Editing Scottish Borders

{{short description|Council area of Scotland}}
{{redirect|The Borders||Border (disambiguation)}}
{{For|a description of the border |Anglo-Scottish border}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Scottish Borders
| native_name        = 
| settlement_type    = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|Council area]]
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_alt         = 
| shield_link        = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
| blank_emblem_link  = 
| etymology          = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| image_map          = Scottish Borders UK location map.svg
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Scottish Borders shown within [[Scotland]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|55|21|36|N|2|29|24|W|region:GB_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Scotland]]
| subdivision_type2  = 
| subdivision_name2  = 
| subdivision_type3  = [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|Lieutenancy areas]]
| subdivision_name3  = {{Unbulleted list |[[Berwickshire]] |[[Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale]] |[[Tweeddale]]}}
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| established_title  = Unitary authority
| established_date   = [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|1 April 1996]]
| established_title1 = 
| established_date1  = 
| established_title2 = 
| established_date2  = 
| named_for          = 
| seat_type          = Administrative{{nbsp}}HQ
| seat               = [[Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells]]
| parts_type         = 
| parts              = <!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/council-2 |title=Your Council |website=Scottish Borders Council |access-date=15 September 2024}}</ref>
| government_type    = [[Local government in Scotland|Council]]
| governing_body     = [[Scottish Borders Council]]
| leader_title       = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name        = {{UK council control|GSS=S12000026}}
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name3       = {{Collapsible list |title=2 MPs
 |[[John Lamont]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|C]])
 |[[David Mundell]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|C]])
 }}
| leader_title4      = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSPs]]
| leader_name4       = {{Collapsible list |title=2 MSPs
 |[[Christine Grahame]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 |[[Rachael Hamilton]] ([[Scottish Conservatives|C]])
 }}
<!-- Area -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->| area_footnotes     = <ref name="popstats">{{UK subdivision statistics citation}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000026}}
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_rank          = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council area rank|GSS=S12000026}}]]
<!-- Population -->| population_footnotes = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of   = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total   = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000026}}
| population_rank    = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council population rank|GSS=S12000026}}]]
| population_density_km2 = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000026}}
| population_demonym = <!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1 = 
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1 = 
| demographics1_info1 = <!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2 = 
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1 = 
| demographics2_info1 = 
| timezone1          = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1        = +0
| timezone1_DST      = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +1
<!-- Codes -->| postal_code_type   = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code        = 
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code          = 
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-SCB]]
| blank1_name        = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info        = S12000026
| website            = {{URL|scotborders.gov.uk}}
}}

The '''Scottish Borders''' is one of 32 [[council areas of Scotland]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Local councils in Scotland |url=http://direct.gov.uk/en/dl1/directories/devolvedadministrations/dg_4003604 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080205132100/direct.gov.uk/en/dl1/directories/devolvedadministrations/dg_4003604 |archive-date=5 February 2008 |website=Directgov |publisher=Internet Memory Foundation |via=UK Government Web Archive – The National Archives |df=dmy-all}}</ref> It is bordered by [[West Lothian]], [[Edinburgh]], [[Midlothian]], and [[East Lothian]] to the north, the [[North Sea]] to the east, [[Dumfries and Galloway]] to the south-west, [[South Lanarkshire]] to the west, and the English [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial counties]] of [[Cumbria]] and [[Northumberland]] to the south. The largest settlement is [[Galashiels]], and the administrative centre is [[Newtown St Boswells]].

The term "Scottish Borders" is also used for the areas of southern Scotland and northern England that bound the [[Anglo-Scottish border]], namely Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, Northumberland, and Cumbria. The council area occupies approximately the same area as the [[Shires of Scotland|historic shires]] of [[Berwickshire]], [[Peeblesshire]], [[Roxburghshire]], and [[Selkirkshire]]. 

==History==
The term [[Border country|Borders]] sometimes has a wider use, referring to all of the [[Counties of Scotland|counties]] adjoining the English border, also including [[Dumfriesshire]] and [[Kirkcudbrightshire]], as well as [[Northumberland]], [[Cumberland, England|Cumberland]] and [[Westmorland]] in England.

[[Roxburghshire]] and [[Berwickshire]] historically bore the brunt of the conflicts with England, both during declared wars such as the [[Wars of Scottish Independence]], and armed raids which took place in the times of the [[Border Reivers]]. During this period, at the western end of the border there was a strip of country, called the "Debatable Land", because the possession of it was a constant source of contention between England and Scotland until its boundaries were adjusted in 1552.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=245}} Thus, across the region are to be seen the ruins of many castles, abbeys and even towns. The only other important conflict belongs to the [[Covenanters]]' time, when the [[James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose|marquess of Montrose]] was defeated at the [[Battle of Philiphaugh]] in 1645. Partly for defence and partly to overawe the [[Filibuster (military)|freebooters]] and [[moss-trooper]]s who were a perpetual threat until they were suppressed later in the 17th century, castles were erected at various points on both sides of the border.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=246}}

From early on, the two sovereigns agreed on the duty to regulate the borders. The [[Scottish Marches]] system was set up, under the control of three wardens from each side, who generally kept the peace through several centuries until being replaced by the [[Anglo-Scottish border#Middle Shires|Middle Shires]] under [[James VI and I|James VI/I]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=246}}

===Administrative history===
Prior to 1975 the area that is now Scottish Borders was administered as the four separate [[Shires of Scotland|counties]] of [[Berwickshire]], [[Peeblesshire]], [[Roxburghshire]], and [[Selkirkshire]], plus part of [[Midlothian (historic)|Midlothian]]. An elected county council was established for each county in 1890 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889]]. The county councils were abolished in 1975 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]], which established a two-tier structure of [[Local government areas of Scotland 1973 to 1996|local government]] comprising upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. A region called Borders was created covering the area. The region contained four districts, called Berwickshire, [[Ettrick and Lauderdale]], [[Roxburgh (district)|Roxburgh]], and [[Tweeddale]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|accessdate=22 November 2022}}</ref>

Further local government reform in 1996 under the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]] saw the area's four districts and the regional council abolished, with a new [[unitary authority]] created covering the same area as the former Borders Region.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year-1994|chapter=39|accessdate=22 November 2022}}</ref> The 1994 Act called the new council area "The Borders", but the shadow council elected in 1995 to oversee the transition changed the name to "Scottish Borders" prior to the changes coming into effect in 1996.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=23789|page=1333|date=26 May 1995|city=e}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Topo map Scottish Borders, Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian.png|thumb|right|Topographic map of Scottish Borders and Lothian]]

The Scottish Borders are in the eastern part of the [[Southern Uplands]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitsouthernscotland.co.uk/|title=Accommodation – Dumfries and Galloway – Ayrshire and Arran – Scottish Borders – Southern South West Scotland – Hotels – Bed and Breakfasts – Self Catering Holiday Cottages|access-date=25 December 2013|archive-date=8 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108171800/http://www.visitsouthernscotland.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The region is hilly and largely rural, with the [[River Tweed]] flowing west to east through it. The highest hill in the region is [[Broad Law]] in the [[Southern Uplands#Hill ranges|Manor Hills]]. In the east of the region, the area that borders the River Tweed is flat and is known as 'The Merse'.<ref>p. 47 of{{Citation | author1=Banks, F. R. (Francis Richard) | title=Scottish Border Country | date=1951 | publisher=Batsford | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10125169 | access-date=20 October 2016 }}</ref> The Tweed and its tributaries drain the entire region with the river flowing into the [[North Sea]] at [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]] in [[Northumberland]], and forming [[Anglo-Scottish border|the border with England]] for the last twenty miles or so of its length.

The term ''Central Borders'' refers to the area in which the majority of the main towns and villages of [[Galashiels]], [[Selkirk, Scottish Borders|Selkirk]], [[Hawick]], [[Jedburgh]], [[Earlston]], [[Kelso, Scottish Borders|Kelso]], [[Newtown St Boswells]], [[St Boswells]], [[Peebles]], [[Melrose, Scottish Borders|Melrose]] and [[Tweedbank]] are located.

Two of Scotland's 40 [[National scenic area (Scotland)|national scenic areas]] (defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure their protection from inappropriate development)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/safeguarding-protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/national-designations/national-scenic-areas/|title=National Scenic Areas|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|access-date=2018-07-05}}</ref> lie within the region:<ref name=nsa-area>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Countryside/Heritage/Areas/maps|title=National Scenic Areas – Maps|publisher=SNH|date=2010-12-20|access-date=2018-03-07|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140337/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Countryside/Heritage/Areas/maps|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The [[Eildon and Leaderfoot National Scenic Area]] covers the scenery surrounding [[Eildon Hill]], usually called the Eildons because of the three 'peaks', and extends to include the town of [[Melrose, Scottish Borders|Melrose]] and [[Leaderfoot Viaduct]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/921/0109900.pdf|title=Eildon and Leaderfoot National Scenic Area Map|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|date=2010-12-20|access-date=2018-03-03|archive-date=18 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118202051/http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/921/0109900.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The [[Upper Tweeddale National Scenic Area]] covers the scenery surrounding the upper part of the [[River Tweed]] between [[Broughton, Scottish Borders|Broughton]] and [[Peebles]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/921/0109901.pdf| title=Upper Tweeddale NSA Map| publisher=[[Scottish Natural Heritage]]| access-date=2018-07-03| archive-date=3 August 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803215153/http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/921/0109901.pdf| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Population==
At the census held on 27 March 2011, the population of the region was 113,870 (final total), an increase of 6.66% from the 106,764 enumerated at the previous (2001) census. The Census of 20 March 2022 produced a population of 
116,821.

==Language and literature==
Although there is evidence of some [[Scottish Gaelic]] in the origins of place names such as [[Innerleithen]] ("confluence of the [[Leithen Water|Leithen]]"), [[Kilbucho]] and [[Longformacus]], which contain identifiably [[Goidelic]] rather than [[Britons (historical)|Brythonic]] [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] elements and are an indication of at least a Gaelic-speaking elite in the area, the main languages in the area since the 5th century appear to have been [[Cumbric|Brythonic]] (in the west) and [[Old English language|Old English]] (in the east), the latter of which developed into its modern forms of [[Scottish English|English]] and [[Scots language|Scots]].

[[Border ballad]]s occupied a distinctive place in literature. Many of them were rescued from oblivion by [[Walter Scott]], who gathered materials for his ''Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border'', which appeared in 1802 and 1803. Border traditions and folklore, and the picturesque incidents of which the country was so often the scene, appealed strongly to [[James Hogg]] ("the Ettrick Shepherd"), [[John Wilson (Scottish writer)|John Wilson]], writing as "Christopher North", and [[John Mackay Wilson]], whose ''Tales of the Borders'', published in 1835, enjoyed popular favour throughout the 1800s.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=246}}

==Transport==
[[File:Borders Railway driver training - geograph.org.uk - 4545489.jpg|thumb|right|A [[ScotRail]] train on the [[Borders Railway]] line]]
Until September 2015, the region had no working railway stations. Although the area was well connected to the [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[British railway system|railway system]], the branch lines that supplied it were closed in the decades following the [[Second World War]]. A bill was passed by the [[Scottish Parliament]] to extend the [[Waverley Line]], which aimed to re-introduce a commuter service from [[Edinburgh]] to [[Stow of Wedale|Stow]], [[Galashiels]] and [[Tweedbank]]. This section of the route re-opened on 6 September 2015, under the [[Borders Railway]] branding. The other railway route running through the region is the [[East Coast Main Line]], with [[East Linton railway station|East Linton]], [[Dunbar railway station|Dunbar]] and [[Berwick-upon-Tweed railway station|Berwick]] being the nearest stations on that line, all of which are outwith the Borders. Since 2022, after much discussion a railway station was re-opened at [[Reston, Scottish Borders|Reston]] which is within the region and serves [[Eyemouth]]. To the west, [[Carlisle railway station|Carlisle]], [[Carstairs railway station|Carstairs]] and [[Lockerbie railway station|Lockerbie]] are the nearest stations on the [[West Coast Main Line]].

The area is served by buses which connect the main population centres. Express bus services link the main towns with rail stations at Edinburgh and Carlisle.

The region also has no commercial airports; the nearest are [[Edinburgh Airport|Edinburgh]] and [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle]], both of which are international airports.

The main roads to and from the region are:
*The [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]], which runs along the east coast from [[London]] to [[Edinburgh]]; passing near [[Eyemouth]].
*The [[A7 road (Great Britain)|A7]] which runs north to south from [[Edinburgh]] to [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] and the [[M6 motorway|M6]]; passing through [[Galashiels]], [[Selkirk, Scottish Borders|Selkirk]] and [[Hawick]].
*The [[A68 road|A68]] running from [[Darlington]] to [[Edinburgh]]; passing through [[Jedburgh]], [[St Boswells]], [[Earlston]] and [[Lauder]].
*The [[A72 road (Great Britain)|A72]], which runs east to west from Galashiels to [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]]; passing through [[Innerleithen]] and [[Peebles]]

==Media==
In terms of television, the area is covered by [[BBC Scotland]] broadcasting from [[Glasgow]] and [[ITV Border]] which broadcast from [[Gateshead]]. Television signals are received from the [[Selkirk transmitting station|Selkirk]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Selkirk |title=Selkirk (The Scottish Borders, Scotland) Full Freeview transmitter |date=1 May 2004 |accessdate =26 February 2024 }}</ref>

Radio stations are provided by [[BBC Radio Scotland]] which broadcast the local opt-out from its studios in [[Selkirk, Scottish Borders|Selkirk]].<ref name="Contact numbers for BBC Scotland">{{cite news |ref={{harvid|Contact numbers for BBC Scotland}} |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/aboutus/ciac/information/contact.shtml |title=Contact numbers for BBC Scotland |work=BBC News |access-date=2 March 2009 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528131909/https://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/4ce2251c28db82aa892a105b718dba4d6a74c327.gif |url-status=live}}</ref> The commercial radio station, [[Radio Borders]] broadcasts from [[Edinburgh]] but still broadcast local news bulletins to the area as well as to [[Berwick-upon Tweed]] in [[Northumberland]].

The area is served by the main local newspapers: ''[[Southern Reporter (newspaper)|Southern Reporter]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/scotland/southern-reporter/|title=Southern Reporter|date=21 January 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate= 26 February 2024}}</ref>  and ''The Border Telegraph''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/scotland/border-telegraph/|title=Border Telegraph|date=23 November 2013|website=British Papers|accessdate= 26 February 2024}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = Scottish Borders Council
| native_name        =
| transcription_name =
| legislature        =
| coa_pic            = Scottish Borders Council logo.svg
| coa_res            = 
| house_type         = 
| body               =
| houses             =
| leader1_type       = [[Convener]]
| leader1            = Watson McAteer
| party1             = <br>[[Independent politician|Independent]]
| election1          = 19 May 2022
| leader2_type       = [[Local government in Scotland#Leader of the Council|Leader]]
| leader2            = Euan Jardine
| party2             = <br>[[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative]]
| election2          = 19 May 2022<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 19 May 2022 |url=https://scottishborders.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=132&MId=5739&Ver=4 |website=Scottish Borders Council | date=19 May 2022 |access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref>
| leader3_type       = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3            = David Robertson
| party3             = <!--Non political role-->
| election3          = January 2023<ref>{{cite news |title=New chief executive appointed at Scottish Borders Council |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxrn1dd6e4no |access-date=12 July 2023 |work=BBC News |date=20 January 2023}}</ref>
| members            = 34 councillors
| house1             =
| house2             =
| structure1         = United_Kingdom_Scottish_Borders_Council_2024.svg
| structure1_res     = 250px
| political_groups1  =
;Administration (18)
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative]] (15)}}
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (3)}}
;Other parties (16)
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] (8)}}
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (4)}}
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Liberal Democrats}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] (3)}}
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Scottish Green Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish Green Party|Green]] (1)}}
| committees1        =
| committees2        =
| joint_committees   =
| voting_system1     = [[Single transferable vote]]
| voting_system2     =
| last_election1     = [[2022 Scottish Borders Council election|5 May 2022]]
| next_election1     = 6 May 2027
| session_room       = Scottish Borders Council Headquarters at Newtown St Boswells (geograph 4367455).jpg
| session_res        =
| meeting_place      = [[Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells|Council Headquarters]], Bowden Road, [[Newtown St Boswells]], [[Melrose, Scottish Borders|Melrose]], TD6{{nbsp}}0SA
| website            = {{URL|www.scotborders.gov.uk}}
| footnotes          =
}}

===Political control===
The council has been under [[no overall control]] since 1999. Since the [[2022 Scottish Borders Council election|2022 election]] the council has been run by an administration of the Conservatives and three of the independent councillors.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Paul |title=New leader and convener of Scottish Borders Council appointed |url=https://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/20151672.new-leader-convener-scottish-borders-council-appointed/ |access-date=12 July 2023 |work=Border Telegraph |date=19 May 2022}}</ref>

The first election to the Borders Regional Council was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 16 May 1975. A shadow authority was again elected in 1995 ahead of the reforms which came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1975 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre | date=4 March 2016 |access-date=6 November 2022}}</ref>

'''Borders Regional Council'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || 1975–1978
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1978–1982
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || 1982–1994
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1994–1996
|}

'''Scottish Borders Council'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || 1996–1999
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1999–present
|}

===Leadership===
The first [[leader of the council]] following the 1996 reforms was Drew Tulley, who had been the last leader of the former Ettrick and Lauderdale District Council.<ref name=Tulley/> The leaders since 1996 have been:<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://scottishborders.moderngov.co.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1 |website=Scottish Borders Council |access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To 
|-
| Drew Tulley<ref name=Tulley>{{cite news |last1=Janiak |first1=Kevin |title=Drew gave 'total commitment' |url=https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/politics/council/drew-gave-total-commitment-3052718 |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=Southern Reporter |date=30 November 2020}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|1996 || align=right|6 Mar 2002
|-
| John Ross Scott || {{party name with colour|Scottish Liberal Democrats}} || align=right|6 Mar 2002 || align=right|3 May 2003
|-
| David Parker || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|12 Mar 2003 || align=right|18 May 2017
|-
| Shona Haslam || {{party name with colour|Scottish Conservatives}} || align=right|18 May 2017 || align=right|25 Nov 2021
|-
| Mark Rowley || {{party name with colour|Scottish Conservatives}} || align=right|25 Nov 2021 || align=right|19 May 2022
|-
| Euan Jardine || {{party name with colour|Scottish Conservatives}} || align=right|19 May 2022 || align=right|
|}

===Premises===
Scottish Borders Council is based at the [[Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells|Council Headquarters]] in Newtown St Boswells. The building had been the headquarters of Roxburghshire County Council prior to 1975,<ref>{{cite web |title=Roxburgh County Offices, Newtown St Boswells |url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/350461/newtown-st-boswells-roxburgh-county-offices |website=Canmore |publisher=Historic Environment Scotland |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref> and subsequently served as the served as the main office of the Borders Regional Council between 1975 and 1996.<ref>Scottish Borders Council, [https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/location Location], accessed 30 May 2023</ref>

===Elections===
{{see also|:Category:Wards of the Scottish Borders|:Category:Scottish Borders Council elections}}
Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the [[single transferable vote]] system, introduced by the [[Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004]]. Election results since 1995 have been as follows:<ref name=compositions/>

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
!rowspan=2|'''Year'''
!rowspan=2|'''Seats'''
!width="80"|'''[[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative]]'''
!width="80"|[[Scottish National Party|'''SNP''']]
!width="80"|[[Scottish Liberal Democrats|'''Liberal Democrats''']]
!width="80"|[[Scottish Greens|'''Green''']]
!width="80"|[[Scottish Labour|'''Labour''']]
!width="80"|[[Independent politician|'''Independent / Other''']]
!rowspan=2|'''Notes'''
|-
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish National Party}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Liberal Democrats}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Greens}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Labour}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}; width: 3px;" |
|-
| [[1995 Scottish Borders Council election|1995]]
| 58
| 3
| 8
| 15
| 0
| 2
| 30
|align=left|
|-
| [[1999 Scottish Borders Council election|1999]]
| 34
| 1
| 4
| 14
| 0
| 1
| 14
|align=left|New ward boundaries<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Scottish Borders (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1998|year=1998|number=3103|accessdate=15 December 2022}}</ref>
|-
| [[2003 Scottish Borders Council election|2003]]
| 34
| 11
| 1
| 8
| 0
| 0
| 14
|align=left|
|-
| [[2007 Scottish Borders Council election|2007]]
| 34
| 11
| 6
| 10
| 0
| 0
| 7
|align=left|New ward boundaries<ref>{{cite legislation Scotland|type=ssi|ssi=The Scottish Borders (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006|year=2006|number=533|accessdate=15 December 2022}}</ref>
|-
| [[2012 Scottish Borders Council election|2012]]
| 34
| 10
| 9
| 6
| 0
| 0
| 9
|align=left|SNP / Lib Dem / Independent coalition
|-
| [[2017 Scottish Borders Council election|2017]]
| 34
| 15
| 9
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 8
|align=left|Conservative / Independent coalition<ref>{{cite news |title=Conservatives and independents to run Scottish Borders Council |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-39856649 |access-date=15 December 2022 |work=BBC News |date=9 May 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[2022 Scottish Borders Council election|2022]]
| 34
| 14
| 9
| 3
| 1
| 0
| 7
|align=left|Conservative / Independent coalition<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-05-06 |title=Scottish election results 2022: First Green for Scottish Borders Council |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-61348883 |access-date=2022-05-07}}</ref>
|-
!
!
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish National Party}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Liberal Democrats}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Greens}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Labour}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}; width: 3px;" |
!
|}

====Constituencies====
There are two British Parliamentary constituencies in the Scottish Borders; [[Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency)|Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk]] covers most of the region and is represented by [[John Lamont]] of the Conservatives. The western Tweeddale area is included in the [[Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (UK Parliament constituency)|Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale constituency]] and is represented by [[David Mundell]] of the Conservatives.

At Scottish Parliament level, there are also two seats. The eastern constituency is [[Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire]], which is currently represented by Conservative [[Rachael Hamilton]]. The western constituency is [[Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale]] and is represented by SNP [[Christine Grahame]].

===Wards===
[[File:Scottish Borders UK ward map (blank).svg|thumb|Map of the area's wards]]

The council area is divided into 11 wards that elect 34 councilors:

{| class="wikitable"
!Ward Number
!Ward Name
!Location
!Population<br>2022 Census
!Seats
|-
|1
|[[Tweeddale West (ward)|Tweeddale West]]
|[[File:Tweedale West.svg|100px]]
|10,407
|3
|-
|2
|[[Tweeddale East (ward)|Tweeddale East]]
|[[File:Tweedale East.svg|100px]]
|10,942
|3
|-
|3
|[[Galashiels and District (ward)|Galashiels and District]]
|[[File:Galashiels and District.svg|100px]]
|15,336
|4
|-
|4
|[[Selkirkshire (ward)|Selkirkshire]]
|[[File:Selkirkshire.svg|100px]]
|9,796
|3
|-
|5
|[[Leaderdale and Melrose (ward)|Leaderdale and Melrose]]
|[[File:Leaderdale and Melrose.svg|100px]]
|11,391
|3
|-
|6
|[[Mid Berwickshire (ward)|Mid Berwickshire]]
|[[File:Mid Berwickshire.svg|100px]]
|10,645
|3
|-
|7
|[[East Berwickshire (ward)|East Berwickshire]]
|[[File:East Berwickshire.svg|100px]]
|11,381
|3
|-
|8
|[[Kelso and District (ward)|Kelso and District]]
|[[File:Kelso and District.svg|100px]]
|10,212
|3
|-
|9
|[[Jedburgh and District (ward)|Jedburgh and District]]
|[[File:Jedburgh and District.svg|100px]]
|9,003
|3
|-
|10
|[[Hawick and Denholm (ward)|Hawick and Denholm]]
|[[File:Hawick and Denholm.svg|100px]]
|9,159
|3
|-
|11
|[[Hawick and Hermitage (ward)|Hawick and Hermitage]]
|[[File:Hawich and Hermitage.svg|100px]]
|8,551
|3
|-
|}

==Settlements==
{{Location map+|Scotland Scottish Borders
 |caption={{left|The largest settlements in Scottish Borders}}
 |float=right
 |width=500
 |places =
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.6194|-2.8033}}|position=top|label='''[[Galashiels]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.422|-2.787}}|position=left|label='''[[Hawick]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.6519|-3.1888}}|position=top|label='''[[Peebles]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.59851|-2.43357}}|position=bottom|label='''[[Kelso, Scottish Borders|Kelso]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.550|-2.84002}}|position=left|label='''[[Selkirk, Scottish Borders|Selkirk]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.477|-2.546}}|position=left|label='''[[Jedburgh]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.871|-2.093}}|position=top|label='''[[Eyemouth]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.61841|-3.05901}}|position=bottom|label='''[[Innerleithen]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.77838|-2.3426}}|position=left|label='''[[Duns, Scottish Borders|Duns]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.598|-2.731}}|position=right|label='''[[Melrose, Scottish Borders|Melrose]]'''|label_size=}}

<!-- Bordering council areas -->
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = 
{{coord|55.92|-2.89|}}|position=right|label=''[[East Lothian#Settlements|East Lothian]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = 
{{coord|55.61|-2.25|}}|position=right|label=''[[Northumberland|North-umberland]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = 
{{coord|55.115|-2.835|}}|position=right|label=''[[Cumbria]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.26|-3.35|}}|position=right|label=''[[Dumfries and Galloway#Settlements|Dumfries and Galloway]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.705|-3.6|}}|position=right|label=''[[South Lanarkshire#Settlements|South<br>Lan.]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.856|-3.59|}}|position=right|label=''[[West Lothian#Settlements|West<br>Lothian]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.939|-3.38|}}|position=right|label=''[[City of Edinburgh (council area)#Settlements|City of Edinburgh]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland Scottish Borders|coordinates = {{coord|55.83|-3.25|}}|position=right|label=''[[Midlothian#Settlements|Midlothian]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}

}}

Largest settlements by population:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!rowspan=2 | Settlement
!colspan=2 style="background:#eaecf0ff; text-align: center;" | Population
|-
! style="background:#eaecf0ff;" | 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourscottishborders.com/live/towns/populations |title=Population of Scottish Borders towns (last count 2011) |date= |website=ourscottishborders.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112150245/http://www.ourscottishborders.com/live/towns/populations |archive-date=12 January 2019}}</ref>

! style="background:#eaecf0ff;" | {{Scottish settlement population citation|year}}<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
|-
|[[Galashiels]]
||14,994
||{{Scottish settlement population|name|POP=Galashiels}}{{efn|Includes Langlee and [[Tweedbank]]}}
|-
|[[Hawick]]
||14,294
||{{Scottish settlement population|name|POP=Hawick}}{{efn|Includes [[Burnfoot, Hawick|Burnfoot]]}}
|-
|[[Peebles]]
||8,376
||{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Peebles}}
|-
|[[Kelso, Scottish Borders|Kelso]]
||5,639
||{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Kelso}}
|-
|[[Selkirk, Scottish Borders|Selkirk]]
||5,784
||{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Selkirk}}
|-
|[[Jedburgh]]
||4,030
||{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Jedburgh}}
|-
|[[Eyemouth]]
||3,546
||{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Eyemouth}}
|-
|[[Innerleithen]]
||3,031
||{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Innerleithen}}
|-
|[[Duns, Scottish Borders|Duns]]
||2,753
||{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Duns}}
|-
|[[Melrose, Scottish Borders|Melrose]]
||2,307
||{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Melrose}}
|-
|}
{{Notelist}}

==Places of interest==
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*[[Abbotsford House]]
*[[Berwickshire Coastal Path]]
*[[Bowhill House]]
*[[Cheviot Hills]]
*[[Cessford Burn]]
*[[Coldingham Bay]]
*[[Dawyck Botanic Garden]]
*[[Dryburgh Abbey]] – [[Historic Scotland]]
*[[Duns Castle]]
*[[Edin's Hall Broch]]
*[[Ettrick Forest]]
*[[Eyemouth]]
*[[Floors Castle]]
*[[Glentress Forest]] – [[Forest Enterprise]]
*[[Greenknowe Tower]]
*[[Harmony Garden, Scottish Borders|Harmony Garden]] – [[National Trust for Scotland]]
*[[Hawkshaw, Scottish Borders|Hawkshaw]] – ancestral home of the [[Porteous family]]
*[[Hermitage Castle]] – [[Historic Scotland]]
*[[Jedburgh Abbey]] – [[Historic Scotland]]
*[[Kailzie Gardens]]
*[[Kelso Abbey]]
*[[The Kirna|Kirna House (The Kirna, previously Grangehill)]]
*[[Lammermuir Hills]]
*[[Lauderdale]]
*[[Manderston]]
*[[Megget Reservoir]]
*[[Mellerstain House]]
*[[Melrose Abbey]] – [[Historic Scotland]]
*[[Mire Loch]]
*[[Monteviot]]
*[[Morebattle]]
*[[Neidpath Castle]]
*[[Nisbet House|Nisbet, Berwickshire]]
*[[Nisbet, Roxburghshire]]
*[[Paxton House, Berwickshire|Paxton House]]
*[[Pennine Way]] – [[National Trails]]
*[[Priorwood Garden]] – [[National Trust for Scotland]]
*[[Robert Smail's Printing Works]] – [[National Trust for Scotland]]
*[[Scots' dike]]
*[[Smailholm Tower]] – [[Historic Scotland]]
*[[Southern Upland Way]] – [[National Trails]]
*[[St Abb's Head|St. Abbs Head]]
*[[St Mary's Loch|St. Mary's Loch]]
*[[St. Ronans Wells]]
*[[Teviotdale]]
*[[Thirlestane Castle]]
*[[Traquair House]]
*[[Trimontium (Newstead)|Trimontium]] and the Eildons
*[[Union Bridge (Tweed)|Union Bridge]]
*[[Waterloo Monument]]
*[[Wedderburn Castle]]
}}

==See also==
*[[Borders College]]
*[[Scottish Marches]]
*[[Anglo-Scottish border]]
*[[Debatable lands]]
*[[List of places in the Scottish Borders]]
*[[Scottish Lowlands]]
*[[Alexander Jeffrey]], historian of Scottish Borders

==Notes and references==
{{reflist|30em}}
* {{EB1911|wstitle=Borders, The|volume=4|pages=245–246}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Scottish Borders|<br />Scottish Borders}}
*[http://www.scots-online.org/grammar/sscots.htm Borders' Dialect] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104052536/http://www.scots-online.org/grammar/sscots.htm |date=4 January 2019 }}
*[http://www.scotslanguage.com/Scots_Dialects/Southern/Southern_Scots_uid792 Scots Language Centre page on Borders' Dialect]
*[http://www.borders.co.uk Region Website]

{{Navboxes
|title = Scottish Borders
|list =
{{Scottish Borders settlements}}
{{Rugby in the Borders}}
{{NHS Borders}}
{{SWT reserves in the Scottish Borders}}
{{Castles in the Scottish Borders}}
{{Lists of listed buildings in the Scottish Borders}}
{{Scottish Borders elections}}
{{Wards of the Scottish Borders}}
}}

{{Scotland subdivisions}}
{{Former local government regions of Scotland}}
{{Portal bar|Scotland}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Scottish Borders| ]]
[[Category:Council areas of Scotland]]
[[Category:Regions of Scotland]]
[[Category:Northumbria]]
[[Category:Southern Uplands]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1996]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Scotland]]