Provost

The Provost is the civic head of South Lanarkshire Council. The current Provost is Councillor Margaret Cooper, who represents the Avondale and Stonehouse ward.

The Depute Provost is Councillor Bert Thomson, who represents the Blantyre ward.

The Provost supports local communities, chairs full council meetings and represents South Lanarkshire at important civic events.

What the Provost does

The Provost chairs meetings of the full council. These meetings bring together all 64 elected councillors from across South Lanarkshire and take place at least four times a year. At these meetings, councillors discuss and make decisions on matters that affect local services and communities.

The Provost also acts as an ambassador for South Lanarkshire. This means representing the area at official and community events, both locally and further afield.

Supporting residents and communities

A key part of the Provost’s role is supporting residents during important life events. The Provost regularly attends community celebrations and special occasions, including:

• 100th birthday celebrations
• diamond wedding anniversaries
• community milestones and events

The Provost works closely with community and voluntary groups and values the chance to meet residents and recognise their achievements.

Inviting the Provost to an event

If you would like to invite the Provost to a special celebration or community event, you can contact the Provost’s office directly. They will let you know if the Provost is available and what information is needed.

About the title

In South Lanarkshire, the civic head is known as the Provost. The title “Lord Provost” is only used in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee. A separate Lord Lieutenant represents the whole of Lanarkshire.

South Lanarkshire also has a Council Leader, who has a different role.