Editing Sutherland (section)

===Since 1975===
[[File:The harbour at Helmsdale - geograph.org.uk - 115307.jpg|right|thumb|The harbour at [[Helmsdale]]]]
Local government was reformed in 1975 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]], which replaced Scotland's counties, burghs and [[landward district]]s with a two-tier structure of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. Sutherland became part of the [[Highland Region]]. At the district level, most of Sutherland was included in the '''Sutherland District'''. The differences between the post-1975 district and the pre-1975 county were that the district excluded the parishes of [[Farr, Sutherland|Farr]] and [[Tongue, Sutherland|Tongue]] (which both went to the Caithness district), but included the parish of [[Kincardine (Ardgay and District)|Kincardine]] from Ross and Cromarty.<ref name=1973act>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|accessdate=17 April 2023}}</ref><ref name=OSsheet3>{{cite web |title=Quarter-inch Administrative Areas Maps: Scotland, Sheet 3, 1968 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/222075455 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=24 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=14590|page=1188|date=11 October 1929|city=e}}</ref> The transfer of Farr and Tongue to Caithness district was not popular; less than two years later, in 1977, they were transferred to the Sutherland district, after which the border between the Sutherland and Caithness districts followed the pre-1975 county boundary.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Caithness and Sutherland Districts (Tongue and Farr) Boundaries Order 1977|year=1977|number=14|access-date=1 August 2024}}</ref>

As part of the 1975 reforms, the area served by the [[Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland]] was redefined to be the new district, having previously been the county.<ref name=1975order>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Lord-Lieutenants Order 1975|year=1975|number=428|access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref>

Sutherland District Council was based at the former county council's headquarters at the County Offices in Golspie.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=23939|page=397|date=20 February 1996|city=e}}</ref> Throughout the district's existence from 1975 to 1996, a majority of the seats were held by [[Independent politician|independent]] councillors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre |access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref>

[[File:County boundary marker - geograph.org.uk - 482808.jpg|thumb|County boundary sign on the [[A9 road (Scotland)|A9]] north-east of Helmsdale]]
Further local government reforms in 1996 under the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]] saw the regions and districts created in 1975 abolished and replaced with single-tier [[council area]]s. The former Highland region became one of the new council areas.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=17 April 2023}}</ref> The Sutherland [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|lieutenancy area]] continues to be defined as the area of the pre-1996 district, despite the abolition of the district itself.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Lord-Lieutenants (Scotland) Order 1996|year=1996|number=731|access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lord-Lieutenant of Sutherland |url=https://www.lordlieutenantsutherland.co.uk/ |access-date=24 September 2024}}</ref> The boundaries of the historic county (as it was following the 1891 boundary changes) are still used for some limited official purposes connected with land registration, being a [[registration county]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ros.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/14921/LandMassCoverageReport2015-proofed.pdf |title=Land Mass Coverage Report |publisher=Registers of Scotland |access-date=2015-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232505/https://www.ros.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/14921/LandMassCoverageReport2015-proofed.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Highland Council]] has an [[area committee]] called the Sutherland County Committee, comprising the councillors representing the wards which approximately cover the Sutherland area. The council also marks some of the historic county boundaries with road signs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sutherland County Committee |url=https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20003/committee_information/670/sutherland_county_committee |website=The Highland Council |access-date=24 September 2024}}</ref>