This was the last election to use the first-past-the-post voting system across 68 single member wards.

At the previous election in 1999, the Liberal Democrats won 28 seats, falling 7 short of an overall majority.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) won 23 seats, falling 12 short an overall majority.

Source:[1] There were several changes to the composition of the council during the 1999–2003 term.

The Scottish Conservative's Moira Ingleby held the seat.