South Lanarkshire Council

South Lanarkshire Council's area stretches from Rutherglen in the north to Elvanfoot over 40 miles south. It takes in rural and upland areas, market towns such as Lanark, Strathaven and Carluke, the urban burgh's of Rutherglen, Cambuslang, and East Kilbride which was Scotland's first new town. There are 20 council wards in South Lanarkshire, each represented on the council by 3 or 4 elected councilors using Single Transferable Vote. South Lanarkshire operates a cabinet-style system, with key decisions being taken by the Executive Committee, under the leadership of the Council Leader. It has its headquarters in Hamilton in the B-listed glass and concrete building, built in 1963 and based on the United Nations building in New York. The council has around 16,000 employees. South Lanarkshire shares borders with the unitary authorities of Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, City of Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, West Lothian and Scottish Borders.