This election was the first to use eight new multi-member wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004.

Although the SNP were elected as the largest group (winning their first ever councillors on East Dunbartonshire Council), the administration was formed by a Labour/Conservative coalition.

However, following the death of Alex Hannah in April 2009, LibDem councillor Eric Gotts was appointed as Provost.

In December 2009, Lib Dem representation increased briefly to 4, following Ashay Ghai's win in the Bearsden South by-election caused by the resignation of the Conservatives' Simon Hutchison.

However, their numbers reverted to 3 in June 2011, when Lib Dem councillor Duncan Cumming resigned from the party citing issues relating to the Liberal Democrats' role in the UK coalition government, sitting thereafter as an Independent.