrick]] district, and also took over the functions of the abolished [[Strathclyde Regional Council]] within the area.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=29 December 2022}}</ref> The area's name references its location within the [[shires of Scotland|historic county]] of Ayrshire, which had been abolished for local government purposes in 1975 when Kyle and Carrick district and Strathclyde region had been created.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|accessdate=29 December 2022}}</ref>

===City Status bid=== 

In 2021, South Ayrshire submitted a bid for [[city status in the United Kingdom|city status]] as part of the [[Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II|2022 Platinum Jubilee Celebrations]]. The bid was based on the area's rich history and links to royalty, and received backing from organisations and businesses including [[Ayrshire College]] and [[Scottish Enterprise]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/citystatusbid|title = SAC platinum civic honours competition|accessdate=29 December 2022}}</ref> The bid was ultimately unsuccessful, with eight other settlements across the UK, [[British Overseas Territories|overseas territories]] and [[crown dependencies]] being awarded city status, including Scottish town [[Dunfermline]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61505857|title=Eight towns to be made cities for Platinum Jubilee|last=O'Connor|first=Mary|date=20 May 2022}}</ref>

===2025 executive crisis===

In late April 2025, the [[Scottish Conservatives]] leader of the council, Martin Downey, faced pressure to resign in the aftermath of leaked audio from a meeting that took place in his office at County Buildings in 2023.<ref name="Tory council chief recorded appearing to promise contracts for 'pals'">{{cite web |last1=Ferguson |first1=John |title=Tory council chief recorded appearing to promise contracts for 'pals' |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/tory-council-chief-recorded-appearing-35125423 |website=Daily Record |access-date=2 May 2025 |language=en |date=27 April 2025}}</ref> The audio from the meeting showed that Downey appeared to have put measures in place to ensure contractors personally associated with him were in a stronger position to win forthcoming contacts for demolition works, including the [[Ayr Station Hotel fire|Station hotel]] which had recently went on fire.<ref name="Tory council chief recorded appearing to promise contracts for 'pals'"/> There were calls for him to resign with immediate effect, something he initially refused to do, instead, deciding to "temporarily step aside" in order to not become a distraction for both the council and the work of the council.<ref name="Deputy leader removed and provost resigns after explosive Scottish council meeting">{{cite web |title=Deputy leader removed and provost resigns after explosive Scottish council meeting |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/25130974.south-ayrshire-provost-resigns-fiery-council-meeting/ |website=The National |access-date=2 May 2025 |language=en |date=1 May 2025}}</ref>

At a council meeting on 1 May 2025, the Depute Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Bob Pollock, faced a vote of no confidence which he subsequently lost by 14 votes in favour to 13 against in regards to removing him as the Depute Leader.<ref name="Deputy leader removed and provost resigns after explosive Scottish council meeting"/> Subsequently, the Provost of South Ayrshire Council, Iain Campbell, submitted his resignation with immediate effect, stating he was "totally disgusted" by the behaviour displayed in the council chamber during the meeting.<ref name="Deputy leader removed and provost resigns after explosive Scottish council meeting"/> A further motion of no confidence in leader Martin Downey was lodged by [[Scottish Labour Party]] councillors, however, the meeting of the council was eventually formally suspended as a result of the intensity of the debate.<ref name="Deputy leader removed and provost resigns after explosive Scottish council meeting"/> Shortly afterwards, the leader of the council, Martin Downey, formally submitted his resignation with immediate effect.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leader of South Ayrshire Council resigns with 'immediate effect' |url=https://www.ayradvertiser.com/news/25132181.south-ayrshire-council-leader-resigns-immediate-effect/ |website=Ayr Advertiser |access-date=2 May 2025 |language=en |date=1 May 2025}}</ref>

In an unrelated sequence of events, earlier that week, the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Education for South Ayrshire Council, Lyndsay McRoberts, announced she would be leaving her post within the council to take up the position of Director of Educational Resources at [[South Lanarkshire Council]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Director of Education to leave South Ayrshire Council |url=https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/article/80419/Director-of-Education-to-leave-South-Ayrshire-Council |website=South Ayrshire Council |access-date=2 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>